Port People: Georgia, Nanaimo, New York/New Jersey, Seattle

Chairman James A. Walters of the Georgia Ports Authority.

Photo/Georgia Ports Authority

The Board of Directors of the Georgia Ports Authority has re-elected James A. Walters of Gainesville as chairman. Appointed to the GPA board by Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal in 2012, Mr. Walters just completed his first one-year term as chairman and previously served as vice chairman.

"At a time of unprecedented growth and the start of construction for the deepening project, Jim's continued, steady leadership sends a strong message to those who choose Georgia as their gateway to global commerce," said Gov. Deal. "Business leaders can be comfortable with Jim's background in economic development, coupled with a strong vision for the future of Georgia's ports."

The board also reelected Vice Chairman James L. "Jimmy" Allgood and Secretary/Treasurer A.J. "Joe" Hopkins III.

Chairman Walters is president of Walters Management Co., a financial services company which operates in Georgia, Tennessee and Texas, He is also chairman of the board of Chattahoochee Bank of Georgia, and a former director of First National Bank of Gainesville and its holding company, He sits on the boards of Northeast Georgia Medical Center Foundation, James A. Walters YMCA, Elachee Nature Center, and the Texas Consumer Finance Association, and is a past president and current director of the Georgia Industrial Loan Association.

Jimmy Allgood is chairman of the board of Allgood Pest Solutions, a company he started in 1974. He chaired the Structural Pest Control Commission for 20 years and is past president of the Georgia Pest Control Association. He has served as chairman of the Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority, the Dublin Rotary Club, and the First United Methodist Church board. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia.

Joe Hopkins is director of Hopkins-Gowen Oil Company, president of Toledo Manufacturing Company, director of Southeastern Bank, and a partner in Gowen Timber Company. He earned a law degree from Mercer University before going into private practice from 1977 to 1988. He is former president of the Georgia Forestry Association, and current president of the Forest Landowners Association.

The GPA board’s 13 members are each appointed by the governor of Georgia to terms of four years.

Georgia Ports Authority Vice Chairman James L. Allgood (left) and Secretary Treasurer A.J. "Joe" Hopkins, III.

Photos/Georgia Ports Authority

Michelle Corfield Appointed to Board of Nanaimo Port Authority

The City of Nanaimo has appointed Michelle Corfield to the board of directors Nanaimo Port Authority for a three-year term that began July 1. She replaces Merv Unger, who had served as the city’s port authority representative since July 1, 2012.

Ms. Corfield’s degrees include a BA in First Nations, an MA in Conflict Analysis and Management, and a Doctorate of Management. She is a member of the board of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC and Underwater Harvesters Association and the Ucluelet First Nations Trust, overseeing $20 million in investment funds. She also sits on the advisory committee for BC Hydro and chairs the legislature Ucluelet First Nation. She is a former member of 11 First Nations provincial boards and has held volunteer positions with the BC Summer Games and the Nanaimo Boys & Girls Club.

The seven-member port authority board includes one representative each of the federal, provincial and municipal governments and four members appointed by the federal government after consultation with port users.

The other board members are Jeet Manhas (chair), Richard Ringma (vice chair), Chris Badger, Audrey Cope, Donna Hais, and Moira Jenkins.

Michelle Corfield

Photo/Nanaimo Port Authority

New York/New Jersey Port Authority Names Jim Starace New Chief Engineer

Jim Starace will succeed Peter Zipf as chief engineer of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.

Mr. Zipf, whose retirement is effective August 3, joined the port authority in 1985 as a project manager in engineering. In 1988, he became the engineer of projects, a position he would hold until 1997, when he was promoted to program manager. In 2000, he was promoted to general manager of engineering management before being named deputy chief engineer in 2004, director of engineering/deputy chief engineer in 2006 and chief engineer in 2010.

During his nearly three decades with the bi-state agency, Mr. Starace has served as resident engineer for several high profile projects, including Newark Liberty International Airport's International Arrivals Building, resident engineer for LaGuardia Airport, engineer of construction for the AirTrain Terminal at Jamaica Station and New Jersey airports, and manager of the Construction Management Division.

"Jim is a strong leader and great engineer who I am confident will carry on the tradition of excellence of the Port Authority's Engineering Department," Port Authority Executive Director Pat Foye. "Jim's engineering positions have prepared him to assume the oversight of our next generation of major projects, including the Bayonne Bridge and Goethals Bridge projects, the modernization of LaGuardia Airport, the replacement of the George Washington Bridge suspender ropes and many more."

Seattle: David Freiboth Hired as Port’s Senior Director of Labor Relations

David Freiboth will be joining the Port of Seattle as senior director of labor relations on July 16. He will provide strategic direction and guidance for labor relations and support workforce development throughout the Puget Sound region. He will also work to build and enhance communication between a wide range of labor unions and the port. He will report directly to CEO Ted J. Fick.

"David has been a key player in the local labor community for over 20 years and brings to the port an extensive background and knowledge in maritime labor issues," said Mr. Fick. "As we seek to prepare the next generation of maritime workers throughout the region, his skills will be essential in growing jobs in this state."

Nearly half of the port’s 1,800 employees are represented by 20 different labor union locals, 22 bargaining units, with an additional six union locals comprising its external labor relations.

As executive secretary of the M.L. King County Labor Council since 2006, Mr. Freiboth has been responsible for representing 125 affiliated local unions, advising national labor leadership, managing local staff, and serving as primary spokesman for labor locals. Previously, he spent more than 10 years as the CEO of the Seattle Inlandboatman’s Union, representing more than 3,500 members in the public and private sector.

Mr. Freiboth holds a bachelor’s degree in labor history from the National Labor College in Silver Spring (MD)
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David Freiboth
Photo/Port of Seattle