Port People: Cleveland, Corpus Christi, New Orleans

The board of directors of AAPA have announced the election of Port of Cleveland President and CEO William D. Friedman to serve as chairman for the 2018-19 activity year beginning this October. AAPA represents 140 of the leading maritime port authorities in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean.

 

"It’s a great honor to be chosen as Chairman-elect of the AAPA – The unified voice for port authorities across the Western Hemisphere," said Friedman. "Our ports are the linchpins in the global supply chains that generate jobs and economic prosperity for our regions and our nations. I look forward to working closely with port leaders and stakeholders to strengthen our vital industry."

 

In his role with the Port of Cleveland, Friedman has transformed the agency’s business model since taking the helm in 2010. Under Friedman’s leadership, the Port has seen a resurgence in maritime trade and cargo volumes. In 2014, he led the Port’s efforts to launch the Cleveland-Europe Express service, revitalizing containerized shipping via the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway system and solidifying Cleveland’s position as its leading international hub.

 

Moreover, the Port’s economic impact has grown to encompass an annual average of over 13 million tons of cargo through the Cleveland Harbor, resulting in $3.5 billion in yearly economic activity and supporting more than 20,000 local jobs.

 

Friedman brings over 25 years of experience in port management, the international supply chain, multimodal distribution, real estate development, and related fields to AAPA leadership. Specifically, Friedman’s experience prior to joining the Port of Cleveland includes stints as CEO of the Ports of Indiana, where his efforts resulted in a record $1.5 billion annual economic impact and multiple senior management positions with the Port of Seattle, where he facilitated the $600 million expansion of a premier U.S. container port. His private sector experience includes acting as vice president, ports and logistics for Duke Realty Corp., where he helped the company expand its work to key maritime and inland logistics hubs.

 

"With his valuable experience as a port director involved with diversified cargo, his background in real estate development, multimodal transportation and the international supply chain, and his longstanding active engagement with AAPA and our member ports throughout the hemisphere, William Friedman is an outstanding choice for leading our association during the upcoming activity year," said Kurt Nagle, AAPA’s president and chief executive officer. "Will’s leadership skills will be of enormous value as our member ports work together to address common challenges and legislative priorities."

 

"The Board of Directors of the Cleveland / Cuyahoga Port Authority is excited that Will has been elected to this important international leadership position," said Darrell McNair, chair of the Port Authority’s Board of Directors. "We know he will provide the same kind of visionary and dynamic leadership with the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) as he does for our agency. Under Will’s tenure, we believe in the eyes of the maritime and logistics industry, it will bring an elevated profile to our Port’s activities.

 

 

The Port of Corpus Christi honored Nueces County Judge Loyd Neal upon the announcement of his induction to the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor.

 

Holding office as Nueces County Judge from 2007 to 2018, and with prior service of four terms as Mayor of the City of Corpus Christi, Judge Neal has remained a strong advocate for the Port of Corpus Christi and a stalwart partner in its mission.

 

"Loyd Neal has devoted much of his life to community service for the betterment of our region. His role as County Judge, position of Chairman for numerous regionally important boards, and previous service as Mayor has ensured that Loyd also held an integral role in the growth of the Port of Corpus Christi, said Charles Zahn, Port of Corpus Christi Commission Chair."  "On behalf of the Port, I congratulate Loyd on his induction to the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor."  

 

The Corps of Cadets established the Hall of Honor in 1993 to pay tribute to those former cadets who have lived a life that exemplifies the Texas Aggie Spirit. Those chosen also possess the values upon which the Corps was founded: honor, loyalty, service, pride, patriotism, faith, leadership and honesty.

 

Gov. John Bel Edwards appointed Charles H. Ponstein to the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans as the St. Bernard Parish representative on the seven-member regional board. Ponstein was sworn in during the monthly board meeting and will serve a five-year term succeeding William T. Bergeron.

 

With the Port’s acquisition of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad effective Feb. 1, 2018, Port Commissioners also serve as directors of the New Orleans Public Belt board. Ponstein will become NOPB’s newest director with this appointment.

 

Ponstein is a landlord and owner of several commercial and industrial buildings. A life-long resident of St. Bernard Parish, Ponstein served as Councilman-At-Large from 1992-1996 and Parish President from 1996-2004. He has served as a member of the St. Bernard Parish Chamber of Commerce, St. Bernard Economic Development Commission, Regional Planning Commission and United Way of New Orleans.

 

Along with welcoming a new commissioner, members of the board selected a new executive committee with the election of Laney J. Chouest as Chairman, Arnold B. Baker as Vice Chairman and Tara C. Hernandez as Secretary-Treasurer.

 

Chouest joined the board in June 2014 when he was appointed by former Gov. Bobby Jindal. He succeeds Robert R. Barkerding Jr. whose term as chairman expired this month. Barkerding will continue to serve as a commissioner.

 

Chouest is the owner and developer of NOLA Motorsports Park in Avondale, Louisiana, one of the largest and most modern motorsports destinations in the United States. A retired family practitioner, Chouest joined his family business, Edison Chouest Offshore, in 1983 and served in many aspects of company operations including design, construction and operation of various offshore support vessels. During his tenure at the company, Edison Chouest Offshore grew into a major worldwide force within the deepwater oil and gas exploration and production industry. Chouest retired from the company in 2006 to focus on the motorsports business.