Port of Oakland Board gives President Ces Butner third term

Oakland, Calif. – July 12, 2019: Cestra “Ces” Butner will serve a third term as President of the Port of Oakland Board of Port Commissioners.  The Board re-elected President Butner at a meeting yesterday.  It re-elected Commissioner Andreas Cluver as First Vice President and chose first-year Commissioner Barbara Leslie as Second Vice President.

At the same meeting, Commissioners formally selected Port Attorney Danny Wan as Acting Executive Director.  The Port signaled Mr. Wan’s new role earlier this week in announcing the July 19 retirement of Executive Director Chris Lytle.  Commissioners named Assistant Port Attorney Michele Heffes as Acting Port Attorney in place of Mr. Wan.

The votes came in the same week that Oakland’s City Council re-appointed President Butner and Commissioner Joan Story to the Port’s Board.  The seven-member Board governs the Port of Oakland.  Commissioners are nominated by the Mayor of Oakland and appointed by the City Council.

President Butner joined the Board of Port Commissioners in 2012.  He first served as President from July 2013 to July 2014.  He was voted to a second term in July 2018.  President Butner founded Horizon Beverage Company, the Oakland-based distributorship serving northern Alameda and western Contra Costa Counties.  He sold the company in 2015.

Vice President Cluver joined the Board in 2016.  He served his initial term as First Vice President from July 2018 to July 2019.  He is the Secretary-Treasurer of the Alameda County Building and Construction Trades Council.

Vice President Leslie joined the Board in December 2018.  She’s President and CEO of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Wan joined the Port as Port Attorney in 2012.  He was Deputy Port Attorney from 2004 to 2008.  He is a former member of the Oakland City Council.

About the Port of Oakland

The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland Seaport, Oakland International Airport, and nearly 20 miles of waterfront including Jack London Square. The Port's 5-year strategic plan - Growth with Care - pairs business expansion with community benefits, envisioning more jobs and economic stimulus as the Port grows. Together with its business partners, the Port supports more than 84,000 jobs in the region. Connect with the Port of Oakland and Oakland International Airport through Facebook, or with the Port on Twitter, YouTube, and at www.portofoakland.com.

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