Facebook Twitter Twitter    Archive | www.aapa-ports.org July 21, 2015
   

Port People: Duluth, Long Beach, Oakland, Portland (OR)

Print Print this Article | Send to Colleague

Duluth Seaway Port Authority Names Director of Business Development

Kathryn "Kate" Ferguson joined the Duluth Seaway Port Authority July 13 as director of business development. She is the port authority’s first point of contact for companies pursuing domestic and international trade opportunities. Additionally, she will work to develop, attract and retain business for the port authority and its properties – coordinating business expansion prospects with industrial development organizations throughout the region. 

Prior to her most recent position as supply chain informatics senior specialist for Essentia Health, she worked nine years in transportation logistics based in Duluth – first for Great Lakes Fleet (GLF) and later for Canadian National Railway. She has spent much of her career analyzing and improving efficiencies in cargo movement between ports and facilities along the Great Lakes-Seaway. As a sales, marketing and traffic analyst for GLF and a transload solutions manager for CN Supply Chain Solutions, she focused on business development, project management, contract administration and the improvement of operational efficiencies for customers at dozens of multi-modal facilities. 

Ms. Ferguson graduated magna cum laude with bachelor’s degrees in transportation & logistics management and computer information systems from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, then earned an MBA at the University of Minnesota Duluth. She is pursuing a doctorate in transportation & logistics at North Dakota State University and is certified by the American Society of Transportation & Logistics.

Her maritime interests extend beyond the job. She is president of the Propeller Club of Duluth-Superior, spent three years on the board of the Lake Superior Marine Museum Association, volunteered on the S.S. Meteor Preservation Project in Superior for five years, and has given lectured in the transportation & logistics management department at University of Wisconsin Superior since 2006.

"Kate is unique in the world of logistics in many ways:  accomplished academically in the discipline, experienced in multiple modes with supply chain execution responsibilities and connected to the Great Lakes maritime life," said Port Authority Executive Director Vanta Coda. "We have great expectations that her skill sets can leverage our mission of business and economic development to greater heights."  

Kathryn Ferguson
Photo/Duluth Seaway Port Authority

Long Beach: Noelia Rodriquez to be Port’s Managing Director of Communications

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners has approved the appointment of Noelia Rodriguez, former chief communications officer for Metro Los Angeles, as managing director of communications at the Port of Long Beach. She will oversee the port’s communications, government relations and marketing divisions.

Ms. Rodriguez’s experience ranges from the White House and the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office to her most recent position with Metro Los Angeles, the county’s public transportation authority.

As Metro’s chief communications officer, she led 275 employees and managed a $50 million budget while overseeing media relations, government relations, marketing, communications, and community relations. She was also responsible for customer programs and services.

She previously served as director of the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum at Harvard University, vice president of corporate communications at Univision, Director of Communications and press secretary to First Lady Laura Bush and deputy mayor under former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan. In 2000, Mayor Riordan appointed her to serve as president and CEO of LA 2000, the host committee for the Democratic National Convention.

Ms. Rodriguez earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from California State University, Los Angeles. She also completed one year of studies in the social ecology program at University of California, Irvine.

"I am so pleased to have Noelia join our world-class port team," said Port CEO Jon Slangerup. "Her years of experience in communications and government relations are exactly what we need during this very dynamic time at the port."


Noelia Rodriguez
Photo/Port of Long Beach


Oakland: Earl Hamlin Elected Port Commission President 

Retired investment banker Earl Hamlin has been elected president of the Port of Oakland Board of Port Commissioners. Mr. Hamlin, a 41-year Oakland resident, was selected unanimously by the board at its July 9 meeting.

The commissioners also elected past Board President Alan Yee 1st vice president and. Commissioner Michael Colbruno 2nd vice president. All three officers will serve in their posts for one year.

Mr. Hamlin, a corporate finance and venture capital expert, was the board’s 2nd vice president for the past year. He previously served on the Alameda County Planning Commission, the Alameda County Economic Development Advisory Board and was Treasurer of the Chabot Space & Science Center.

Mr. Yee is a civil litigation attorney and partner at the Oakland law firm of Siegel & Yee. He was president of the Peralta Community Colleges board, chairman of the Oakland Police Review Commission and a board member of the Chinatown/Central District Community Development Council, the Oakland Intergovernmental Council and the East Bay Conversion and Reinvestment Commission.

Mr. Colbruno is a partner in the public affairs firm Milo Group of California. He was a legislative director and chief of staff in the San Francisco Mayor’s Office, San Francisco Board of Supervisors and California State Legislature. He was appointed to the Oakland City Planning commission by three successive mayors.

The port commission consists of seven members, all appointed by the mayor with the advice and consent of the city council. Members are unpaid and serve four year terms. The other commissioners are Cestra "Ces" Butner, James W. Head, Bryan Parker, and Joan H. Story.

            
From left: Oakland Port Commissioner President Earl S. Hamlin, 1st Vice President Alan Yee and 2nd Vice President Michael Colbruno
Photos Courtesy of the Port of Oakland


The Port of Portland has named Craig Funk chief of Portland Airport Fire and Rescue, and Jason Wallis the chief of the Port of Portland Police Department. 

Craig Funk comes to the port with more than 28 years of fire service experience, most recently as on-duty deputy chief for emergency operations at Portland Fire & Rescue. His experience encompasses a variety of supervisory positions and fire service disciplines, including operations, training, emergency medical services, and marine fire and rescue. He also served as the city’s liaison to Portland International Airport while working at Portland Fire & Rescue. Mr. Funk was sworn on May 27 as successor to Craig Callicotte, who retired after six years as port fire chief. 

Jason Wallis has spent his entire 18-year law enforcement career in the port’s police department. Working up through the ranks, he supervised the port’s detective and K9 units. He served 4 years as a lieutenant, 2 years as a captain, and most recently as acting chief after the retirement of Phil Klahn, the port police chief for nearly 13 years. Chief Wallis was sworn in on July 2. 

"I’m thrilled to have sworn in both Chief Funk and Chief Wallis," said Mark Crosby, the port’s chief of public safety and security. "They are consummate professionals who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the job and the port is fortunate to have these gentlemen lead two of our critical public safety organizations." 

      
Portland Port Fire Chief Craig Funk (left) and Police Chief Jason Wallis
Photos/Port of Portland
 

Share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn