Port People: Beaumont, Caddo-Bossier, Cleveland, San Francisco

Shreveport: Caddo-Bossier Parishes Port Commission Names New Officers

The Caddo-Bossier Parishes Port Commission recently elected these officers for 2016: Sam Gregorio, president; Rick Prescott, vice president; and Roy Griggs, secretary-treasurer.

"I am honored to be chosen to play such an important role in the organization’s future," said Mr. Gregorio. "The commission’s focus remains on growing jobs and providing a good return on the investment made by the citizens of Caddo & Bossier in our port. We have an ambitious future, and I am eager to continue developing and implementing effective strategies and attracting and retaining strong industries and jobs to the port."

Mr. Gregorio, formerly the board’s secretary-treasurer (2014) and vice president (2015), has been a port commissioner since 2011. He has served on or as chair of the board’s finance/audit, intergovernmental, personnel, port expansion, and operations committees.

Mr. Gregorio was born in Shreveport and has practiced personal injury law in his own firm since 1976. He graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University in New Orleans and a juris doctor degree from Louisiana State University.

The port commission’s nine members serve six-year terms and are appointed by the city of Shreveport and Caddo and Bossier parishes.

Port of Cleveland Board Welcomes New Trustees McNair and Ramsey

Darrell McNair and Patricia Ramsey took office earlier this month as newly-appointed trustees of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority.

Mr. McNair is president and CEO of MVP Plastics, Inc., a global custom injection molder and assembler of plastics components based in northeast Ohio. He previously worked in the automotive, construction, health care services, medical supply, and retail industries and with Fortune 500 companies including IBM and Ford. He holds an MBA in finance and marketing from Baldwin Wallace University.

Ms. Ramsey is vice president of community and economic development at Fifth Third Bank in northeast Ohio, and previously served on the port authority’s board. At Fifth Third, she has helped forge relationships with the nonprofit and government sectors to spur neighborhood revitalization and small business & workforce development. She is a graduate of the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.

"The Port of Cleveland’s Board of Directors is pleased to welcome Darrell and Pat," said Board President Chris Ronayne. "Each brings critical additional expertise in business to our leadership group, and we are excited to leverage their talent and energy to keep our momentum growing at the global, green port on the Great Lakes."

The nine-member board of directors sets the policies and procedures governing the Port of Cleveland. Six members are appointed by the city of Cleveland and three by Cuyahoga County, each to minimum terms of four years.

Port Authority Trustees Daniel McNair and Patricia Ramsey
Photo/Port of Cleveland

San Francisco: Mayor Appoints Elaine Forbes as Interim Port Director

Mayor Edwin M. Lee on February 19 appointed Port Deputy Director Elaine Forbes as interim director of the Port of San Francisco, effective March 1. The mayor’s action followed the announcement by longtime Director Monique Moyer that she was leaving the port to join a real estate firm.

Elaine Forbes joined the port staff in July 2010. As deputy director for finance and administration, she has been responsible for directing and managing all internal support services for other port divisions and the executive staff; overseeing business services, inventory and purchasing; managing information systems, human resources, finance, accounting and infrastructure maintenance function; and formulating division-wide budget, business and strategic plans.

Prior to joining the port, Ms. Forbes worked for the city and county of San Francisco for nine years -- as a legislative and budget analyst, as the San Francisco Airport’s budget manager, and most recently as chief administrative officer for the planning department, where she was responsible for finance and accounting, contracts, information technology, and operations.

Earlier, she worked as a redevelopment agency planner for the City of Oakland and for several non-profit land use policy and economic development organizations.

Ms. Forbes holds a Master’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mills College in Oakland.

Monique Moyer was appointed port director in 2004, and has successfully delivered many projects during her tenure, including the James R. Herman Cruise Terminal at Pier 27, the Exploratorium, the 34th America’s Cup, and various parks and open spaces. She also addressed seawall vulnerability and sea level rise and made investments in infrastructure on port property.

"Elaine’s leadership and extensive background in policy and financial management make her an outstanding choice to lead the port during this time," said Mayor Lee. "Elaine is a proven leader and is an invaluable member of the port’s executive team, showing her commitment and dedication to the port and our city. I am confident she will continue to serve the Port and all of its stakeholders during this transition. I thank Monique Moyer for her unwavering nearly 20-year service to the residents of San Francisco, leaving a lasting legacy to the San Francisco waterfront that will continue to benefit San Franciscans for generations to come."

The port commission is conducting a national search for a permanent port director.