Two new Port of Oakland
Commissioners were sworn in by Oakland Mayor Jean Quan on August 1st.
The newcomers, Cestra “Ces”
Butner and Bryan Parker, were recently nominated by Quan and appointed by the Oakland
City Council on July 26. They replace Pamela Calloway, who until last month had
been the board’s president, and Margaret Gordon, an environmental activist who served
one term on the board. Quan did not support new four-year terms on the board for
either outgoing commissioner.
“I welcome the opportunity
to work with Commissioners Butner and Parker to continue guiding the port toward
a sustainable future,” new Board of Port Commissioners President Gilda Gonzales
said in a prepared statement. “Their practical business experiences will be welcome
additions as we continue our relentless focus on our core aviation, maritime and
commercial real estate businesses in fulfillment of our duties under state law as
trustees of state tidelands.”
Butner, who has lived in
Oakland since 1981, is president, CEO and owner of Horizon Beverage Company, an
Oakland-based beverage distributorship that supplies retailers in Northern Alameda
County and Western Contra Costa County.
Parker is vice president
of Davita, Inc., a Fortune 500 company that provides dialysis service and education
for patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. His experience
also includes time in investment banking, operations management and law, according
to the port.
Butner and Parker are expected
to join the Commission at an upcoming special meeting scheduled for Aug. 16.
