By Karen Robes Meeks
Ambassador Vilma Martinez will step down as president of the Los Angeles Harbor Commission, it was announced Thursday.
Martinez, who has served on the board since 2013, led the Port of Los Angeles during its record cargo growth and the latest version of the Clean Air Action Plan.
“It’s been my honor and privilege to have served as president of the Los Angeles Harbor Commission,” said Ambassador Martinez. “I am very proud to have served our nation’s number one container port working alongside my fellow commissioners and port staff to assure that our port remains strongly competitive, grows sustainably and continues to be an engaged and supportive member of the community. I am forever grateful to [Los Angeles] Mayor [Eric] Garcetti for having allowed me this incredible opportunity to help shape the future of international trade in Los Angeles.”
Garcetti has nominated Jaime L. Lee to the Harbor Commission, which will require Los Angeles City Council’s approval.
For the last four years, Lee was a board president and a commissioner on the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System Board of Administration. Prior to that, he served on the Los Angeles City Industrial Development Authority, the Los Angeles City Quality and Productivity Commission, and on the State of California’s Speech Language Pathology, Audiology & Hearing Aid Dispensers Board.