Port People: Everett, Houston, New Orleans, Palm Beach, Port Everglades, Seattle

Dave Madill (left) and Walter Seidl

Photos/Port of Everett

Houston Port Commission Reappointments

Clyde Fitzgerald and Roy Mease were each reappointed to the Houston Port Commission on January 6 – Mr. Fitzgerald by the Harris County Commissioners Court and Mr. Mease by the City of Pasadena. Harris County Commissioners Court also acted to extend Port Commissioner John D. Kennedy's current term to February 1, 2016.

The seven-member commission is the governing body of the Port of Houston Authority. Two members are appointed by the City of Houston, two by the Harris County Commissioners Court, one by the Harris County Mayors & Councils Association, one by the City of Pasadena, and the chairman jointly by the city and the county commissioner court. Commissioners serve without compensation for terms of two years each.

Commissioner Clyde Fitzgerald

Photo/Port of Houston Authority

Mr. Fitzgerald, who was originally appointed to the commission in June 2013, is a 50-year veteran of the Houston waterfront and serves as president of the South Atlantic & Gulf Coast District of the International Longshoremen's Association. He joined his father on the docks in 1959 and later served as president of ILA Local 28 for 20 years. Mr. Fitzgerald also is vice president of the International ILA organization and a member of its executive council. He chairs the port commission’s Pension and Benefits Committee and serves on its Audit Committee and Dredge Task Force.

Commissioner Roy Mease

Photo/Port of Houston Authority

Mr. Mease, who has a private law practice in Pasadena, has been a port commissioner since September 24, 2013. He is chairman of the Pasadena Second Century Corporation, the city's economic development entity. He served eight years on the Pasadena City Council. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, earned a JD from South Texas College of Law, and is a member of the State Bar of Texas. He serves on the port commission’s Community Relations and Governance committees.

Commissioner John D. Kennedy

Photo/Port of Houston Authority

Commissioner Kennedy is a retired U.S. Army colonel and former municipal official. During his Army career, he specialized in logistics, leadership and management and held major command responsibilities. After leaving the Army in 1999, he went on to serve 10 years as Nassau Bay (TX) city manager. He is a graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University, holds an MA in Management from Central Michigan University, and is a former National Security Fellow at Harvard University’s School of Management. Mr. Kennedy chairs the port commission’s Procurement and Small Business Development Task Force and serves on its Pension and Benefits Committee.

New Orleans: Port Names Brandy Christian Chief Operating Officer

Brandy D. Christian

Photo/Port of New Orleans

Brandy D. Christian has been named chief operating officer of the Port of New Orleans by President and CEO Gary LaGrange, PPM®. She succeeds Patrick J. Gallwey, PPM®, who will retire March 1 after 34 years with the port.

Ms. Christian comes to New Orleans after 14 years at the Port of San Diego, the past five years as vice president, strategy and business development. During her San Diego tenure, Ms. Christian played an influential role in securing major cargo and cruise accounts for the port. She was also instrumental in significantly improving operational processes and reducing costs for the public agency.

In San Diego, She provided the executive team and the port commissioners with organizational-wide strategic guidance and also led a wide variety of business development initiatives related to cruise development, maritime import and export opportunities and industrial leases. She also oversaw several departments including maritime, government & civic relations, and marketing & communications. She began her career with the Port of San Diego in 2000 as the public/tenant liaison for the executive offices and was promoted in 2002 to director of strategic management services before becoming vice president in 2009.

Earlier in her professional career, Ms. Christian worked for KPMG Consulting, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and Fleishman-Hilliard Inc. Her degrees include a bachelor’s in political science from the University of Arizona and a master’s in public administration from the University of Southern California.

Her tenure at the Port of New Orleans will begin January 26 and will include a transition period with Mr. Gallwey.

"Brandy brings a wealth of experience to New Orleans," Mr. LaGrange said. "Her background in strategic initiatives, civic relations, and cruise and cargo development will serve the port well for many years to come. We welcome her aboard."

Mr. Gallwey’s career with at the port began in 1980 when he established the Industrial Development Department. He served in leadership positions in marketing and business development, planning and engineering, and executive management. He oversaw the planning of the port’s terminal expansion projects beginning in 1990 resulting in the construction of container terminals on the port’s riverfront, planning for the Tchoupitoulas Corridor, downtown riverfront and cruise terminals and various transportation projects. He earned AAPA’s Professional Port Manager (PPM®) certification in 1997.

"Pat’s contributions to the port cannot be overstated," said Mr. LaGrange. "His steadfast leadership and institutional knowledge helped guide the Port to record results. He has been a staunch supporter of the entire maritime community and economic development initiatives in the New Orleans area and throughout Louisiana for many years. He will be sorely missed by all who have had the privilege of working with him."

Palm Beach Commissioners Elect Ciklin Chairman, Welcome New Member McArthur

Palm Beach Port Commission Chair Blair J. Ciklin

Photo/Port of Palm Beach

Blair J. Ciklin, one of the nation’s longest serving port commissioners, was elected chairman of the Port of Palm Beach Board of Commissioners at a special board meeting on January 6.

Chairman Ciklin is serving his ninth consecutive term since his first election to the port commission in 1978. As chairman, he succeeds Edward R. Oppel, who retired December 31 after 10 years as a port commissioner.

"The Port of Palm Beach has undertaken an aggressive capital improvement program over the years to insure it remains a major contributor to the economic growth of Palm Beach County", said Chairman Ciklin. "Today we welcomed the arrival of the MV Grand Celebration, a 1,900-passenger cruise ship that will serve not only as one of the premier attractions for our region but also enhance the job market and economic opportunities for the Port of Palm Beach District and surrounding communities."

The board also elected Wayne M. Richards vice chair and Dr. Jean L. Enright secretary/treasurer and welcomed a new member, former Palm Beach employee Peyton W. McArthur.

Mr. McArthur, who was elected in November to fill the seat vacated by former Commissioner Oppel, served as the port’s human resources director from 2004 to 2010.

Port Commissioner Peyton W. McArthur receives oath of office from Palm Beach County Commissioner Paulette Burdick.

Photo/Port of Palm Beach

Port Everglades Names Juan Flores to New Intermodal Programs Position

Juan Flores, new Assistant to the Port Director for Intermodal Programs at Port Everglades.

Photo/Port Everglades

Juan J. Flores has joined Port Everglades as assistant to the port director for intermodal programs. The new position reports to Chief Executive & Port Director Steven Cernak, PPM®.

Mr. Flores comes to the port from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), where he served three years as State Freight, Logistics and Passenger Operations Administrator. In that capacity, he was responsible for developing Florida’s first comprehensive intermodal freight plan. He supervised and managed an annual budget of $1 billion within a five-year work program.

Prior to joining FDOT, Mr. Flores served four years as the director of the Freight, Rails, Ports & Waterways Division of the Mississippi Department of Transportation and five years as the intermodal policy program manager for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in Washington (DC).

He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University, a master’s in transportation logistics from George Mason University, and an MBA from Mississippi College.

Said Mr. Cernak: "With the recent completion of the Florida East Coast Railway's intermodal container transfer facility and the Eller Drive Overpass at Port Everglades, development of an intermodal transportation strategy that integrates the long-term goals in the port such as the 20-Year Master/Vision Plan and short-term goals of the port's strategic business plan will be critical to take full advantage of the port's superior intermodal connections and opportunities. With his wealth of experience, Mr. Flores is a valuable addition to my leadership team to develop and implement that strategy."

Seattle: Bowman, Gregoire Re-Elected Commission Co-Presidents for 2015

The Port of Seattle Commission has re-elected Co-Presidents Bowman and Gregoire for another full-year term. It also elected John Creighton to serve as vice president, Tom Albro to serve as commission secretary, and Bill Bryant to serve as assistant secretary.

Stephanie Bowman is executive director of Washington ABC, a statewide non-profit organization promoting policies and programs to help economically disadvantaged communities build assets through investments in education, homeownership, savings and small business development. She has more than 18 years of experience working in the areas of transportation and economic development on the local, state and federal levels, including at the Port of Tacoma and Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce.

Courtney Gregoire works as a senior attorney in Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit, where she fights technology-facilitated crime against vulnerable populations including children and the elderly. Before returning home to Washington State, she spent nearly 10 years working in Washington (DC) in senior-level positions in both the legislative and executive branches of the federal government.

The port commission consists of five members, each elected at large by the voters of King County to four-year terms.

Seattle Port Commission Co-Presidents Courtney Gregoire (left) and Stephanie Bowman.

Photo/Port of Seattle