Harbor Commission Vice President Bobby Olvera Jr. was elected Monday as president of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners, the five-member panel that oversees the Port of Long Beach.
The board also selected Bonnie Lowenthal as Vice President and Frank Colonna as Secretary. Each July, Commissioners select a President and two board officers for one-year terms. The Commission’s new officers will begin their terms at the next regularly scheduled meeting, on Monday, Aug. 14, when outgoing President Sharon L. Weissman will hand the gavel to Olvera.
Olvera is a fifth-generation longshoreman and serves as International Vice President (Mainland) of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. He began his 30-year history with the ILWU in 1989 and has held numerous leadership roles, including three terms as president of Local 13. In 1991, Olvera took a leave of absence to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps. In addition to his work as a labor leader and his military service, Olvera has served on the boards of the Miguel Contreras Advocacy Foundation and the United Way of Greater Los Angeles, Labor Community Services. He is also a former member of the Long Beach Economic Development Commission. Appointed to the Harbor Commission in 2020, Olvera was elected as Vice President of the Board in July 2022.
“It’s an honor to be chosen as president by my colleagues,” said Olvera. “We are at a critical juncture in our Port’s history as we accelerate our progress toward zero emissions. I look forward to collaborating with fellow Commissioners, CEO Mario Cordero, staff and all of our industry partners to build a more efficient, sustainable and equitable port.”
Under the City Charter, the Board sets policy for the Port and directs the Port’s CEO, who leads about 530 employees in developing and promoting the Port of Long Beach.
