Green Marine Elects New Chairman of the Board

The President and CEO of the Port of Cleveland, William D. Friedman, was elected chairman of the Green Marine’s Board of Directors on May 31, during GreenTech 2018, in Vancouver B.C. Friedman has been sitting on the Green Marine Board since 2013.

The Port of Cleveland is one of the environmental program’s founding members. “I’ve been engaged on the Green Marine board for the last five years, and the Port of Cleveland has adopted a similar commitment as a member. It’s been great to see Green Marine grow and expand; and I am pleased to assume the chairman position as we advance the maritime industry’s environmental stewardship practices and the development of this industry-led initiative,” says William D. Friedman, President and CEO of the Port of Cleveland.  

“Timing couldn’t be better,” adds David Bolduc, Green Marine’s executive director. “Our annual conference, GreenTech 2019, is heading to Cleveland next year and we welcomed several new U.S. participants in the past months, including Interlake Steamship Company and Great Lakes Towing Company, both based in Cleveland.” Mr. Friedman is the first American to preside over the Green Marine Board of Directors. He also serves as a director of Green Marine Management Corporation – U.S. and is the Chairman-Elect of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA).

Two new directors were also elected to the Board: Michael Fratianni, President and CEO, Montréal Gateway Terminals Partnership and Cliff Stewart, Vice President Infrastructure, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. Six other senior executives comprise the remainder of the Green Marine Board of Directors:

Mark Barker, President, Interlake Steamship Company

Brandy D. Christian, President & CEO, Port of New Orleans

Craig H. Middlebrook, Deputy Administrator, St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation

Allister Paterson, Executive Vice President and COO, CSL Group

Ron Tursi, President, Guardian Ship Management Inc.

Sylvie Vachon, President and CEO, Montréal Port Authority

About Green Marine

Established in 2007, Green Marine is a North American environmental certification program for the maritime transportation industry. The program stems from the industry’s voluntary initiative to surpass regulatory requirements. There are currently more than 120 companies – ship owners, port authorities, terminal operators and shipyard managers – participating in the program throughout Canada and the United States. The Green Marine certification process is rigorous and transparent: the results are independently verified every two years, and each participant's individual results are published annually. The Green Marine program’s unique character derives from the support of more than 65 environmental organizations, scientific programs, and government agencies. These supporters contribute to shaping and revising the program.

About the Port of Cleveland

The Port of Cleveland is one of the largest ports on the Great Lakes. Over 20,000 jobs and $3.5 billion in annual economic activity are tied to the roughly 13 million tons of cargo that move through Cleveland Harbor each year. The Poor of Cleveland is the only local government agency whose sole mission is to spur job creation and economic vitality in Cuyahoga County. The Port is an economic engine for the community, a key to Northeast Ohio’s global competitiveness, and a crucial partner in building Cuyahoga County’s future. For more information, please visit: www.portofcleveland.com