The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans elected John Fay, a partner in the law firm of Deutsch, Kerrigan & Stiles its chairman today. Fay succeeds Thomas D. Westfeldt, whose term as chairman has expired. Westfeldt will continue to serve on the board as a commissioner.
A native of Baltimore, Md., Fay earned degrees in economics and history from the University of Pennsylvania in 1979 and graduated cum laude from the Tulane School of Law in 1983. Fay served as associate and partner in the maritime law firm of O’Neil Eichin in New Orleans from 1983 until 1999, when he became partner in the civil litigation firm of Deutsch, Kerrigan & Stiles LLP. Fay’s practice focuses on litigation and arbitration of maritime disputes.
A member of the New Orleans Board of Trade, Fay has served in various positions on its board since 1999. Fay also served on the board of the Louisiana Association of Waterways Operators and Shipyards from 1998 to 2003 and as a member of the Trinity Episcopal School Board of Trustees.
“The Port of New Orleans helps create jobs and economic activity for Louisiana. I’m looking forward to continuing to propel the Port on the path of success that has been established by my predecessors and to take advantage of new opportunities,” Fay said.
Wayne Mumphrey, principal to Mumphrey Law Firm LLC, was elected vice chairman of the Board of Commissioners and Valerie Cahill, an independent investment banker from Jefferson Parish, was named secretary-treasurer.
The Board’s commissioners serve five-year staggered terms as commissioners, and every nine months the commissioners elect new officers. The unsalaried board members are appointed by the Governor of Louisiana from a list of three nominees submitted by local civic, labor, education and maritime groups. The Board reflects the three-parish jurisdiction, with four members from Orleans Parish, two from Jefferson Parish and one from St. Bernard Parish. Other members include Capt. A.J. Gibbs, Joseph Toomy and Daniel Packer.
