Port People: Greater Lafourche, Seattle/Tacoma, Vancouver

Lafourche: April Danos Appointed to National Maritime Security Advisory Committee

U.S. Home Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has appointed April Danos, director of information technology for the Greater Lafourche Port Commission, to the National Maritime Security Advisory Committee (NMSAC).

Comprised of members representing all segments of the maritime industry, NMSAC provides advice to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security through the commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard on actions required to meet current and future security threats, international cooperation on security issues, and security concerns of the maritime transportation industry. The committee also works with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, FEMA, the Transportation Security Administration and other federal agencies.

Ms. Danos is past chair of the AAPA Information Technology Committee and current chair of the association’s Cybersecurity Subcommittee.  She often speaks to ports, federal agencies, and port security authorities on how to build and implement resilient maritime cybersecurity standards and practices. Her term as a NMSAC member runs through December 31, 2018.

Northwest Seaport Alliance Operations Team Adds Two New Leaders

The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) has hired Zachary Thomas to head its Operations Service Center (OSC), and promoted Bob Meyer to lead port operations and manage safety.

Mr. Thomas comes to the NSWA with 23 years of experience in the maritime industry, including a variety of positions with Ports America, most recently as general manager in Tacoma.

At NWSA, he will spearhead efforts to collaborate with stakeholders from across the supply chain to improve the efficiency and cost-competitiveness of the Puget Sound gateway. A group of industry representatives called the Executive Advisory Council guides the OSC, which is headquarters for NWSA’s customer success initiatives.
Mr. Thomas is a graduate of the Maine Maritime Academy.

Mr. Meyer joined the Port of Tacoma in 2014 to manage non-container facilities, a position that transitioned to The Northwest Seaport Alliance when the ports of Seattle and Tacoma formed the marine cargo operating partnership in August 2015.

In his expanded role, Mr. Meyer directs the operations at all port-operated terminals and rail yards, as well as the NWSA’s safety program.

Before joining the NWSA, Mr. Meyer spent nearly a decade as a merchant mariner and several years with Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics, most recently, running WWL’s terminal at the Port of Brisbane in Australia.
Mr. Meyer holds a bachelor’s degree in marine transportation and business administration from New York Maritime Academy.

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority Chief Financial Officer to retire

Allan Baydala plans to retire as chief financial officer of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority at the end of 2016.  As CFO since 2008, he has had overall responsibility for finance and accounting, legal, information services, business optimization, and enterprise risk management functions.

Mr. Baydala was the executive lead in the process that created Vancouver Fraser Port Authority through the amalgamation of the Vancouver, Fraser River and North Fraser port authorities. Before that, he was acting the president and chief executive officer of the North Fraser Port Authority. "Business in Vancouver" magazine named him CFO of the Year, Large Public Companies, in 2011.

Mr. Baydala has played a key role in the port authority’s business planning process, including leading the Port 2050 Scenario Update with multiple stakeholders. He has also played a leadership role in the port authority’s community and First Nations engagement work.

The port authority will begin recruiting for a replacement shortly. 

Allan Baydala
Photo/Port of Vancouver