Bynum: Economic development, educational outreach, sustainability key Harbor Commission President Lou Anne BynumHarbor Commission President Lou Anne Bynum announced priorities Monday for her one-year leadership term of the nation’s second-busiest seaport, including moving forward on plans to expand partnerships with the City’s institutions and further reduce pollution. At her first meeting as Board President, Bynum stressed the importance of strategic collaboration to continue the Port of Long Beach’s focus on business development, environmental progress and customer service that has made it the port of choice for Asian imports and has earned it the title of “Best North American Seaport” from the publication Asia Cargo News for 19 of the last 22 years. One of Bynum’s chief goals is to bring together the City’s educational and government agencies to drive more economic development opportunities in port-related industries including supply chain logistics and international trade development. “Many great institutions are working locally right now to grow the economy — Cal State Long Beach, Long Beach City College, Long Beach Unified, our City and private sector entities,” said Bynum. “Together, as a kind of virtual center for innovation, we could tackle export development, green technology incubation, supply chain efficiency and maritime workforce training.” As part of the effort, Bynum, the Executive Vice President of College Advancement and Economic Development for Long Beach City College, spoke of nurturing the Port’s existing involvement in local education, such as the Academy of Global Logistics at Cabrillo High School. To deepen those ties, Bynum announced she would like the Port to tie its education outreach efforts directly to the ”Long Beach College Promise,” a City-wide partnership initiative that guarantees the promise of a college education to every student in Long Beach. “We must nurture the workforce of tomorrow, to help continue to propel this Port forward for generations to come,” said Bynum. This fall, the joint Boards of the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles are expected to deliberate on a proposal to update the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan, or CAAP, a landmark environmental blueprint adopted in 2006 that has led to dramatic decreases in emissions associated with goods movement. Bynum pledged to incorporate public and stakeholder input and strongly advocate state, federal and other funding assistance needed to commercialize more zero-emissions trucks and cargo-handling equipment. “I am absolutely certain that the zero-emissions future at the Port of Long Beach is a bright future for business, our City and our community,”  said Bynum. Bynum was elected President by her fellow Commissioners in July. Recent new appointments include Commissioners Frank Colonna and Bonnie Lowenthal. With the appointment of Commissioner Lowenthal, and the continuing service of Vice President Tracy Egoscue and Secretary Lori Ann Guzmán, the five-member Board has four women, the most it has had in its history.