Commissioners

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A Board of five Commissioners, elected at large by the voters within the Port of Palm Beach District, governs the Port. It's administration is through an Executive Director and professional staff of 45 full-time employees.

Chairman Edward R. Oppel (Group 5)
	With more than 20 years experience as an executive director reporting to various local government bodies, Edward Oppel brings strategic planning, operations and financial analysis, and effective communication to his second term on the Board of Commissioners and first year as Chairman. What started in 1980 with the Oppel Company in Baltimore, Md., bringing construction professionals into the development team to work with architect-engineers from design to construction completion, has turned into an extended series of executive level management positions. He has held the titles of President/CEO with the Tega Cay Development Co. in South Carolina; Executive Director with the Bridgeport Port Authority in Connecticut; Executive Director with our own Port of Palm Beach (1996-2000); COO of the School District of Palm Beach County and Executive Director of the Indian Trail Improvement District, both in Florida. He currently chairs the Port's Inland Port Task Force, which has gained momentous speed since its initiation. Oppel received both his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, emphasis on financial operations and economics, and his Doctorate of Law degree, emphasis on corporate accounts, from the University of Baltimore. He has been married to wife Judy for over 35 years and has one son, Ian.


Vice-Chairman Blair J. Ciklin (Group 4)
	Joining the Port of Palm Beach Board of Commissioners in 1977 as its youngest member, Blair Ciklin today has the distinction of being its longest serving member. As a seasoned veteran, he has helped to guide the Port through many years of landmark growth and change. He is first vice president of Morgan Stanley in West Palm Beach, bringing to the Board broad based knowledge and experience in investment banking and financial management. He also holds a Florida license in real estate securities and insurance. A native of Connecticut and a resident of Palm Beach County since 1967, Mr. Ciklin graduated from Muskingum College in Ohio, and did postgraduate studies at the New York Institute of Finance. He has long been active in the community, serving as a founding member of the Artificial Reef Committee.


Secretary / Treasurer George E. Mastics (Group 2)
	Currently in his fourth term on the Board of Commissioners, three times as Chairman of the Board, Mastics is or has been a member of: Business Development Board; Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO); Ex-officio of the Economic Council of Palm Beach County; Overall Economic Development Program (OEDP) for Palm Beach County; Floridians for Better Transportation; Save Lake Worth Lagoon Organization; Foreign Trade Zone for Palm Beach County. Trial Attorney for 56 years and admitted to the Florida and Ohio bars, Mastics received his B.A. & J.D (L.L.B.) from Case-Western Reserve University, with a Legislative Leadership Diploma from Bethany College. He served four terms in the Ohio House of Representatives, where he successfully sponsored over 100 bills that became law. Mastics was Chief Assistant Attorney General for Northeast Ohio, and his office did twice the legal work of the previous administration with half the staff. He represented legal matters for the Cleveland Board of Education. His lawfirm in Cleveland, Ohio was Mastics, Celebrezze & McGrath. In Florida, Mastics was a partner, shareholder and director of Montgomery, Lytal, Reiter, Denney & Searcy, P.A. (later called Searcy, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart & Shipley, P.A.), tried over 200 jury cases to verdict, and won several court verdicts in excess of $13 million dollars; admitted to practice law in the Florida and Ohio state and federal courts including the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Mastics resides in the town of Palm Beach, Florida. He has been married for over 50 years to Carole Mastics, has five children and 11 grandchildren.


Commissioner Dr. Jean L. Enright (Group 3)
	Dr. Jean Landfair Enright received a Doctorate Degree from The Catholic University of America in Washington D.C.;Master of Science Degree from Howard University in Washington D.C.; and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama. She is the widow of the late Dr. William F. Enright Jr. and mother of two daughters. Dr. Enright has worked as a teacher and administrator with the Palm Beach County School Board. She also was an Administrative Assistant to the Dean, College of Life Sciences, University of the District of Columbia in Washington D.C.; and College Instructor at Fort Valley State College in Fort Valley, Georgia. Community Affiliations/Public Service: - Women’s American ORT Member - Girl Scouts, Palm Glades Board Member - Palm Beach County Democratic Executive Committee Member - Tuskegee University, Palm Beach County Alumni Association Member, Founder and Past President - Active Member, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church


Commissioner Wayne Richards (Group 1)
	A Commissioner since 2000, Wayne Richards keeps a strong focus on fiscal responsibility and bringing new business to the Port of Palm Beach. A previous Chairman to the Board, Richards is currently serving his third term. He has led the Port on several Trade Missions to the Caribbean nations of the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominican Republic and Trinidad/Tobago; created Palm Beach County Haiti Relief to assist those in dire need in the neighboring country; assisted in keeping the Palm Beach Princess a solvent operation; and increased revenue by supporting existing tenants while proactively attracting new bulk and break-bulk cargo clients. Richards graduated with his Bachelor Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Howard University and his law degree from the University of Michigan. A practicing attorney with his own law firm in Palm Beach County, he specializes in Real Estate and Business law, Land Use, Zoning and Governmental Affairs. He enjoys quality time with his wife, Elrika, and their two daughters. Community involvement and affiliations include: Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center Board Member, 2004-Present Palm Beach County Zoning Commission Chair, 2004 ; Member, 2002-2004 Roger Dean Stadium Advisory Board Member, 2003-Present Palm Beach County Bar Association Member, 1995-Present F. Malcolm Cunningham, Senior Bar Association Member, 1995-Present Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement Member NAACP Member Leadership Palm Beach County Graduate University of Michigan Alumni Club of the Palm Beaches Member Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Life Member; Current President to Local Chapter.