Personnel: Everett, Halifax, Kalama, Longview

John Mohr will retire in January 2015 after 17 years as executive director of the Port of Everett. The Halifax Port Authority (HPC) has named appointed a trade representative in Europe and joined CN Rail in retaining a company in India to promote the port and the railroad as a gateway to North America. Jennifer Brown has been promoted to director of administration at the Port of Longview. Sean Clark, harbor master for the Port of Kalama, has been elected president of the Northwest Marine Terminal Association.

John Mohr has announced his intention to retire in January 2015 after 17 years as executive director of the Port of Everett.

Mohr, who reports directly to the elected, three-member Everett Port Commission, oversees a staff of more than 100 full-time employees and a $64 million operating and capital budget.

He joined the port as chief executive in August 1997 after serving in similar capacities at the ports of Shelton (WA), Olympia (WA) and Newport (OR), and as deputy general manager of the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay.

During his tenure in Everett, he has led the strategic seaport through a major resurgence in its shipping business, moving from a declining wood products port to a key aerospace and break bulk port.

Among his many accomplishments, Mr. Mohr said he is most proud of the opening of Mount Baker Terminal to better serve the aerospace industry, and the recent milestone shipment for the 1,000th 777 airplane. These critical infrastructure investments, along with the skilled Boeing aerospace workers, helped the community successfully compete for the assembly of 787 and 777X aircraft.

"The past 16 years have gone by in the blink of an eye for me," Mohr said. "I have been so very fortunate to have visionary commissioners setting the direction of the port, and to have had a great port family to make that vision a reality. With the recent announcements of Saltchuk bringing Foss Maritime to the Everett waterfront, and 777X opportunity right around the corner, we are posed for greatness. I can’t think of a better scenario under which to retire."

Beside the port’s role in international trade, Mohr has also led the effort to start the transformation of the Marina District from an industrial site to a recreational hub. In addition to the marina enhancements over the years, the port has been working tirelessly to clean up legacy industrial pollution and to restore the economic prosperity to the Marina District property – known as Waterfront Place.

During his long career, John Mohr has worked tirelessly for AAPA in many capacities– as chair of its U.S. Port Delegation, U.S. Legislation Policy Council, Maritime Economic Development Commission and Resolutions Committee, as well as a long-serving member of the Curriculum Committee, which oversees AAPA’s Professional Port Managers (PPM®) program. He has been a member of the AAPA Board of Directors for 14 of the past 23 years.

After retirement, he plans to continue his volunteer work in the community and is looking forward to being a snowbird in Arizona with his wife of 30 years, Shirley.

"John will certainly be missed," said Port Commission President Tom Stiger. "When he retires, he will have served the community for 17 years, and his leadership is evident in the growth of the port, particularly the seaport. John’s passion for job creation, advocating and planning for the necessary infrastructure investments to support the aerospace industry, and his vision of transforming the marina area into a commercial and recreational district do not go unnoticed. On behalf of the commission, we wish him well in his upcoming retirement."

The port commission has hired a firm to conduct a search for Mr. Mohr’s successor as executive director of the Port of Everett.

The Halifax Port Authority (HPC) has taken action to promote and develop its overseas commercial interests in Europe and the Indian subcontinent.

In the first instance, it appointed Graham Fraser as Director, Business Development and Growth – Europe. Fraser has 30 years’ experience in shipping and has held senior commercial, operational and planning management positions at CMA CGM, CSAV, Kent Line Limited & Kent Line International, Contship Container Lines and Canada Maritime. He formed Focus Maritime (North West) Limited based in Liverpool in 2012 and has since developed a portfolio of clients in the transport, banking and manufacturing sectors. He will continue working from Liverpool.

"We are pleased that Graham has joined the Halifax Port Authority team," said George Malec, the HPC’s Vice President, Business Development and Operations. "With wide experience across all sectors of the industry and deep knowledge of European and North American markets and operations, he will further develop the position of the Port of Halifax in Europe with carriers, shippers and freight forwarders."

Additionally, the port authority has joined CN Rail in retaining Crest Container Lines to work in India to promote the port and CN’s rail network as a gateway into North America. The agreement took effect March 1, 2014. Crest Container Lines is headquartered in Mumbai and has branches in New Delhi, Kolkata and five other Indian cities. Fouze Farrhan, the company’s president and CEO, has more than two decades of shipping and freight experience in the Indian subcontinent and North American market. Crest Container Lines is a member of FFAI, FIATA and holds an NVOCC license from the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission.

"CN is pleased to continue to work closely with the Port of Halifax to pursue cargo growth opportunities in the Indian Subcontinent," said Keith Reardon, CN Vice President, Intermodal Services. "Through this partnership, we hope to improve the effectiveness of our customers' supply chains and in turn draw more business through the Port of Halifax and CN's North American rail network."

In 2012, the port authority and CN Rail opened a commercial office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Advisory, October 29, 2012).

Sean Clark, harbor master for the Port of Kalama, has been elected president of the Northwest Marine Terminal Association. Clark, who is also responsible for facility security and safety at the Port of Kalama, has represented the port on the association for four years.

The Northwest Marine Terminal Association is a voluntary organization of 15 deepwater ports in Oregon and Washington and has operated since 1939 under agreement approved by the Federal Maritime Commission. As its president, Clark will help the association facilitate long-range industry planning with respect to a broad range of factors, such as setting uniform rates, establishing consistent rules and practices, exchanging relevant information and pursuing cooperative ventures.

"It is an honor for me to represent the Port of Kalama as the association president this year," said Clark. "I look forward to facilitating discussions and activity regarding best practices among our members, in addition to maintaining marine terminal rates, regulations and rules that impact all of us in the maritime industry."

Brown joined the port in 2000 as an environmental engineer. Subsequently, she earned a certificate in Management Information Systems from Washington State University before being named director of information services in 2007.

As director of administration, she will remain responsible for the port’s expansive technology program and initiatives, while assuming responsibility for contracting, purchasing and clerical functions.

"Jennifer’s approach to business makes her a natural fit for this position," said Port Chief Executive Officer Geir Kalhagen. "Her combination of education, experience and proactive management style will facilitate positive growth for the Port of Longview."

Prior to joining the port, Brown was a project engineer at Armstrong World Industries and an air quality engineer with Southwest Clean Air Agency. She is vice president of the Pacific Northwest Marine Terminals Association and a member of the AAPA Information Technology Committee.