Port People: Coos Bay, Jacksonville, Portland (OR), South Louisiana

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Charles "Chuck" Steffensmeier, PE, is the newly appointed chief engineer for the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay. Franklin Camp has joined the Jacksonville Port Authority’s sales and marketing team as director, non-containerized sales. Kristen Leonard will be coming to the Port of Portland (OR) this July as public affairs director. Paul Robichaux has been elected president of the board of commissioners of the Port of South Louisiana for 2014-2015.

Coos Bay Hires Charles Steffensmeier as Chief Engineer

Charles "Chuck" Steffensmeier, PE, is the newly appointed chief engineer for the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay.

In that capacity, he provides engineering oversight for rehabilitation and upgrade of the Port’s Coos Bay rail line. He also will be involved in various marine structure initiatives the port is pursuing in its Charleston facilities and elsewhere.

Mr. Steffensmeier brings to the task more than 25 years of experience in rail engineering, including positions with the Union Pacific Railroad, the Alaska Railroad, Metrolink-Southern California Regional Rail Authority and most recently with SANDAG in San Diego. He also worked as a professional engineer for HNTB Corp., Hanson Wilson, Inc. and HDR Engineering, Inc.

His degrees include a BS in civil engineering from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, an MS in civil engineering from the University of Colorado-Denver, and an MBA from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He holds professional registrations in California, Colorado and Nebraska, is applying for Oregon certification, and is a member of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association (AREMA).

He began work at the port in early April.

Charles "Chuck" Steffensmeier
Photo/Oregon International Port of Coos Bay

Franklin Camp Joins the JAXPORT Sales Team 

Franklin Camp has joined the Jacksonville Port Authority’s sales and marketing team as director, non-containerized sales. In this role, Mr. Camp is responsible for strengthening relationships and attracting new break bulk, liquid and dry bulk, project, auto and reefer cargo business.

Mr. Camp previously served as marketing representative for the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority. He holds a BS in international business and marketing from Philadelphia University, a secondary education certificate in business technology from Rowan University, and is currently working toward an MBA in shipping and logistics at Middlesex University.

"Frank brings a tremendous amount of energy and drive to our already impressive sales team, and is committed to seeking out new business to grow our non-containerized sales," said JAXPORT Executive Vice President/Chief Commercial Officer Roy Schleicher. "New and current customers will appreciate his genuine interest in helping them develop logistics solutions through JAXPORT."

Franklin Camp
Photo/JAXPORT

Portland Names Kristen Leonard Public Affairs Director 

Kristen Leonard has accepted the position of public affairs director for the Port of Portland (OR), filling a vacancy left when Tom Imeson left to join Northwest Natural.

Ms. Leonard owns and operates C&E Systems, a Portland-based company specializing in government relations, financial services and software development. She has also advised clients on communications and public affairs in a private public affairs firm and at the Oregon Education Association.

Ms. Leonard is vice president and serves on the Board of Directors of the Oregon Capitol Club, a professional association of lobbyists in Oregon’s state legislature. She holds a BAs in communications from the University of Arizona.

She will report directly to Deputy Executive Director Curtis Robinhold. Her first day at the port will be July 21.

"Kristen has extensive experience in all the areas to which she has been assigned," said Mr. Robinhold. "Her strong background in government relations will serve the port well, and her knowledge of strategic communication and community outreach will ensure the public affairs team continues its high levels of performance toward the port’s mission and to the communities it serves."

Kristen Leonard
Photo/Port of Portland

At its April meeting, the governing commission of the Port of South Louisiana elected D. Paul Robichaux as president for 2014-2015. Mr. Robichaux was appointed to the board in 2012 by Gov. Bobby Jindal to represent St. Charles Parish. As president, he succeeds Louis A. Joseph, who had held the office since 2010 and previously served in it between 2000 and 2003.

The commissioners also elected Joseph Scontrino, executive president; P. Joey Murray, treasurer; and Stanley Bazile, secretary. Commissioners J. Raymond Fryoux, Louis A. Joseph and Robert "Poncho" Roussel will function as vice presidents. Officers serve terms of one-year.

The port commission consists of nine members, all appointed by the governor to terms of four years as representatives of the three parishes, or counties, that comprise the port district. Mr. Scontrino represents St. John Parish and Mr. Bazile St. James Parish, while Mr. Murray serves as the governor’s at-large appointee representing St. Charles, St. John and St. James parishes.

D. Paul Robichaux
Photo/Port of South Louisiana