OD Grant Solutions (ODGS) proudly participated in the 2025 Port of the Future Conference in Houston, Texas—a premier gathering of port and maritime leaders from around the globe. This year’s event, hosted by the Borders, Trade, and Immigration (BTI) Institute, a Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence led by the University of Houston, brought together voices from over 60 seaports across five continents.
The focus: creating next-generation port infrastructure through innovation, resilience, and forward-thinking policy. For ODGS, this was a platform not just to connect with industry leaders, but to lead a powerful conversation on the future of grants management in the maritime sector.
On March 31, ODGS Vice President April Danos and Senior Grants Manager Tanya Nichols delivered a compelling workshop titled “Grants Management: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.” This dynamic session was designed to equip attendees with a full-spectrum view of the evolving world of federal grant administration, touching on everything from the basics of grant readiness to the nuanced demands of post-award compliance. With decades of combined experience and deep subject matter expertise, April and Tanya offered attendees valuable insights into the past, present, and future of grants in the transportation and maritime sectors.
During the workshop, participants explored core areas such as understanding NOFOs and evaluation criteria, navigating the post-award phase, and maintaining compliance with increasingly complex federal standards—especially those laid out in 2 CFR 200. Drawing from their extensive work managing infrastructure and security grants through programs like the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), the Port Security Grant Program (PSGP), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Economic Development Administration (EDA), April and Tanya grounded their guidance in real-world experience.
What set the ODGS workshop apart was its practical relevance. April, a veteran of the maritime sector with over 23 years of experience and a history of securing more than $12 million in federal grant funding, shared her journey from developing grant programs at Port Fourchon to leading a top-tier grants consulting firm. Tanya, with her 25-year career in federal grant administration, offered tactical insights into navigating procurement, audit readiness, and the day-to-day realities of full lifecycle grants management. Their workshop became a must-attend session for attendees seeking to elevate their internal grant systems and better position their organizations for future funding.
Beyond the workshop, the ODGS team met with port executives, government agency representatives, and funding stakeholders to discuss trends in federal infrastructure investment, cybersecurity preparedness, green port technologies, and maritime resilience. These conversations reflected the central theme of the conference—building Ports of the Future that are secure, smart, and sustainable.
The 2025 Port of the Future Conference served as a catalyst for thought leadership, innovation, and relationship-building in the maritime space. For ODGS, it was also a reaffirmation of our mission: to empower clients through strategic, lifecycle-based grant management that strengthens infrastructure, streamlines compliance, and supports long-term success. As federal funding becomes increasingly competitive and complex, our team remains committed to leading the way forward—with knowledge, precision, and partnership.
We look forward to continuing our dialogue with industry partners in the coming weeks and months.
