Port People: Corpus Christi, Los Angeles, Tampa

Frank Brogan, PPM®

Photo/Port Corpus Christi

Frank Brogan, managing director of the Port of Corpus Christi Authority, will retire February 2. He has been actively involved with the port as consultant and employee more than 40 years.

Mr. Brogan initially served the port for 13 years as an engineering design consultant and then for 27 years as a port staff employee – first as Director of Engineering Services, Deputy Port Director and finally as Managing Director. He was in charge of the final completion of the 45-foot channel project, the Mary Rhodes Pipeline and the Joe Fulton Corridor.

Mr. Brogan spearheaded the 52-foot channel project, the new Harbor Bridge, and the La Quinta Terminal. He helped reorganize the port’s security department and played a key role in the Port’s new strategic plan and organizational plan.

He has been an active member of the AAPA facilities Engineering Committee for many years. He earned AAPA’s PPM® designation in 2003 and subsequently served as a member and chairman of the Curriculum Committee. His PPM® paper, "Port of Corpus Christi, Texas, Waterfront Development," is available on the AAPA website.

"Frank Brogan has been the grand architect of all the port's significant projects of the last 3 decades! His energy, patience, resourcefulness and incredible talent transformed this port and positioned the region to attract over $32 billion of investment," said Port Commission Chair Judy Hawley. "His stunning accomplishments are balanced by his personal humility - diverting all credit to his staff and others. Although it's 50 years later, he has those same qualities we attribute to the Greatest Generation. Frank's legacy is prosperity for the Coastal Bend."

Los Angeles: Mayor Garcetti Names Doane Liu Port Deputy Executive Director

Doane Liu

Photo/City of Los Angeles

Mayor Eric Garcetti on January 21 announced that his Deputy Mayor for City Services, Doane Liu, will become deputy executive director and chief of staff at the Port of Los Angeles.

"The economy is my top priority and the Port of L.A. is our region's leading economic driver, so it's critical to me that we have the right team in place to make sure it retains its number-one position and grows as a powerhouse of international trade," Mayor Garcetti said. "Doane Liu is one of L.A.'s most seasoned and innovative executives, and combined with his personal connection to the port community, I am looking forward to big things from his work there. He will be missed in the Mayor's Office, but I know we will lean on him just as much in his new position at the Port of Los Angeles."

Mr. Liu will assume his new position on February 1. He will continue to help oversee the Mayor's Office of City Services until the transition to a new Deputy Mayor is complete.

Mr. Liu was appointed to be one of four deputy mayors by Mayor Garcetti in July 2013. His office is focused on the mayor’s goals of restoring the city services that make our neighborhoods livable and attractive while providing excellent customer service to our residents and businesses.

Mr. Liu was previously chief of staff for Councilman Joe Buscaino and served as chief of staff for Councilwoman Janice Hahn, deputy mayor for Mayor James K. Hahn and district director for Congresswoman Jane Harman. He was also senior vice president of government banking at JP Morgan Chase and vice president in the Real Estate Industries Group at Security Pacific National Bank.

Mr. Liu graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and received an MBA from the University of Southern California.

"Doane Liu's experience, expertise and close ties to the surrounding community will be invaluable as we work to boost trade, enhance the waterfront and green our operations," said Port Executive Director Gene Seroka."He is the cornerstone of a major reorganization intended to make sure Mayor Garcetti's vision for America's Port moves forward full steam ahead."

Mayor Garcetti appointed Mr. Seroka port executive director in 2013.

In addition to the new chief of staff, Mr. Seroka announced the following members of the Port's leadership team: Marla Bleavins, Chief Financial Officer; Ron Boyd, Chief of Port Police and Emergency Management; Mike DiBernardo, Marketing and Customer Relations; and Tony Gioiello, Development.

Port Tampa Bay Welcomes New Real Estate VP

Lane Ramsfield

Photo/Port Tampa Bay

Port Tampa Bay has hired Lane Ramsfield as vice president of real estate, effective January 26.

Mr. Ramsfield has many years of experience in multiple and mixed-use real estate, contract negotiations, marketing and collaborative efforts, most recently as managing partner for RamCapital Investments LLC, of Orlando.

Earlier, he served as vice president for the Trammell Crow Company and before that in various capacities with National Retails Properties, Inc., American Airlines and Orange County (CA). He holds a bachelor’s degree in construction management from North Dakota State University.

"We are very excited to have Lane join our team at Port Tampa Bay, as he brings formidable business acumen, negotiating skills and other professional assets to our management staff," said Port President Paul Anderson. "Lane will work with the port’s staff, customers, tenants and our many stakeholders to develop and market the port’s enviable assets to the region, nation and the world."