Port People: Long Beach, Nanaimo, New Orleans
Nanaimo: Moira Jenkins Elected Port Authority Chair
At a recent meeting, the Nanaimo Port Authority board elected Moira Jenkins chair and Michelle Corfield vice-chair, effective September 1, 2016.
Moira Jenkins has served on the board since October 30, 2014, as a federal government appointee representing the International Trade User Group. She recently retired from the Royal Bank of Canada Financial Group after 44 years of service, 20 of them in Nanaimo as the vice president of commercial banking, Vancouver Island North. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Banking and holds her Financial Planning designation. She sits on the Nanaimo & District Museum Board and is treasurer of the Nanaimo Hospital Foundation.
The city of Nanaimo appointed Michelle Corfield to the port authority board on July 1, 2015. She also serves on the board of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC and the Underwater Harvesters Association. She holds a BA in First Nations, an MA in Conflict Analysis and Management and a Doctorate of Management. She is a board governance expert with extensive knowledge in the areas of economic development, entrepreneurship, natural resources, including marine resources, and BC First Nations.
The port authority board consists of seven members – one each representing the federal, provincial and municipal government and four representing port users. The others are Chris Badger, Audrey C. Cope, Donna Hais, Jeet Manhas, and Richard Ringma.
In her acceptance remarks, Ms. Jenkins stressed the importance of building Nanaimo’s "future as the ‘Solutions Port’ focused on strategic collaboration with the community and our port partners on a local, regional and national basis. Together with the board and staff, I am committed to our vision to be the transportation and marine recreational gateway on Vancouver Island, serving the Pacific Rim...and beyond."
Nanaimo Port Authority Chair Moira Jenkins (left) and Vice Chair Michelle Corfield
Photos/ Nanaimo Port Authority
Long Beach: Guzmán Re-elected Harbor Commission President
Lori Ann Guzmán has been re-elected to a second one-year term as president of the harbor commission that oversees the Port of Long Beach.
The five-member commission also re-elected Lou Anne Bynum vice president and Tracy Egoscue secretary.
Each July, the commission selects from its own members the president and the other board officers for one-year terms.
Ms. Guzmán is director of finance for the City of Huntington Beach. Then-Mayor Bob Foster appointed her to the harbor commission in 2013. The commission president chairs board meetings and represents the port to the public.
"We have accomplished much by building on the port’s foundation of social and fiscal responsibility. We increased community sponsorships and reached major milestones on our capital improvement projects," Ms. Guzmán said. "I look forward to continuing my work with the community, our customers, Harbor Department staff and the City of Long Beach."
Under the City Charter, the mayor of Long Beach appoints city residents to six-year terms on the Harbor Commission. Commissioners oversee the port and direct the port CEO, who in turn manages the more than 500-person staff of the City of Long Beach Harbor Department in the development and promotion of the Port of Long Beach.
Long Beach Harbor Commission President Lori Ann Guzmán
Photo/Port of Long Beach
Tara Hernandez Takes Oath as New Orleans Port Commissioner
Tara C. Hernandez was sworn in July 28 as a member of the board of commissioners of the Port of New Orleans. Gov. John Bel Edwards appointed her to a five-year term to succeed Gregory R. Rusovich as one of four Orleans Parish representatives on the board.
Ms. Hernandez is president of New Orleans-based JCH Development, a real estate development firm that specializes in the conversion of underutilized real estate into residential, commercial, and mixed-use redevelopment projects. She led or participated in the development of residential, mixed-use, mixed-income and commercial development projects in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri, often involving public-private partnerships.
A graduate of Loyola University (New Orleans) with a degree in finance, Ms. Hernandez also holds an MS in real estate development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is active on industry and not-for-profit boards, including Greater New Orleans Inc., the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Foundation and Idea Village. She received awards locally from the Young Leadership Council of New Orleans and New Orleans Business Alliance.
The board consists of seven commissioners, who are unsalaried and serve five-year staggered terms. The governor of Louisiana appoints commissioners from lists of nominees submitted by 19 local business, civic, labor, education, and maritime groups. Four members represent Orleans Parish, two Jefferson Parish and one St. Bernard Parish.
Current members include Chairman William T. Bergeron, Vice Chairman Michael W. Kearney, Secretary-Treasurer Robert R. Barkerding Jr., Laney J. Chouest, Arnold B. Baker and Scott H. Cooper.
New Orleans Port Commissioner Tara C. Hernandez
Photo/Port of New Orleans