Personnel: Everett, Tampa

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The Port of Everett has selected Catherine Soper to manage its digital communications and support the growing demands of its public affairs department. Gregory Celestan has been appointed to the board of commissioners of the Tampa Port Authority.

Everett Fills Public Affairs Slot 

The Port of Everett has selected Catherine Soper to manage its digital communications and support the growing demands of its public affairs department. She will be working on the port’s social media, websites, publications and community outreach programs, among other duties. She reports to Public Affairs Administrator Lisa Lefeber.

Ms. Soper, who was promoted from within the organization, previously provided administrative support to the seaport and real estate divisions, including facilitation of the port’s event venues. She graduated from Central Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and recently completed the Leadership Challenge Program through Leadership Snohomish County.

Catherine Soper
Photo/Port of Everett

Governor Appoints Gregory Celestan to Tampa Port Board

Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Gregory Celestan to a four-year on the governing board of the Tampa Port Authority. Mr. Celestan succeeds outgoing commissioner and former board chairman Larry Shipp, a board member for the past eight years.

Mr. Celestan is founder and CEO of Celestar Corporation, a Tampa-headquartered consulting firm that provides support to the U.S. government and private industries worldwide. He retired as a lieutenant colonel from the U.S. Army after 25 years of service. He was selected as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the State of Florida in 2010. He is a trustee on the board of the Bank of Tampa, a member of both the Tampa General Hospital Foundation Board and the CEO Council of Tampa Bay, and a past chairman of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. He attended the University of Washington and the United States Military Academy at West Point. His board term will end November 25, 2017.

The port commission consists of seven members – five appointed by the governor, one by Hillsborough County commissioners and one by the Tampa city manager. Port commissioners serve without compensation for terms of four years.