Personnel: Jacksonville, Tacoma

Rick Schiappacasse is joining the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) as director, Latin America sales. The Port of Tacoma has promoted Dakota Chamberlain, its former engineering director, to chief facilities development officer and Thais Howard, a senior project manager, to engineering director, making her the first woman to lead the department.

JAXPORT Names Schiappacasse Director, Latin America Sales 

Rick Schiappacasse is joining the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) as director, Latin America sales. In this role, he will be responsible for strengthening relationships and developing new cargo business between North Florida and Latin America.

Photo/JAXPORT

Mr. Schiappacasse has more than 35 years of industry experience, including 22 years with the Maryland Port Administration (MPA) in the Port of Baltimore. Most recently, he served as the MPA’s director of Latin America and the Caribbean, with additional responsibility for the port’s forest product trade. Previously, he worked for Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Co. and other steamship lines and maritime-related agencies.

Mr. Schiappacasse is past Atlantic regional vice president for The International Propeller Club of the United States and president of the Baltimore area chapter of the Propeller Club. He was recently appointed to the board of the European Association of Propeller Clubs located in Brussels.

"Rick will enhance our already robust sales efforts with his wealth of industry know-how and his deep business relationships in Latin America and beyond," said JAXPORT Executive Vice President/Chief Commercial Officer Roy Schleicher. "Rounding out our team’s expertise by leveraging Rick’s 30-plus years of proven excellence will set us solidly on the path to business growth in this important sector."

Tacoma Promotes Engineers Dakota Chamberlain and Thais Howard

The Port of Tacoma has promoted Dakota Chamberlain, its former engineering director, to chief facilities development officer. It has also promoted Thais Howard, a senior project manager, to engineering director, making her the first woman to lead the department.

The promotions were prompted by Sue Mauermann’s retirement at the end of October.

Before joining the port in 2011, Mr. Chamberlain was director of seaport management at the Port of Seattle, where he oversaw a large capital development program. Earlier, he worked for the Federal Aviation Administration.

In his new position, Mr. Chamberlain oversees planning, engineering and environmental programs.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Hawaii and is a registered professional engineer in the states of Colorado and Washington. He is also enrolled in AAPA’s Professional Port Manager (PPM®) program.

Ms. Howard is responsible for directing the activities of the port’s engineering department, which is designing and managing several road, rail and terminal improvements related to the port’s aggressive 10-year strategic plan.

Before joining the port in 2007, she worked for GLE Associates and The Walter Fedy Group in Florida, Williams-Sonoma in Tennessee, and Westinghouse Electric Company in Utah.

Ms. Howard earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Clemson University. She is a licensed professional engineer in Washington, Florida and Tennessee.

  

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