PORT OF LONGVIEW C.E.O. NAMED TO STATE BOARD

Longview, WA- Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Geir-Eilif Kalhagen, Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Longview, to the Washington State Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board on July 11, 2014.

Kalhagen, the Port of Longview’s CEO since September 2012, will serve as FMSIB’s Port Districts representative until June 30, 2018. He replaces FMSIB member Larry Paulson, former Executive Director of the Port of Vancouver.

FMSIB’s role is to create a state program to promote freight movement among local, national and international markets to boost trade opportunities. The 12-member board, which includes city, state and county representatives as well as those from the railroad, marine and trucking industries, is tasked with finding solutions to reduce the impact of freight movement on local communities.

“It’s an honor to be chosen,” Kalhagen said. “As the third-largest port in the most trade dependent state in the nation, we heavily rely upon the movement of freight and goods to keep our economy competitive. I look forward to creatively contributing to the success of FMSIB’s mission.”

Kalhagen has 31 years’ experience in the maritime industry working on the East Coast, Gulf Coast, West Coast and several international posts – most recently Singapore, where he was head of Star Shipping’s operations in Southeast Asia. A graduate of The University of South Alabama, Kalhagen has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and political science and a USCG Limited Masters Ticket.