The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners selected Commissioner James C. Hankla as the next board President, effective July 1, 2008. Hankla previously served a one-year term as president in 2006-2007.
The Commission also selected Nick Sramek, who was appointed to the five-member Port governing board one year ago, as its incoming Vice President. Dr. Mike Walter, who is currently Vice President, was selected as Secretary for the coming term.
Hankla, a former Long Beach city manager, has served on the Harbor Commission since 2003. Before joining the Commission, Hankla was CEO of the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority for five years, overseeing construction of the $2.4-billion Alameda Corridor. Prior to that, he was the city manager of Long Beach for 11 years. Overall, he has served as a top-level local public official for the last three decades.
The board President presides over the Harbor Commission's weekly meetings, makes committee appointments and acts as chief spokesperson for the Port of Long Beach.
Sramek, a Senior Project Leader in system engineering for The Aerospace Corporation, formerly served on the city's Planning Commission for seven years prior to his appointment to the Harbor Commission. Walter, appointed to the Commission in 2005, is the assistant to the president for community relations at California State University, Long Beach, and former dean of its College of Business Administration.
Current Board President Mario Cordero, appointed in 2003, was named Assistant Secretary. The fifth Commissioner, Doris Topsy-Elvord, will retire from the commission at the end of June.
