Personnel: Long Beach, Saint John, Virginia

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners has appointed Heather A. Tomley director of environmental planning for the Port of Long Beach. Canadian Transport Melanie Bell Hughes has been appointed and Peter Gaulton reappointed to the board of directors of the Saint John Port Authority. John F. Reinhart has officially taken the reins as chief executive officer and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority (VPA).

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners has appointed Heather A. Tomley director of environmental planning for the Port of Long Beach.

Ms. Tomley has been serving as the port’s acting director of environmental planning since July 2013. She will report to Managing Director of Environmental Affairs and Planning Rick Cameron. She joined the port as an environmental planning associate in 2005, was promoted to environmental specialist and then senior environmental specialist in 2006 and assistant director in 2008. Currently on leave, she is scheduled to return March 17 to her new role.

As director of environmental planning, she will lead the division most directly responsible for the port's Green Port Policy and the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan. The division coordinates programs to improve air, water and soil quality, preserve wildlife habitat and integrate sustainability into port practices.

Ms. Tomley earned a BS in chemistry and a minor in psychology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and an MS in environmental science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Canadian Transport Minister Lisa Raitt on February 10 announced the appointment of Melanie Bell Hughes to the board of directors of the Saint John Port Authority until December 2016.

Ms. Hughes comes to port with a background in marketing, advertising and business. She has been an owner of Hughes Communications Inc. since 1995, overseeing seven retail locations as vice president. She has experience developing long-term business strategies and liaising with diverse groups of individuals and companies. She holds a BA from the University of New Brunswick and is an active community volunteer.

Additionally, Chairman Peter Gaulton has been reappointed to a third term on the port authority board. Mr. Galton, who joined the port authority board in 2008 and became its chairman in 2013, has also chaired the board’s audit committee for several years. He has been a Saint John-based chartered accountant for 34 years, has owned his own firm for the past 23 years and has been a community volunteer for more than three decades.

The port authority’s board of directors is composed of seven members, including one each appointed by the municipal, provincial and federal governments, and four nominated by user groups within the port community and appointed by the federal transport minister. Board members are appointed to terms of three years and are compensated for their services.

John F. Reinhart on February 10 began his tenure as chief executive officer and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority (VPA). He is the fourth person to head the agency, which owns and operates container and break bulk terminals on behalf of the state.

Mr. Reinhart will lead the Port of Virginia, which in 2013 generated record-setting container volume and initiated a restructuring of the relationship between VPA and its terminal operating company, Virginia International Terminals, LLC. He will oversee the completion and full implementation of the restructuring effort, which is focused on improving the port's operational results and its competitive position.

"It is a privilege to join the Port of Virginia and to serve as one of its stewards," Mr. Reinhart said. "We have significant challenges to address to achieve the potential of the port and serve our customers, constituents and the Commonwealth. Working closely with the administration, the VPA's board and colleagues, we will chart the course to achieve the results to move the port forward and serve with integrity and purpose."

In his new role, Mr. Reinhart is responsible for the broad programmatic areas of business development and growth, strategic marketing, finance and operations of Virginia's marine terminal facilities: APM Terminals Virginia, Newport News Marine Terminal, Norfolk International Terminals, Portsmouth Marine Terminal, Port of Richmond and the Virginia Inland Port.

His 23 years of maritime experience includes employment with Maersk Inc., Universal Maritime Services and Maersk Line Limited (MLL). In 2000, he was named chief executive officer of Norfolk-based MLL, and acquired the concurrent title of president in 2004. He served on MLL's board of directors for 14 years.

Mr. Reinhart received a bachelor's degree in general studies with a focus on political science from Ohio University and an executive MBA from the University of Michigan.