Mr. DeJesus has been working within the maritime industry for almost two decades with focused attention in operations and business development both on the water and land side. His dynamic background affords him the clear understanding of Port operations, commercial and business development, supply chain and logistics, environmental and strategic planning. Mr. DeJesus has a strong business background with proven change-agent strengths that focus on problem solving and solutions. His leadership philosophy is based on fostering a culture of trust and accountability, mentoring and training to raise up his staff and teams to meet and achieve exceptional results. He has worked for several Ports across North American in a number of capacities including the Ports of Stockton and Vancouver.
As Founder and Principle of DeJesus Consulting, LLC, he successfully assisted clients in managing risk while achieving sustainable and stable growth and profitability working on projects and programs that brought renewable fuel to West Coast terminal operators and new tenants and commodity opportunities to several West Coast Ports. As Director of Operations, DeJesus maintains extensive relationships with industry leaders in goods movement, regulatory Agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), OSHA and transportation partners like Union Pacific.
Since July 2012, when Zoran joined the Port Alberni Port Authority (PAPA) as President & CEO, he has led his team to several landmark results and has succeeded in positioning the Port as a diverse business incubator, encouraging sustainable economic growth in the mid-Vancouver Island area. Zoran started his marine career at an early age, working on various merchant trading vessels, including commercial and passenger ferries, bulk carriers, container vessels and general cargo vessels. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Nautical Science and has Unlimited Master Mariner certification. Prior to joining PAPA, Zoran worked as an Operations Superintendent at the Cast Terminal-Montreal Gateway Terminals; as an Operations Manager at Terminal Systems Inc., Deltaport in Vancouver; and as the Harbour Towage Manager at SMIT Marine Canada in Vancouver.
Dre Kalili serves as a Deputy Director for the Hawaii Department of Transportation and oversees operations of the state’s commercial ports system. She was appointed by Governor Josh Green in December 2022. Prior to her appointment, Dre served as the HDOT Highways Special Projects Manager and led the $25 million broadband pilot project to fiber-enable highway facilities and provide free high-speed internet service in underserved communities statewide. She also provided support for implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act programs. Dre also served as an Interim Deputy Director and Executive Assistant for the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Transportation Services, Business Development Manager for HDOT, Policy and Program Analyst for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and as a Projects Director for Government Affairs and Business Development for the Native Affairs and Development Group in Washington, D.C. She holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in international affairs and Russian language.
Conchita SN Taitano is a Pacific Islander and serves as the Vice Chairperson of the Port Authority of Guam Board of Directors, where she has served since 2022. Her portfolio includes Port Sustainability and Climate Change Resilience, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) development, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks.
After over 30 years of service, Ms. Taitano retired from the Guam Environmental Protection Agency and was the former Air and Land Division Administrator. In this capacity, she oversaw comprehensive environmental programs including air quality, hazardous waste management, pesticides regulation, and solid waste management with extensive coordination with the U.S. EPA.
A nationally recognized environmental leader, she served as the 45th President of the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) from 2019-2020, becoming the first individual from the U.S. territories and of color to hold this position. She was elected Vice President of the Association by 50 States, 5 Territories and the District of Columbia and earlier served as Region 9 Board Member, representing the U.S. Pacific Territories, Arizona, Nevada, California and Hawaii. She was recognized as an Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Honoree by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection in 2021.
Ms. Taitano was the focal point for Guam's groundbreaking Zero Waste Plan and served as Executive Director of the Zero Waste Working Group under gubernatorial appointment.
Her international experience includes serving as Special Representative on Research & Knowledge Management for the Micronesian Center for a Sustainable Future, appointed by former Presidents of Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia. She served as a Private Sector Advisor on the US Delegation and presented at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) IGR-2 meeting in Beijing. Additionally, she has served as a technical resource for training events sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and USEPA across the Pacific and Southeast Asia regions.
Ms. Taitano holds a Bachelor of Science in biology and Master of Science in Environmental Management from the University of San Francisco. She holds a Professional Certificate in Sustainability from MIT, where she received the Fire Hydrant Award for her group’s Impact Project for Mexico City, and she has completed advanced certifications in Environmental Policy Making and Negotiations from UNESCO Water Institute in the Delft, Netherlands, and Environment and Sustainable Development from the United Nations University in Tokyo, Japan.
Joining the APP in 2020, Jane McIvor has worked in the public relations and communications field for over 25 years, predominantly in the maritime industry. Ms. McIvor provided association management services to clients such as British Columbia Marine Trades Association, Pacific Rim Cruise Association, Cruise BC and others before launching BC Shipping News, a trade magazine focused on commercial marine activities on the West Coast of Canada. She has a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of British Columbia and a Diploma in Communications from Columbia Broadcasting. She currently sits on the Boards of the Vancouver Maritime Museum and Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, and was a recent recipient of the SS Beaver Medal for Maritime Excellence, an award presented by the Maritime Museum of British Columbia to recognize individuals who play a leadership role in the marine industry.
While named as the President and CEO of NPA in 2019, Mr. Marr has been with the Port Authority since 1987, starting in the property leasing department and working his way through the organization to become Senior Vice President of Finance & Administration before assuming the leadership role. Originally from Scotland, Mr. Marr is a Certified General Accountant and Chartered Professional Accountant.
Under Marr’s leadership, the Port of Nanaimo has undertaken initiatives such as the diversification of cargo at Duke Point and the addition of the Vehicle Processing Centre – resulting in overall growth for the Port and the surrounding community. Today, the Port of Nanaimo provides a key link between Vancouver Island and more than 24 ports in over 13 countries, including the U.S., China, Taiwan, and Japan. The Port is also designated as a Foreign Trade Zone Point, a strategic location for international trade that is supported by a single point of access to information on relevant government policies and programs,
Port of Skagit County Commissioner 2002 – present.
Other Professional Experience:
U.S. Public Health Service medical officer.
Cruise and expedition ship physician.
Family and Emergency Medicine physician.
Holder of a U.S. Airline Transport Pilot’s Certificate with multiple jet type ratings. Recipient of the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.
Holder of U.S. Coast Guard ‘Master’ Certificate with sail, offshore and tow ratings.
Education:
High School: Ballard High School (Seattle).
College: University of Washington.
Medical School: Des Moines University.
Post graduate medical: University of Arizona.
Community Service:
40 years of varied community service including church board member, charity clinic volunteer, and volunteer pilot for disabled American Veterans.
Sharon L. Weissman is a member of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners. Appointed to the five-member Board in 2020 by then-Mayor Robert Garcia, during her tenure she has been elected by her Board colleagues to serve one-year terms as both President and Vice President.
The Commission provides policy direction and oversight for the Port’s capital improvement program, a plan to invest $2.3 billion over the next 10 years to upgrade Port facilities, protect the environment, increase revenue and enhance competitiveness.
Serving California, Ms. Weissman was appointed by former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon to serve on the California Library Services Board.
A native Californian and Long Beach resident since 1975, in the community she is a member of the Board and former President and Vice President of Public Affairs of the Long Beach Public Library Foundation; a member of the Board of the Long Beach Symphony, and Advisory Boards of CSULB’s Long Beach Center for Urban Politics and Policy and the Museum of Latin American Art; a former Board Member of the Arts Council for Long Beach and Sister Cities of Long Beach; and a former Chair of the Long Beach Fair Housing Foundation.
She was Senior Advisor to then-Mayor Garcia from July 2014 and Transportation Deputy beginning in 2017 until her retirement in June 2020. Ms. Weissman also served as the Mayor’s liaison to the arts community, the Long Beach Public Library and Long Beach Sister Cities organizations.
Earlier in her career, she was Chief of Staff to former California State Senator and Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza.
Ms. Weissman graduated with Great Distinction from California State University, Long Beach, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Radio/Television and was Director of the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center at her alma mater and Manager of the university’s jazz radio station before beginning her career with elected officials.
Esther Ada
Commonwealth Ports Authority, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands
Esther Ada serves as the Executive Director of the Commonwealth Ports Authority (CPA), bringing more than three decades of leadership and management experience across government, finance, human resources, auditing, and public administration.
Ms. Ada earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Development Resource and Consumer Economics from the University of California, Davis. Her professional career includes 17 years with the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Department of Finance, where she held several leadership positions, including Director of Revenue and Taxation. She also served for four years with the Northern Mariana Islands Retirement Fund as Chief Internal Auditor and Deputy Administrator.
Before joining CPA, Ms. Ada spent 13 years with DFS Group, a global luxury travel retailer, serving as Human Resources Manager and overseeing a broad range of workforce and organizational initiatives.
Drawing upon her extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, Ms. Ada now leads CPA, overseeing the CNMI's airports and seaports and advancing initiatives that strengthen transportation infrastructure, economic development, and regional connectivity throughout the CNMI.
Paula was hired by the Port of Newport in May of 2019. Prior to joining the Port of Newport Paula spent 12 years as the deputy executive director and real estate and business development manager for what was formerly known as the Port of St. Helens and rebranded as the Port of Columbia County in 2018. During her tenure, she worked as interim director on two occasions. Before the Port of Columbia County, Miranda spent five years working at the Port of Portland in the areas of contract administration, property management, and tenant negotiation while providing support in many other areas of port development work. Before entering into her more than 20 years in the Port industry, Paula worked for two title companies in the commercial and residential fields. Paula was born and raised in Brazil. She moved to the US in 1988 and to Oregon in 1993.
Wang previously served as Deputy Director of the Engineering Department at the former Kaohsiung Harbor Bureau. Following the port reform, he held various positions at Taiwan International Ports Corporation, including Director of the Engineering Department at the Kaohsiung branch, Chief Engineer at the Keelung branch, Assistant Vice President at the headquarters, Vice President of Engineering and Administrative and Executive Vice President. He currently holds both positions of President at the headquarters and the President of Kaohsiung branch company.
Celina L. Zacarias has served as Executive Director of Community and Government Relations for California State University Channel Islands, 23Third Celina has been with the California State University System since 2007. As Director of Community and Government Relations, Celina is responsible for promoting the positive presence and goodwill of California State University Channel Islands at all levels, throughout the culturally diverse service region, state, country, and internationally, by planning, directing, and implementing a comprehensive and proactive community and government relations program. Celina is also responsible for establishing and maintaining strong relationships with local elected officials, Sacramento state legislators, and U.S. Congressional representatives in Washington D.C. and their teams to communicate positions on various issues and garner support for obtaining resources on behalf of the campus.
In November 2020, Celina was elected Commissioner of the Port District of Oxnard: Port of Hueneme. As the first Latina woman to hold this high-level position, she also made history by obtaining the most votes in the history of the Port. In 2024, the Oxnard Port District elected Celina as Chair of the Board of Directors. In November 2024, Celina was re-elected to a new four-year term as Port Commissioner.
The daughter of migrant farmworkers, Celina was born in Michoacán, Mexico, and came to the United States when she was three years old. Both his father and grandfather were part of the Bracero Program between 1942 and 1964.
Celina graduated from UCSB with a Bachelor's Degree in Spanish Literature and Hispanic Civilization. He has studied in Cuba, China, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong and England.
Celina also has 25 years of extensive business experience in the emerging market and new spin-off segments from her careers at GMAC Mortgage, Wells Fargo, and Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation.
In 2011, Celina was one of 40 participants selected from across the United States by the Secretary of Defense to participate in the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference. This experience allowed him to interact with senior Pentagon commanders and the numerous military commands throughout the country. In 2014, Celina was part of the Naval Air Force Commander's Distinguished Visitor Program, which provided her with the opportunity to board the U.S. Navy's aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan.
Celina has been a prominent speaker locally and nationally on various topics, from homeownership, real estate fraud, and Latina women in business to the importance of higher education. In 2014, Celina was one of the keynote speakers at the California Department of Education's State Conference of Migrant Parents: "The Universe Is Small for the Potential of the Migrant Child." In 2011, Celina was one of the keynote speakers at the U.S. Office of Education's National Conference on Migrant Education: "The Bracero Program and Its Impact on My Life."
For years, Celina has been active in the community, holding numerous leadership positions in professional, economic, and charitable organizations. She is active in all Ventura County Chambers of Commerce and served as Chair of the Boards of Directors for the Camarillo, Oxnard, and Simi Valley Chambers of Commerce. Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors of the Ventura County Workforce Development Board (WDB), the Economic Development Collaborative (EDC), the Ventura County Economic Development Association (VCEDA), the Ventura County Civic Alliance (VCCA), the Regional Defense Association (RDP), the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) – California Corporate Advisory Board, Casa Pacifica, Community Memorial Health System (CMH), Ventura and Santa Barbara Law School, Student Advisory Board for Ecoeducation and Agriculture, the Girl Scouts of the Central Coast of California, and the CSU Channel Islands College Prep School, among other organizations. His contributions to the community have earned him numerous awards and recognition from legislators, civic organizations, and the business community.
Registrations/Certifications: Professional Planner ACIP, Certified Management Accountant, Women Owned Business
Jeannie’s 40 years of expertise in provides her clients with “boots on the ground” knowledge of infrastructure development, business continuity, emergency management and the logistics of inland transportation. Ms. Beckett works with agencies and associations to leverage their resources and build economic vitality for their regions. Before starting The Beckett Group in 2009, She had a 25-year career with the Port of Tacoma in leadership positions including Director of Budget and Planning, Senior Director, Inland Transportation, and Director of Operations.
Jeannie has worked on projects that profile the logistics and freight delivery needs, as well as infrastructure resiliency efforts. These engagements pinpointed capital infrastructure planning, funding, development and implementation of port, road, rail, levee and bridges projects.
The Beckett Group has helped clients achieve federal grant success of over $350 million in grants in the last 5 years.
Joe Carrillo serves as Northern California’s regional vice president for SSA Pacific Inc. SSA Pacific Inc. is a subsidiary of global terminal operator SSA Marine based in Seattle, Washington. SSA Marine is the world’s largest privately held stevedore company and operates in over 250 strategic locations. Joe is in his 17th year with SSA Marine and has gained a wealth of knowledge regarding global supply chain processes. Joe’s stops along his career have included major global seaports such as Long Beach, Mexico and Panama while always servicing multi-nation companies with dynamic teams inside the organization.
