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Port People: Cleveland, Iberia, New Orleans

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Cleveland: Chris Ronayne Elected Port Authority Chair

The board of trustees for the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority unanimously elected Chris Ronayne as board chair at its meeting on March 31. Mr. Ronayne is president and CEO of University Circle, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation established in 1957 that provides administrative and quasi-governmental services, including security, transportation administration, and marketing, in the University Circle neighborhood of the city of Cleveland.

"I'm truly looking forward to leveraging the economic power of the Port of Cleveland to create more jobs for Cleveland and Northeast Ohio," said Mr. Ronayne. "From our international export capacity to our financing capabilities, the Port of Cleveland is a key logistics hub and financing center that can enhance our regional economic development agenda."

The board also elected Diane Downing as vice chair and Anthony Moore as secretary. Ms. Downing is senior vice president and director of corporate affairs for Huntington National Bank and has been on the port authority board since 2013. Mr. Moore is a retired partner from Jones Day, joined the board in 2008, and previously served as its secretary from 2011 to 2013.

The port authority board consists of nine members – six appointed by the city of Cleveland and three by Cleveland-Cuyahoga County, each to terms of four years each.


From left, Chris Ronayne, Diane Downing, and Anthony Moore.
Photos/Port of Cleveland


Iberia: New Port Director, Commissioners and President

Craig F. Romero has succeeded Roy Pontiff as executive director of the Port of Iberia. Mr. Romero is a past Iberia Parish president and former Louisiana State senator and, according to the port, has the connections locally and nationally to help the oil and gas industry.

Recently, too, the board of commissioners elected officers for 2015, including Danny J. David Sr., president; Larry G. Rader, vice president; and Gene L. Jefferies, secretary-treasurer.

Three new commissioners have taken their seats – former Port CEO Pontiff, appointed by the Iberia Parish Council; E. R. "Smitty" Smith III, appointed by the City of New Iberia, and Simieon d. Theodile Sr., appointed by the City of Jeanerette. Also serving on the seven-member board is Commissioner Mark T. Doré.


Craig F. Romero
Photo/Port of Iberia


New Orleans: Port Board Elects Officers

Scott H. Cooper was elected chairman of the board of commissioners of the Port of New Orleans during the board’s meeting on March 30. Mr. Cooper is president of Crescent Towing and executive vice president of Cooper/T. Smith. He was appointed to the board by Gov. Bobby Jindal in December 2011.

As chairman, he succeeds Mr. Gregory R. Rusovich, whose term as chairman expired in March. Mr. Rusovich will continue to serve as a commissioner. In addition, the board elected William T. Bergeron vice chairman and Michael W. Kearney secretary-treasurer.

The board is made up of seven unsalaried commissioners who serve five-year staggered terms. Board members are appointed by the governor of Louisiana from a list of three nominees submitted by 19 local civic, labor, education and maritime groups. The board reflects the three-parish jurisdiction, with four members from Orleans Parish, two from Jefferson Parish and one from St. Bernard Parish.

Other board members are William T. Bergeron, Robert "Rusty" Barkerding Jr., Michael W. Kearney, Laney J. Chouest and Daniel F. Packer.


Scott H. Cooper
Photo/Port of New Orleans
 

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