Port People: New Orleans, Oakland

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Port industry veteran Don Allee will assume control of the Port of New Orleans Cruise and Tourism Division in January, following the retirement of current Director J. Robert Jumonville. Mike Zampa is the newly appointed director of communications at the Port of Oakland, with responsibility for all internal and external communications.

Don Allee to Take Helm of Port of New Orleans’ Cruise and Tourism Division

Port industry veteran Don Allee will assume control of the Port of New Orleans Cruise and Tourism Division in January, following the retirement of current Director, J. Robert Jumonville.

During his 25 years with the port, Mr. Jumonville oversaw the planning and construction of all three Julia St. Cruise Terminals, including the present consolidation of the two terminals into one modern terminal completed in 2011. He was also instrumental in the design and construction of the Erato Street Cruise Terminal and Parking Garage Complex, the first intermodal cruise terminal in the industry to include a parking garage in the same building. Looking forward, Mr. Jumonville has been integral in the planning of the port’s third cruise ship terminal which will break ground in the first quarter of 2015 at Poland Avenue.

Under his watch, the port invested more than $75 million in cruise facilities and experienced a 1,200 percent rise in passenger throughput. to about 1.0 million in 2013. Revenue produced by his division increased more than 500 percent during his tenure. The port now enjoys long-term relationships with Carnival, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

Mr. Allee comes to New Orleans with nearly 30 years of port industry experience, most recently as executive director and CEO of the Mississippi State Port Authority from 2002 to 2012 and later as a consultant for PLG Consulting, providing services to port and terminal operators. Previously, he served as the executive director of the Port of Beaumont from 2000 to 2002 and worked in marketing and trade development for the Port of Freeport and the Port of Houston Authority.

A graduate of Sam Houston State University, Mr. Allee also obtained marketing and trade certificates from Northwestern University and Rice University.

"Don brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the Port of New Orleans," said New Orleans Port President Gary LaGrange, PPM® . "Our cruise industry has experienced meteoric growth under Robert Jumonville’s leadership, and I have full confidence Don will build upon that success."

Don Allee
Photo/Port of New Orleans

Port of Oakland Names Mike Zampa Director of Communications

Mike Zampa is the newly appointed director of communications at the Port of Oakland, with responsibility for all internal and external communications.

Mr. Zampa has more than 25 years of communications experience, including eight years within the maritime sector. He worked previously for container shipping line APL and its Singapore-based parent company, NOL Group. Before APL, Mr. Zampa was senior vice president of communications services at Bank of America, where he oversaw internal communications, media relations, and marketing communications.

Mr. Zampa has worked in the San Francisco Bay Area, Singapore and Jakarta. He began his career in journalism and worked as managing editor of the Contra Costa Times newspaper. Most recently, he was director of communications for the Indonesian pulp and paper manufacturer Asia Pacific Resources International.

Mike Zampa
Photo/Port of Oakland