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REV MARK WODKA NAMED PROPELLER CLUB
2026 MARITIME PERSON OF THE YEAR

Rev. Mark Wodka, Executive Director of the Canaveral Port Ministry has been named the Propeller Club of Port Canaveral’s Maritime Person of the Year for 2026. Wodka is recognized for his dedication and service to Seafarers and the Maritime Industry community through his leadership of the Ministry. He was presented the award at the March Luncheon by Jim Dubea who was the recipient of this honor in 2012. He has served with the Ministry since 2009 and has been Director since 2012. Under Wodka’s leadership, the Ministry has gone from hosting 38,000 visitors in 2018 to over 100,000 in 2025. He supervises a team that works to fulfill the Ministry’s mission of meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of seafarers by operating a center near the Port which aims to be a home away from home for crew members working aboard the ships which call at the port. Multiple services are provided including postal services, Wi-Fi, money transfers, a small shop, transportation to local shopping, and hot meals. Spiritual needs are met with chapel services up to three times a day with gospel materials available in over 70 languages. The team works with crew members to support bible study groups aboard the ships. Team members also visit cruise and cargo ships at the dock to reach crew members who are unable to get off the ship. Wodka steered the organization through the COVID epidemic where efforts included suicide prevention videos to comfort crewmembers trapped aboard their vessels. He has led efforts to raise funds to buy additional land adjacent to the facility for future expansion. Wodka has worked closely with the Canaveral Port Authority and the Port Canaveral Maritime community and has had a long-time relationship with the Propeller Club of Port Canaveral to help further the Ministry’s mission. For more information visit cpm.life!

2026 SOUTHEAST REGION PORT OF THE YEAR
UPCOMING EVENTS
SEPTEMBER NETWORKING HAPPY HOUR
Join us on Thursday, September 17 for our Networking Happy Hour at Rising Tide Tap & Table at 5 pm.
INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP
Our cleanup team will be joining the Canaveral Port Authority at Jetty Park at 8 am.
OCTOBER LUNCHEON
Our next luncheon will be held on Wednesday, October 7 at Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill, 11:30 am. Featured speakers will be a panel of Space Industry companies.

SAMANTHA CORNELIUS NAMED PROPELLER CLUB OF PORT CANAVERAL 2026 MEMBER OF THE YEAR

The Propeller Club of Port Canaveral has named Samantha Cornelius 2026 Member of the Year. Samantha is the Vice President of Business Development for Cargo and Aerospace at Port Canaveral. She manages a diverse cargo portfolio and collaborates with current and prospective customers including commercial space launch companies. Samantha is the primary liaison for marine terminal operators, ensuring long-term business retention while overseeing customer contracts and the administration of Foreign Trade Zone # 136.
Before joining the port in 2017, Samantha spent over a decade at global carrier Hapag-Loyd. As Senior Customer Service Manager for Government Cargo, she held a U.S. DoD Secret Clearance and led a specialized team in managing mission-critical shipments for the U.S. military.
Samantha is a graduate of Hillsborough Community College and holds advanced certifications from the Digital Marketing Institute. A recognized leader in the maritime community, she serves on the Board of the Propeller Club of Port Canaveral and handles key roles in communications, membership, and event coordination. Her dedication to the Propeller Club mission is a big part of the club’s success. Samantha is a member of the National Defense Transportation Association and Women’s International Trade and Shipping Association.

SECTOR COMMANDER SPEAKS AT SEPTEMBER LUNCHEON

CAPT Jason Aleksak, USCG, Sector Commander and Captain of the Port Jacksonville, was the guest speaker at the Propeller Club’s September Luncheon held at Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill. Port Canaveral falls within the Sector Jacksonville Area of Responsibility. Capt. Aleksak gave an overview of the Coast Guard’s eleven statutory missions and highlighted the core activities conducted within the Sector with a focus on Port Canaveral. These include Search & Rescue, Border Security, Marine Safety, and Law Enforcement. He noted the support of Space Launches as a mission unique to Port Canaveral and mentioned the use of autonomous vessels that places Port Canaveral on the cutting edge of the latest trends and technology in the maritime industry. Capt. Aleksak stated that Cyber Security is topic receiving intense focus and encouraged all port and maritime related companies to up their game in this area and be prepared for increased requirements from the Coast Guard to improve preparedness and response to cyber security threats. He closed by asking all port and maritime related companies and agencies to reach out to the Sector at any time with questions and for any support needed.