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Port People: Corpus Christi, Houston, Hueneme, Los Angeles, Olympia

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Port Corpus Christi Commission Elects 2015 Executive Leaders, Welcomes New Member

The commissioners of the Port of Corpus Christi Authority elected officers and welcomed a new member at its first meeting of 2015. Commissioner Judy Hawley remains chair; former Secretary Charles Zahn Jr. takes over the vice chair seat; and Al Jones is secretary. At the same meeting, Richard L. Bowers, and re-appointee Commissioner Zahn were administered the oath of office by Nueces County Judge Lloyd Neal.

The port authority board consists of seven commissioners who serve three-year staggered terms without pay. Three commissioners are appointed by the Corpus Christi City Council, three by the Nueces County Commissioners Court, and one by the San Patricio County Commissioners Court.


Commissioner Judy Hawley
Photo/Port Corpus Christi

Chairwoman Hawley has represented San Patricio County on the Port Commission since 2004. A former tennis coach and teacher, she was elected to four terms in the Texas House of Representatives, where she served as vice chair of both the Transportation and Energy Resources Committees and chair of the House Military Caucus. She serves on the boards of the South Texas Institute of the Arts, South Texas Public Broadcasting, Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation, Texas Maritime Museum, Regional Leaders Forum and Citizens for Educational Excellence. 


Commissioner Charles Zahn Jr.  
Photo/Port Corpus Christi

Commissioner Zahn, a Nueces County appointee since 2012, is a partner in the law offices of Charles W. Zahn Jr. His community involvement and organizational affiliations include Port Aransas Parks and Recreation Board, Port Aransas Charter Commission, Port Aransas Rotary Club, Friends of the Ellis Library, Keep Port Aransas Beautiful, Port Aransas Preservation and Historical Association, Aransas County ISD Education Foundation, and the Coastal Conservation Association, to name a few. He also serves on the Nueces County Board of Park Commissioners. He holds a BA from Texas A&M University and a JD from Baylor University.


Commissioner Al Jones
Photo/Port Corpus Christi

Al Jones, a port commissioner since his appointment in 2012 by the city of Corpus Christi, is chairman of the board and CEO of American Bank, where he has been employed since 1970. He was recently appointed to the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. His business and civic interests include Spohn Investment Corp., State of Texas Economic Development Corp., Texas One, Governor's Business Council, Corpus Christi Economic Development Corp, Futurebridge, Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce, Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau, Corpus Christi Business Alliance, South Texas, and South Texas Public Broadcasting. He is also a member of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas, Subchapter S Bank Association, and Federal Reserve Bank, San Antonio. 


Commissioner Richard L. Bowers
Photo/Port Corpus Christi

Mr. Bowers, who served as a port commissioner for eight years during the 1990s, is an experienced corporate executive and a U.S. Army officer veteran of the Vietnam War. After leaving the Army, he worked as an analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency. He subsequently joined the Benilite Corporation, serving initially as Southeast Asia representative, then as assistant vice president of sales before relocating to Corpus Christi, where he eventually became manager and later president of Hitox Corporation, a Benilite spin-off company. He later resigned from Hitox Corporation and started Filler Minerals Modifiers Co. He rejoined Hitox Corporation (TOR Minerals) and retired several years later. In retirement, he formed Texas American Minerals to prospect in Central and South America.
 
Longoria Reappointed Chairman of the Port of Houston Authority Commission

Janiece M. Longoria
Photo/Port of Houston Authority

Janiece M. Longoria was unanimously reappointed chairman of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority in a joint session of the Harris County Commissioners Court and the Houston City Council on January 12.

Chairman Longoria has served on the Port Commission on behalf of the City of Houston since September 2002 and was appointed Chairman in 2013. Port Commissioners serve two-year terms without pay.

She chairs the Port Commission's Audit Committee and Dredge Task Force and is a member of the Governance and Pension and Benefits committees. She created the Chairman's Citizens Advisory Council to provide an open line of communication between communities in and around the Port of Houston, and the Port Commission. A Business Advisory Council was also created to obtain needed input from industry stakeholders. She is also chairman of the Board of Pilot Commissioners for Harris County Ports.

Chairman Longoria is an honors graduate of the University of Texas and holds a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. She is a name partner with the firm of Ogden, Gibson, Broocks, Longoria & Hall, LLP.

Chairman Longoria has received considerable recognition for distinguished service, including the 2008 Sandra Day O'Connor Board Excellence Award. She received the Female Executive of the Year Award from the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (2010) and was recognized as a "breakthrough woman" and inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce.

Hueneme: Jesse Herrera Elected to 6th Term as Port Commission President


Jess Herrera 
Photo/Port of Hueneme

The Port of Hueneme Board of Commissioners selected officers for 2015 at its first meeting of the new year on January 12. Commissioner Jess Herrera took the helm for his sixth term as president. The other officers are Vice Chairman Manuel Lopez and Secretary Arlene Fraser.

Jess Herrera’s association with the Port of Hueneme spans nearly a half century. He has been a port commissioner since 1994 and served 10 terms as executive officer of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU).

In his inaugural address, Mr. Herrera took note of the port's "Great Leap Forward" during the past 10 years and the "new challenges to our environment that will demand collaboration, vision and leadership." He went on to say: "I believe we are prepared to take on those challenges. We will continue to build goals that are socially responsible and in the best interests of all our stakeholders and especially the communities we represent."

Los Angeles Port Appoints Marla Bleavins Chief Financial Officer 


Marla Bleavins
Photo/Port of Los Angeles

Marla Bleavins joined the Port of Los Angeles as chief financial officer, effective January 12. In that capacity, she oversees the port’s financial affairs, which include accounting, financial management, debt and treasury, risk management and audit functions. She manages approximately 60 employees and reports to Molly Campbell, deputy executive director of finance and administration.

"Marla brings an outstanding, results-oriented public finance track record to the port," said Port Executive Director Gene Seroka. "With her extensive knowledge of the City of Los Angeles and its financial structures, she will help us maximize the financial performance of all our port assets." 

Ms. Bleavins replaces Karl Pan, who retired earlier this month after eleven years with the City of Los Angeles, including the last six years at the port.

She most recently served as the assistant general manager for finance and administration at the City of Los Angeles Department of Convention and Tourism Development and prior to that, as a project manager and debt and Treasury manager at Los Angeles World Airports.

She began her career with the city government as a budget analyst and then became a finance specialist in the Office of the City Administrative Officer. During her tenure with the city, Ms. Bleavins managed nearly $6 billion in bond financings that funded capital projects at Los Angeles International Airport and throughout the city.
 
Ms. Bleavins holds a BA in public policy and political science from Stanford University and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. 

Olympia Welcomes Len Faucher as Marine Terminal Director


Len Faucher
Photo/Port of Olympia

Leonard Faucher took over as marine terminal director at the Port of Olympia on January 12.

He comes to the position with the port extensive and successful experience in the maritime industry sector. At Charles R. Weber Company, Inc., a ship brokerage in Greenwich (CT), he managed a team that handled all vessel and cargo operations and related accounting for the firm. Earlier, he was responsible for scheduling Hess Corporation’s barging and shipping activities across 20 terminals in New York Harbor.

Mr. Faucher earned a BS in marine transportation from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, an MBA from University of New Hampshire, and is currently working on a Ph.D. in business administration. He served in the U. S. Naval Reserves as a commissioned officer.

He teaches business courses as an adjunct professor at St. Martin’s University in the Olympia suburb of Lacey.

"Len has demonstrated impressive leadership in cargo, vessel and terminal operations, international marketing and contract negotiations," said Olympia Port Executive Director Ed Galligan. "He has worked extensively with unions and has a history of activity in community groups as well as industry organizations."
 

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