Personnel: Port Angeles, San Diego

Tanya M. Kerr recently joined the staff of the Port of Port Angeles as property manager. In that role, she will drive the overall management and negotiations of contractual leases and use agreements within each of the port business lines. She brings to the port more than 20 years of experience in commercial real estate field, most recently as a managing broker for a real estate firm in Sequim (WA). She is also a former licensed limited practice officer and a commercial escrow officer.

Ms. Kerr attended Ventura Junior College and has amassed more than 80 hours of property management courses while maintaining her real estate and managing broker licenses.

"The port is proud to have Tanya on our team," said Ken O’Hollaren, the port’s interim executive director. "Her vast experience paired with her tenacity for hard work is just what the port needs. I am confident Tanya will make an immediate and positive impact on the Port’s real estate portfolio," She began work at the port on December 19.

Bob Nelson Takes Helm as San Diego Port Board Chair

Bob Nelson was sworn in January 14 as chairman of the San Diego Board of Port Commissioners by San Diego Interim Mayor Todd Gloria. Mr. Nelson is one of three city of San Diego representatives on the seven-member board, which also includes one appointee each by the city councils of Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach and National City.

Commissioner Dan Malcolm, the commission board’s Imperial Beach representative, was sworn in as board vice chairman. Commissioner Marshall Merrifield, another San Diego representative, was sworn in as secretary.

Mr. Nelson said that his theme for 2014 is "Building Our Future Together – ¡Adelante!" and explained that the Spanish word is a powerful way to convey a desire for forward momentum. He explained that this theme refers to his goals of planning for the San Diego region's economic future while leading environmental stewardship of San Diego Bay in partnership with port businesses. He also emphasized the importance of being a good neighbor to port communities near the Working Waterfront.

"The world has changed greatly in the five decades since the birth of the Unified Port District," he said. "Most business leaders have learned that environmental initiatives can help their bottom line, so there is less reason to argue about what is good for our economy, what's good for our neighborhoods, and what's good for Mother Earth."

Mr. Nelson said he intends to facilitate efforts to seek affordable, non-polluting energy sources for port operations and for port tenants in order "to reduce greenhouse gases that impact adjacent communities and contribute to climate change." In his first act as chairman, he said he would create an Ad Hoc Committee on Energy Supply "to advise the full board on issues related to energy sustainability, clean energy and reduction of GHG emissions."

Mr. Nelson, whose port commission term began in January 2011, has some 40 years of government and political service. That includes serving as President Clinton's representative on the U.S. CompetitiveNESS Policy Council and chairing the San Diego Convention Center Corporation, the San Diego LGBT Community Center, and City of San Diego Revenue Review and Economic Competitiveness Commission.

He serves on the port's Environmental Advisory Committee and represents the port as an advisory member of the San Diego Association of Governments board of directors. He also serves on the board of directors of CleanTECH San Diego and Middle Class Taxpayers Association. Prior to entering public service, he built an independent public relations agency.

American Association of Port Authorities
Asociación Americana de Autoridades Portuarias
1201 Maryland Ave SW, Suite 860, Washington, D.C. 20024
E: info@aapa-ports.org
W: www.aapa-ports.org