The Houston City Council has approved reappointment of Houston attorney, businesswoman and civic leader Janiece Longoria to a fourth term as Port Commissioner of the Port of Houston Authority. Port Commissioners serve two-year terms without pay. Initially appointed in September 2002, Longoria currently serves on the Port Commission’s Pension Task Force.

" I congratulate Commissioner Longoria on her reappointment as Port Commissioner, and I look forward to working closely with her to ensure the Port’s success in these difficult times,” said Mayor Annise D. Parker.

“I’m thrilled that Commissioner Longoria was reappointed and that the city of Houston will continue to have her outstanding service on the Port Commission,” said Mayor Pro-Tem Anne Clutterbuck. “As new trade opportunities arise with the expansion of the Panama Canal and with emerging markets in Central and South America, her unique perspective and abilities will greatly benefit the port.”

"I was honored to support the reappointment of Janiece Longoria to the Port Commission. Commissioner Longoria possesses the integrity, honesty, business savvy and work ethic that will help us maintain our port as the economic engine of our great city of Houston. As a Port Commissioner, she has worked tirelessly to bring more containers through the port, establish a strong relationship with the International Longshoremen's Association, and showcase our city's diversity to our trade partners. Her reappointment is a definite win for everyone," said Council Member James G. Rodriguez.

“Commissioner Longoria brings with her a wealth of professional knowledge and a proven track record of accomplishment,” said Port Commission Chairman James T. Edmonds. “We welcome her return.”

"I am honored that the City Council has voted in favor of my continued service as a Commissioner," Longoria said. “Because of the Port of Houston's important role in our region's economic health, it is particularly important that the policy decisions we make are grounded in sound business practices. I will continue to work for the long-term health of the port, the city of Houston and this region."

Longoria is a lawyer and a partner in the law firm of Ogden, Gibson, Broocks & Longoria, LLP, where she focuses her practice on the trial, arbitration and appeal of a broad range of commercial litigation cases. Among a select group of women lawyers across the United States who have served with distinction as independent directors of public companies and have worked to advance the value of diversity in board positions, Longoria is a recipient of the 2008 Sandra Day O'Connor Board Excellence Award.

Earlier this month, she was honored as the 27th recipient of the prestigious ¡Triunfando! Female Senior Executive of the Year at the annual Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Gala. The award recognizes Longoria’s work with the Port Authority, the University of Texas Board of Regents and the community, and as a partner in her law firm.

Longoria serves on the Board of Directors of Centerpoint Energy, Inc., the third largest publicly traded natural gas delivery company in the U.S., and provider of electricity transmission and distribution service for the Houston metropolitan area. As a member of its board, she serves on Centerpoint Energy's audit and finance committees, and is also a member of the Strategic Planning Committee. 

She is one of nine members and Vice Chairman of the University of Texas System Board of Regents, which oversees nine educational campuses and six medical institutions. She serves on the Audit, Compliance and Management Review Committee, the Finance and Planning Committee, and the Facilities Planning & Construction Committee. 

She also serves on the board of directors of The Greater Houston Partnership, the greater Houston region’s leading chamber of commerce. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committees of the Galveston Bay Foundation and the Heritage Society of Houston Harris County.