Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Port of LB Hires New Communications Director

After a six month search to fill the position, the Port of Long Beach has decided to hire veteran public affairs director Michael Gold as its new Director of Communications and Community Relations. He starts at the port in mid-July.

The port’s Board of Harbor Commissioners voted Gold to the post at its July 1 meeting. He’s set to replace Heather Morris, who retired after heading the department for over eight years.

“I am thrilled to be joining the outstanding staff at the Port of Long Beach,” Gold said. “As a Long Beach resident, I understand the importance of the port to the local, regional and national economies.”

Gold has over 16 years of experience in the public affairs and legislative fields. Before joining the port, he was public affairs manager for the Orange County Sanitation District, overseeing the communications, outreach and legislative programs for the third-largest wastewater treatment agency west of the Mississippi River.

Earlier in his career, he worked with the League of California Cities serving Sacramento, Los Angeles and Orange County.

As communication director, Gold will supervise a 16-person communications and community relations team and direct a budget of more than $4.5 million annually, and will oversee media relations, crisis communications and community and educational outreach efforts.

He’ll also direct the production of community and industry newsletters and other publications, produce video programming, develop international and local advertising and create strategies to promote the advancement of the port.

Gold, a Los Angeles native, holds a master’s degree in Urban & Regional Planning from Florida State University and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego.