Port People: Brownsville, Port Angeles, Portland (OR)

John Wood Elected Chairman of the Brownsville Navigation District Board of Commissioners

The board of commissioners of the Brownsville Navigation District (BND) elected John Wood chairman during its regular meeting on May 18. The board also elected John Reed vice-chairman and Sergio Tito Lopez secretary.

A licensed real estate broker, entrepreneur and former city of Brownsville and Cameron County commissioner, Mr. Wood was elected to the BND board in May 2014. He also co-chairs the Gulf Task Force of the U.S.-Mexico Border 2020 Environmental Program and is past vice chair of the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority.

Mr. Reed, who was elected to board in 2008, has 27 years of banking experience and served on various committees and boards, among them the Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railroad, Southmost Regional Water Authority, Brownsville Chamber of Commerce, and Brownsville Economic Development Corporation. Mr. Lopez is owner of Jonick-Lopez International Transport in Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. First elected in 2008, he is now serving his third term as a BND commissioner.

The BND governs the Port of Brownsville. The board consists of five members, each elected by local voters to terms of three years. The other commissioners are Carlos R. Masso and Ralph Cowen.

The Port of Brownsville, which began operations in 1936, handled a record 10.1 million tons of cargo in 2015. Among the commodities traded internationally are steel, aluminum, minerals, gasoline, diesel and wind turbine components.

Port Angeles Executive Director Candidates Announced

The board of commissioners of the Port of Port Angeles will interview four applicants for the position of executive director.

The finalists are:

• Karen Goschen, interim executive director, Port of Port Angeles.
• James Kuntz, former executive director, Port of Walla Walla.
• Robert Uptagrafft, CEO & executive director, Pacific Northwest Aerospace Association.
• David Walter, partner in Kingsway Consulting and former DuPont Corporation executive.

The port commission has scheduled public interviews for June 16 and will meet in executive session for additional candidate interviews on June 17.

The position came open following the retirement in December 2015 of former executive director Kenneth O’Hollaren.

Michael Alexander Joins Port of Portland Commission

Michael Alexander, retired Urban League of Portland president and CEO and healthcare-industry leader, was recently appointed to the Port of Portland Commission by Oregon Governor Kate Brown.

During his tenure at the Urban League of Portland from summer 2012 through spring 2015, he made great strides in restoring fiscal discipline to the organization’s operations, reconnecting with key business and foundation partners, and re-engaging the organization’s base of supporters. The mission of the non-profit, community-based organization is empowering African Americans and other Oregonians to achieve equality in education, employment, and economic security.

During his healthcare-industry career, he served in executive roles at Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, Magellan Behavioral Health, and Aetna, including four years as vice president and executive director of the Aetna Foundation. He is founding chair of the Cambia (Regence BlueCross BlueShield) Foundation and serves on the boards of LifeWorks Northwest, the American Leadership Forum of Oregon (chair), the Northwest Health Foundation (secretary), Black United Fund, and University of Oregon President’s Diversity Advisory Community Council; community boards for BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and Wells Fargo; and steering committees for Oregon Healthiest State, and Black Male Achievement.

Mr. Alexander is a graduate of Lewis University and Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research.

As port commissioner, he replaces Peter Bragdon. The other board members are Jim Carter, commission president; Tom Chamberlain, commission vice president and president, Oregon AFL- CIO; Linda Pearce, commission treasurer, and CFO of Tillamook County Creamery Association; Robert Levy, commission secretary and self-employed farmer ; Alice Cuprill-Comas, legal counsel at Oregon Health & Science University; Tom Tsuruta, adjunct professor at Marylhurst University; Gary Young, business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 48; and Pat McDonald, vice president of human resources and director of the Intel Talent Organization at Intel Corporation.

The nine-member commission sets port policy during its monthly meetings. At least two commissioners must each live in one of the three counties in the port district (Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties). The remaining members may live anywhere in the state of Oregon. Commissioners are unpaid volunteers who are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate. They serve four-year terms and are eligible for reappointment to an additional term. Commission presidents are selected by and serve at the pleasure of the governor. The commission appoints the port's executive director.

 
Michael Alexander
Photo/Port of Portland