Port People: Galveston, Long Beach, New York/New Jersey

Port of Galveston Names Leal Director of Engineering, Maintenance and Environmental Affairs

Humberto A. Leal joined the Port of Galveston staff August 1 as director of engineering, maintenance and environmental affairs.

As leader of the port’s engineering department, he oversees engineering, construction and maintenance functions, including engineering design, project management, surveying, construction inspections, marine facilities and other maintenance and construction-related functions.

Mr. Leal has more than 30 years of experience in engineering, construction and project management of marine projects, most recently as senior supervising engineer for Moffatt & Nicholl. Earlier, he worked as a senior marine consultant with Lloyd Engineering and senior (area) project engineer for Bechtel Corporation. His engineering career began in Venezuela, where he was a lead marine engineer.

Mr. Leal studied engineering management at Metropolitan University in Caracas and graduated with a BS in ocean engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Texas and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.  

"Humberto’s experience will be a tremendous asset to the Port," said Interim Port Director Peter Simons. "We are excited about having him join the port team. He has over 13 years of experience in the region and we are fortunate to have found someone with his qualifications. The port has several capital development projects that will benefit from his expertise."

Gerot to Lead Communications and Community Relations at Long Beach

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners on August 3 approved the selection of Kerry Gerot to lead the Communications and Community Relations Division at the Port of Long Beach.

The communications division works with other divisions in disseminating information to the public, media and industry stakeholders about the port’s role in facilitating domestic and international. As director of communications and community relations, Ms. Gerot will oversee media relations, crisis communications, community engagement and educational outreach.

Ms. Gerot has been the public affairs officer for the Long Beach City Manager’s Office for almost three years. Earlier, she worked in a similar capacity at the Long Beach Airport and before that in various positions in in the entertainment, music and publishing fields. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations and a master’s degree in professional writing, both from the University of Southern California.

Her appointment is effective August 15.



New York/New Jersey: Port Authority Board Elects Kevin J. O'Toole Chairman, Approves Rick Cotton as New Executive Director

Former New Jersey State Senator Kevin J. O'Toole was elected the 20th chairman of the board of directors of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey by his fellow commissioners on August 3. He succeeds John Degnan, who had served in the post since July 2014.

The board also approved the selection of Rick Cotton to succeed Pat Foye as the agency's new executive director, effective 8 a.m., August 14.

Mr. O'Toole is a founding and managing partner of O'Toole Scrivo, a law practice encompassing toxic tort, environmental law, risk management, class actions, complex litigation, and corporate investigations. He also has a long career in public service at the local and state level in New Jersey. After serving in elective positions in Cedar Grove, he was first elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1995 and served until May 2001. He then served in the state Senate from May 2001 until January 2002. He was elected again to the general assembly in 2001 and re-elected twice. In 2007, he was elected to the state senate and re-elected in 2011 and 2013. He received a B.A. and J.D. from Seton Hall University.

Mr. O'Toole joined the port authority board in July, following his nomination by Governor Chris Christie and his July 1 resignation from the state senate.

Since January 2015, Executive Director Cotton has served as Governor Cuomo's Special Counsel for Interagency Initiatives, overseeing most of the Governor's major downstate infrastructure priorities including LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International airports, the Penn-Farley Complex, the new Tappan Zee Bridge and the expansion of the Javits Center.

He joined the administration following 25 years at NBC Universal, including 20 years as executive vice president and general counsel and four years in London as president and managing director of CNBC Europe. He also served as executive secretary to the Department at the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare under Secretary Joseph A. Califano, Jr., and Special Assistant for Renewable Energy to Deputy Secretary of Energy John Sawhill at the U.S. Department of Energy. He received an A.B. from Harvard College, a J.D. from Yale Law School, and served as a law clerk to Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. on the U.S. Supreme Court.


Port Authority Chairman Kevin J. O’Toole (left) and Executive Director designee Rick Cotton