Port of New Orleans Board Elects Kearney as Chairman

The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans has elected Mr. Michael W. Kearney chairman. Mr. Kearney represents Orleans Parish and joined the Board in December of 2012 when he was appointed by former Gov. Bobby Jindal.
 
He succeeds Mr. William T. Bergeron, whose term as chairman expired this month. Mr. Bergeron will continue to serve as a commissioner. In addition, the Board elected Mr. Robert R. Barkerding vice chairman and Mr. Laney T. Chouest secretary-treasurer.
 
Mr. Kearney is president and owner of The Kearney Companies Inc., a New Orleans-based third-party logistics company serving the supply chain needs of many large exporters and importers in the Greater New Orleans region.
 
“I want to thank Bill Bergeron for his leadership over the past year. The changes that have been implemented will serve us well into the future,” said Mr. Kearney. “The Port of New Orleans is one of our region’s largest economic drivers and a critically important component of the global transportation network. I look forward to working with the Board, staff and all stakeholders so the Port can continue to address its challenges and realize its unlimited potential.”

Prior to founding the The Kearney Companies in 1996, he served as president of Neeb – Kearney & Company and the Jackson Kearney Group. In 1997, Mr. Kearney became president of Transocean Terminal Operators – the Port’s largest stevedoring company at the time. He is a past President of the New Orleans Board of Trade and received the C. Alvin Bertel Award in 2015 in recognition of his contributions to the maritime community. He currently serves as secretary of the New Orleans Business Alliance and serves on the Board of Ochsner Baptist Hospital. He was most recently honored as Rex, the King of Carnival, in 2016.
 
The Board is made up of seven commissioners. They are unsalaried and serve five-year staggered terms. The Governor of Louisiana appoints members from a list of three nominees submitted by 19 local civic, labor, education and maritime groups. The Board reflects the three-parish jurisdiction, with four members from Orleans Parish, two from Jefferson Parish and one from St. Bernard Parish. Other Board members include Mr. Scott H. Cooper, Mr. Arnold B. Baker and Ms. Tara C. Hernandez.