For Immediate Release
July 18, 2000

OAKLAND, CA - Two new members to the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners, Darlene Ayers-Johnson and Patricia Scates, began their official duties today, attending their first meeting. Both members are Oakland residents. Mayor Jerry Brown and the Oakland City Council appointed and confirmed their nominations on April 11. The two new members were sworn in on July 11.

The Commission also elected Commissioner David Kramer, president of the Board. Commissioner Pete Uribe was elected First Vice President and Phil Tagami, Second Vice President.

Commissioner Kramer presided over the meeting and welcomed the newly appointed members, "We welcome our new commissioners and are confident that they will contribute to the existing foundation laid by their predecessors as the Port of Oakland moves forward with major expansion efforts we currently have underway."

Darlene Ayers-Johnson most recently served as executive director of the State Board of Control, which handles restitution to crime victims and tort claims against the state. She formerly, served as Chief Deputy Director for the State of California's Department of General Services.

Ms. Ayers-Johnson is a second generation Californian who has served in her community on various boards and commissions over the past 25 years. Her current and past affiliations include: Oakland Police Department's Advisory Committee for Women, Bay Area Tumor Institute, Golden Gate University Alumni Association, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, and many others. She currently serves as president of the Oakland State Building Authority for the Elihu Harris State Building (State of California) and formerly chaired the State of California's Small Business Council.

Ms. Ayers-Johnson has been awarded the National Association of Women Business Owners Award, the State of California Department of Vehicles' Woman of the Year Award and has been recognized as a Finalist for the Enterprising Woman of the Year Award.

Patricia A. Scates is senior vice president and regional manager of Wells Fargo's East Bay commercial banking office. She brings 26 years of experience in the banking industry with Wells Fargo.

An Oakland native, Ms. Scates serves on a number of Boards including: Executive Campaign Advisory Board of the San Francisco Chapter of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF); Executive Committee of the Economic Development Alliance for Business (EDAB); Corporate Advisory Board of the National Association of Urban Banker and the Bay Area Urban Bankers Association. She is also a member of the Board of the Oakland Advisors, the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, the Lincoln Child Center, the YMCA of the East Bay, and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women-Oakland/Bay Area Chapter.

Ms. Scates has received the following recognition: 1999 Madame C.J. Walker Corporate Recognition Award presented by the Oakland/Bay Area Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc.; 1998 Inductee into the Women's Corporate Hall of Fame by The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc.; 1998 recipient of the Economic Development Award by the Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County & 1997 recipient of the Dream Makers award granted by The Women's Foundation.

Ms. Ayers-Johnson and Ms. Scates replace Commissioners John Loh and Kathy Neal, whose terms expired on July 11th. They now join two other recent appointments to the Board, John Protopappas and Phil Tagami.

The Board of Port Commissioners consists of seven members appointed to four-year staggered terms. They are nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council as provided for in the City Charter. Members of the Board serve without compensation and must be residents of the City.

The Port of Oakland, established in 1927, is an independent department of the City of Oakland employing some 560 people. The Port extends approximately 19 miles along the east of the Oakland Estuary from the border of the city of Emeryville immediately north of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, south to the border of the City of San Leandro. Port facilities include four major marine terminal areas covering almost 1,000 acres; Oakland International Airport which covers an area over 2,500 acres; 1,100 acres of commercial, industrial, recreational and other land; 950 acres of underdeveloped land; and about 9,800 surface acres of water area.

Contact:
Harold Jones
(510) 672-1564
hjones@portoakland.com

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