newsmakers – Page 2 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

09 Jan

Port of Grays Harbor Selects New Executive Director

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsgraysharbor, leonardbarnes, newsmakers

Port of Grays Harbor Deputy Executive Director Leonard Barnes has been chosen as the port’s next executive director. He is succeeding Gary Nelson, who is expected to retire in March. The Port of Grays Harbor Commission is expected to consider Barnes’ employment agreement at its Jan. 9 meeting. It was at a special Dec. 14 meeting that the commission authorized port Director of Finance and Administration Mike Folkers and legal counsel Art Blauvelt to begin employment agreement talks with Barnes. Barnes began his career at the port in 1984. Since becoming deputy executive director role in 2005, he has been…

05 Dec

Port of Grays Harbor Executive Director Nelson to Retire

Mark Edward NeroNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsceo, graysharbor, newsmakers

After nearly 24 years on the job, Port of Grays Harbor Executive Director Gary Nelson has said that he’ll retire March 31, 2024. Nelson, whose pending retirement was announced by the port Nov. 14, was hired as executive director in April 2000, when the port had only 21 vessel calls handling 85,000 metric tons of cargo with an operating budget of just $5.2 million. More than two decades later, Grays Harbor is projected to have 100 vessel calls and handle more than 3 million metric tons of cargo with an operating budget of nearly $40 million by the end of…

05 Dec

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority Names Xotta New President-CEO

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsceo, newsmakers, portauthority, vancouver

Peter Xotta, the Port of Vancouver’s vice president of operations and supply, has been hired as the new president and chief executive officer of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the authority announced Dec. 1. After a global search by management consulting firm Korn Ferry, the port authority’s Board of Directors selected Xotta, who had been the port’s vice president of operations and supply chain since October 2021. In that role, he oversaw operations for land and marine, as well as health, safety, security and port and supply chain optimization matters, according to the port authority. He officially takes the reins this week,…

05 Dec

Port of Tacoma Hires Familiar Face as Accounting Director, Auditor

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsnewsmakers, NWSA, portoftcoma

The Port of Tacoma has hired Don Kelley as its new director of accounting and port auditor, overseeing accounting activities for the port and the Northwest Seaport Alliance, it was announced Nov. 22. Kelley, who officially started Nov. 16, takes over for Darren Arakaki, who is expected to retire at the end of the year. This is a homecoming for Kelley, who spent 21 years of his career at the Port of Tacoma, starting as an accountant in 1999 before being promoted to manager of financial accounting and deputy auditor. He left in 2020 to become senior manager of general…

05 Jul

POLB Appoints New Tenant Services & Operations Director

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News#portoflongbeach, newsmakers, rafaeldelgado

Rafael Delgado is the new director of Tenant Services and Operations at the Port of Long Beach. The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners this spring approved the appointment of Delgado, who since September 2019 had served as manager of the Tenant Services Division, which is tasked with providing support and customer service for supply chain stakeholders, including cargo owners, ocean carriers and terminal operators “so that they may operate their facilities and conduct their operations optimally and in compliance with leases and tariffs,” according to the port. Delgado has been with the port since 2006, when he started as…

05 Jul

Port of Seattle Hires New Deputy Executive Director

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newskarengoon, newsmakers, portofseattle

Kitsap County Administrator Karen Goon has been hired as the Port of Seattle’s new deputy executive director. Goon, who starts her new position in mid-July, is taking over for retiring deputy Dave Soike, and will report to Executive Director Steve Metruck. “After conducting a thorough search amongst dozens of candidates throughout the country, Karen’s qualifications stood out in terms of the breadth and depth of her experience in the Puget Sound region,” Metruck said. “She brings decades of public service knowledge and experience that will help us deliver for the people of King County and the Port of Seattle’s customers…

24 Jan

BC Ferries Names New President-CEO

Pacific Maritime MagazineNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsbcferries, newsmakers

The British Columbia Ferry Services Board has announced the appointment of Nicolas Jimenez as president and chief executive officer of BC Ferries, effective March 6. Jimenez, currently president and CEO of the Insurance Corporation of B.C. (ICBC), was selected following an international search, according to the Ferry Services Board. Over the last 20 years, Jimenez has held a number of senior roles at ICBC, taking over as president and CEO five years ago. He led structural reforms at ICBC in recent years, returning the auto insurer to financial health and delivering more affordable insurance to customers, according to the Ferry…

24 Jan

Seattle Port Commissioner Appointed to U.S. Travel, Tourism Advisory Board

Pacific Maritime MagazineNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsnewsmakers, portofseattle, ttab

Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman has been appointed to the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (TTAB), U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced Jan. 12. The board includes 32 leaders from businesses and organizations in the domestic travel and tourism industry. Members advise the secretary on how government policies and programs affect the travel and tourism industry and offer counsel on current and emerging issues to support sustainable industry growth. Felleman has been a vocal advocate for the Port of Seattle’s role as a regional and national tourism leader, particularly in developing ecotourism opportunities in and around Washington…