CII Officers and Board of Directors
OFFICERS
Chris Brooks
President
Chris Brooks leads JOC Events programs and works closely with the editorial team focusing on JOC.com and The Journal of Commerce. A 35-year company veteran, Chris’ career has spanned every aspect of the editorial operation, from copy and front-line editing to design, reporting, and overseeing numerous websites. Chris currently leads the programming teams for 10 annual JOC events.
MIChAEL MENDOZA
Vice President
Michael Mendoza represents OEC Group as National Accounts Manager. Founded in 1981, OEC Group serves destinations throughout the world through and has grown into one of the leading logistics providers from Asia to North America. Michael has over 30 years experience in the ocean transportation industry and has served on the CII board since 2015.
Steven Blust
Past President/Second Vice President
Steve Blust is the President & Co-Founder of Blust Intermodal Advisors. Steve is a former Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission. Steve has been involved with CII for more than a decade in various executive roles. Steve has been instrumental in the success of CII's scholarship program as the organization's recent Education Committee chair.
Cate Avolio
Treasurer
Cate Avolio is currently a member of the International Longshoremen's Association. Previously, Cate held senior level positions at leading industry publications, including the American Journal of Transportation and The Journal of Commerce amongst other outlets.
LISA WHELDON
Secretary
Lisa Wheldon is Director of Sales for Medlog Companies. Lisa was previously Sales Director at Blume Global. With over three decades of experience in the area of transportation and logistics, Lisa has held positions at Jacksonville Port Authority, SeaLand, CSX Intermodal, Florida East Coast Railway and Direct ChassisLink, Inc.
Lisa Aurichio
Executive Director
Lisa Aurichio, President of BSY Associates, has more than 20 years of marketing communications experience, working with global organizations both inside and outside of the international trade and transportation industry. Lisa has been Executive Director since 2019.
Barbara S. Yeninas
Prior to her passing in May 2024, Barbara Yeninas lead BSY Associates Inc., a leading business-to-business branding and marketing communications consulting firm. Barbara was active in promoting the container industry for more than four decades and played a key role in many industry educational outreach programs.
DIRECTORS
Randy Bayles
Randy Bayles, who is recently retired as the Group Manager for Ports at Norfolk Southern Corporation, has been involved in the transportation industry for 35 years. For the past 22 years Randy has held various marketing and sales positions with Norfolk Southern, the most recent having responsibility for business development at all intermodal and automotive ports in the U.S. and Canada.
Jahan Byrne
Jahan Byrne is the director of corporate marketing for Matson Logistics, a Top 25 3PL and supply chain solutions provider, and part of ocean carrier, Matson. At Matson Logistics, Jahan oversees all brand and corporate marketing for the $800 million enterprise, which provides land transportation, warehousing and distribution, and international supply chain services to companies ranging from Fortune 500 to start-ups.
Robert Cannizzaro
Robert Cannizzaro is Chief Operating Officer of Intermodal Association of North America. Prior to Vice President of Operations at Virginia International Terminals, Inc. Prior to joining IANA, Rob was the Vice President of Equipment Operations for CMA CGM (America). Rob also spent 23 years with Hamburg Süd, holding management positions in Corporate Logistics, Marine Operations and Risk Management.
Susan Coffey
Susan Coffey is the Director, Commercial Operations at Pacific Terminal Services Company, LLC. Susan works closely with ocean carriers and BCO’s on utilization of PTSC’s near dock yards up and down the west coast. Susan has been involved in the transportation industry for over 30 years. Susan worked at the Port of Tacoma – which is now part of The Northwest Seaport Alliance, where she oversaw business development activities. Susan has held various leadership positions during her tenure with CII.
Mike DiVirgilio
Mike DiVirgilio is the Principal of MJDiVirgilio & Associates. Prior to launching his consulting business, Mike spent 40 years working in the industry. Mike began his maritime career in New York City with Moore-McCormack Lines. Before going to Ceres, Mike was a 30-plus year veteran of NYK Line (NA).
Michele Grubbs
Michele Grubbs manages the Long Beach office as Vice President of PMSA. Prior to working for PMSA, Michele was employed in the aerospace industry, engaged in various international trade policy and marketing roles in Washington D.C., California, and Western Europe.
Noel Hacegaba
Dr. Noel Hacegaba has a long history with the City of Long Beach and the last 10 years in executive positions within the port, one of the busiest ports in the U. S. Noel is presently Deputy Executive Director. Noel is a graduate of the University of Southern California.
ANNE KAPPEL
Anne Kappel is a Senior Advisor to the World Shipping Council (WSC), representing the international liner shipping industry on specific public policy issues. Anne directed the organization’s strategy, public relations, communications and policy analysis activities. Anne was with WSC for almost twenty years. Before her work at WSC, Anne worked for liner carriers, U.S. Lines, Sea-Land and Maersk in a broad range of functions and leadership roles.
kendall P. kellaway iii
Kendall Kellaway III is the Senior Vice President, Commercial of RoadOne IntermodaLogistics, the largest privately held dray and related solutions provider in the US. As SVP Kendall oversees all of RoadOne's commercial and marketing efforts, as well as its dray brokerage division ROLS. Kendall is one of the co-founders of destination management company EDRAY, as well as asset light warehousing group Kinimatic, and sits on the advisory boards of several logistics tech companies in various verticals.
Admiral RICHARD M. LARRABEE, uscg (ret.)
Richard M. Larrabee is the recently retired Director of the Port Commerce Department of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Richard oversaw the management and operation of the major marine terminal facilities within the Port of New York and New Jersey. Prior to joining the Port Authority, Richard held the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Coast Guard.
john Moseley
John Moseley was appointed as Chief Commercial Officer in 2018. John drives and executes the port’s commercial strategy. John oversees the port’s real estate, trade development, economic development, marketing and branding, research and forecasting departments as well as administration of Harris County FTZ 84. Prior to being named CCO, John served as Port Houston’s Senior Director of Trade Development, where he managed global sales and business development. John was instrumental in executing the port’s market growth strategy, training and managing of the Port’s trade development team in the U.S. and overseas.
Greg Tuthill
Greg Tuthill is Chief Commercial Officer, leading global sales, marketing and trading teams of SeaCube Container Leasing, one of the largest global container leasing companies. Greg is a graduate of the State University of NY Maritime College.
Anil J. Vitarana
Anil J. Vitarana has served on the CII Board since February 2016. Anil has been associated with the maritime industry since 1973. From 1995 to 2015 Anil was the President of United Arab Shipping Company’s US organization. In April 2016, Anil started his own consulting company - Cranford Consulting Inc. Anil was awarded CII’s Connie Award in 2006 for his contributions to the maritime and intermodal industry.
Mike Wilson
Mike Wilson is Strategic Advisor at Independent and former CEO of Consolidated Chassis Management, the leading cooperative chassis pool manager in the U.S. Mike has a 30-plus-year career in the transportation industry in international shipping, including senior positions around the world. Mike is the 2018 recipient of the Connie Award given in Newark, NJ by CII.