Port People: Freeport (TX), Nanaimo, New Orleans, San Diego, Tacoma
Print this Article | Send to Colleague
Paul Kresta was elected chairman of the Port Freeport (TX) Commission during a commission meeting on June 9. The commissioners also elected: John Hoss, vice chairman; Shane Pirtle, secretary; and Bill Terry, assistant secretary.
Paul Kresta has been a port commissioner since 2009. A life-long resident of Brazoria County, he is a shift superintendent for Philips 66 where he has worked since 1978 and has been in the private ranching business for 28 years. Commissioner Kresta served on the board of the Brazoria County Fair Association for 25 years. He is also a board member and past president of the Brazoria County Cattlemen’s Association.
Port Freeport's Commissioners are elected to staggered six year terms by the voters of the Brazos River Harbor Navigation District of Brazoria County. The other commissioners are Rudy Santos and Ravi Singhania.
Paul Kresta
Photo/Port Freeport
Bernie Dumas Retiring as President and CEO of Nanaimo Port Authority
Bernie Dumas, president and CEO of the Nanaimo Port Authority, is retiring September 30, after nearly 40 years in the marine industry across Canada.
Port Authority Chair Moira Jenkins said Mr. Dumas’s "many accomplishments reflect his exceptional commitment. He has led the port’s transformation from a forest products distribution center, to a multimodal port operation, establishing Nanaimo as the main marine gateway for trade to and from the island."
Furthermore, she said: "Through Bernie’s vision, and with the introduction of DP World and containerization, the port’s short-sea shipping service now connects Vancouver Island to new global markets for island manufacturers. Bernie has been instrumental in the development of the "Marine Domain Awareness System."’ During his watch, as well, the port ventured into cruise tourism.
Bernie Dumas joined the port authority as chief executive on January 15, 2009, after eight years with China (Canada) Shipping Agency in Vancouver. Before that, he worked as general manager of Inchcape Shipping Company in Vancouver from 1995 to 2000 and development manager of Sokil Transportation from 1993 to 1995. Earlier, he was also employed by Federal Marine Terminals and Cho Yang.
He is a member of the AAPA board of directors and past chair of AAPA’s Canadian Delegation. He is also past chair of the Association of Canadian Port Authorities, and a past president of both the Plimsoll Club of Vancouver and the Vancouver Transportation Club.
Bernie Dumas
Photo/Nanaimo Port Authority
The board of commissioners of the Port of New Orleans elected Robert R. Barkerding, Jr., to a one-year term as chairman during its meeting of June 22. Mr. Barkerding, who represents Jefferson Parish, joined the board in February 2013 as the appointee of Governor Bobby Jindal. As chairman, he succeeds Michael W. Kearney, who continues as a commissioner.
The board also elected Laney T. Chouest vice chairman and Arnold B. Baker secretary-treasurer.
Mr. Barkerding is president of Admiral Security Services Inc., a maritime-focused security firm with offices in New Orleans and Mobile that provides armed guards to vessels and ports. He has worked in the maritime industry for more than 50 years.
Mr. Barkerding is director of the New Orleans Board of Trade, president emeritus of the Propeller Club of New Orleans, member of the executive committee of the International Propeller Club and vice-chairman of the World Trade Center Transportation Committee. He is also a U.S. Navy veteran and former active duty and reserve member of the New Orleans Police Department.
The World Trade Center of New Orleans announced in April that Mr. Barkerding is the recipient of the 2017 C. Alvin Bertel Award. Established in 1967, the award is presented annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to the Louisiana port community.
The port board consists of seven commissioners, who are unsalaried and serve staggered terms of five years each. The governor of Louisiana appoints members from lists of three nominees submitted by 19 local civic, labor, education and maritime groups. The board reflects the port’s three-parish jurisdiction four members from Orleans Parish, two from Jefferson Parish and one from St. Bernard Parish.
The other board members are William T. Bergeron, Tara C. Hernandez, and Darryl D. Berger.
Robert R. Barkerding, Jr.
Photo/Port of New Orleans
Port of San Diego Welcomes Michael Zucchet as New Port Commissioner
Michael Zucchet was sworn in June 15 as the newest representative of the City of San Diego on the San Diego Board of Harbor Commissioners.
Mr. Zucchet is general manager of the San Diego Municipal Employees Association. Earlier, he worked for the Utility Consumers’ Action Network, as legislative and community affairs director for the San Diego City Fire Fighters, and as a San Diego City Council member.
His degrees include a bachelor’s in business economics in environmental studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a master’s in environmental economics and policy from Duke University. He worked as a renewable energy economist with the U.S. Energy Information Administration in Washington (DC) and the Environmental Defense Center in Santa Barbara. He is past president of the San Diego League of Conservation Voters.
His community involvement includes serving as chair of the San Diego MADD Advisory Board, chair of the City of San Diego’s Municipal Golf Committee and as a member of the boards of the Center on Policy Initiatives, the San Diego Regional Climate Education Partnership, and the San Diego Business Alliance for Water.
The board’s seven members include three appointed by the City of San Diego and one appointment each by the cities of Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach and National City. The other members are Chairman Robert "Dukie" Valderrama, Vice Chairman Rafael Castellanos, Secretary Garry J. Bonelli, Ann Moore, Dan Malcolm and Marshall Merrifield.
Michael Zucchet taking the oath as San Diego’s newest port commissioner
Photo/Port of San Diego
Port of Tacoma Hires Jane Vandenberg As Director of Engineering
Jane Vandenberg has joined the Port of Tacoma to lead the engineering team.
Ms. Vandenberg has more than 20 years of experience in public works management, most recently as a capital projects oversight analyst for the King County Auditor’s Office. Earlier, she worked for Pierce County Public Works and before that for the City of Seattle Engineering Department.
As director of engineering, Ms. Vandenberg oversees the activities of the port’s engineering department, which is designing and managing several rail and terminal improvements, including $250 million in enhancements on behalf of The Northwest Seaport Alliance at Husky Terminal.
Ms. Vandenberg holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Seattle University. She is also a licensed professional engineer.
Jane Vandenberg
Photo/Port of Tacoma
Back to AAPA Seaports Advisory
