Harbor Commission vice president Bobby Olvera Jr. is the new president of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners, the five-member panel that oversees the Port of Long Beach.
The board also selected Bonnie Lowenthal as vice president and Frank Colonna as secretary.
More specifically, each July, commissioners select a president and two board officers for one-year terms. The Commission’s new officers will begin their terms at the next regularly scheduled meeting, on 14 August, when outgoing president Sharon L. Weissman will hand the gavel to Olvera.
Bobby Olvera Jr. is a fifth-generation longshoreman and serves as international vice president (mainland) of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). He began his 30-year history with the ILWU in 1989 and has held numerous leadership roles, including three terms as president of Local 13.
He is also a former member of the Long Beach Economic Development Commission. Appointed to the Harbor Commission in 2020, he was elected as vice president of the Board in July 2022.
“We are at a critical juncture in our Port’s history as we accelerate our progress toward zero emissions. I look forward to collaborating with fellow Commissioners, CEO Mario Cordero, staff and all of our industry partners to build a more efficient, sustainable and equitable port,” commented Bobby Olvera Jr..
