Three Port Commissioners were sworn into office this week.
On January 3, 2023 newly elected Port Commissioner for Group 5 Dr. Deandre Poole took the oath of office in a private ceremony alongside his wife Stephanie Poole.
Dr. Poole is a native of West Palm Beach and a graduate of Suncoast High School located in the City of Riviera Beach. He serves as a University Instructor, Coordinator for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the School of Communication and Multimedia Studies at Florida Atlantic University.
In addition, Dr. Poole currently serves as President of the United Faculty of Florida— FAU Chapter, Board Secretary for the Scholastic Achievement Foundation of Palm Beach County, Urban League of Palm Beach County Guild Member, and is a member of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Coordinating Committee. Dr. Poole served on the Audit Committee for the Port, served as a member of the Sales-Surtax Advisory Committee and Chaired the Criminal Justice Advisory Committee for the City of West Palm Beach.
"I ran for the Port because I believe with the right leadership, the Port can continue to be an economic engine in Palm Beach County, and be put in a solid position to find additional opportunities for revenue growth and the creation of even more sustainable local jobs for the community,” Commissioner Dr. Poole said.
Re-elected Commissioner Blair Ciklin, who is also the longest serving Commissioner on the board, was sworn in by the Port of Palm Beach District Clerk Beatrice Greffin on January 3, 2023.
Both Ciklin and Dr. Poole were elected during the November 8th general election and will serve four-year terms.
Newly appointed Commissioner for Group 2 Varisa Lall Dass was officially sworn-in early Thursday morning.
A ceremonial swearing-in later occurred at the Special Board of Commissioners Meeting on Thursday, January 5th at 4 PM. Bishop and former City of Riviera Beach Mayor Thomas Masters administered the oath of office to Lall Dass, before her parents and friends.
Last Friday, the Board appointed Lall Dass to the Port Commissioner Group 2 seat during a Special Meeting. She will serve the remainder of the Group 2 term, which expires in January 2025. She is the first Trinidadian-American woman to serve as a Port of Palm Beach District Commissioner.
“I am so grateful for this new opportunity to serve in this capacity. I look forward to continuing the great work we do here at the Port,” Lall Dass said.
Lall Dass currently works as a Practice Group Partner at Kelley Kronenberg and previously worked as an Assistant State Attorney, Assistant Public Defender, and General Assignment News Reporter.
Prior to joining the Commission, Lall Dass served as the Port appointee to the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Transportation Planning Agency, a board member of the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority, the 2022 Port Independent Audit Budget Committee, the host committee for the Florida Children’s First “Advocates for Children Awards." She also serves on the steering committee for Leadership West Palm Beach.
After the swearing-in ceremony, the Board elected new officers. Dr. Jean Enright was elected to serve as chair, Wayne Richards is Vice-Chair and Dr. Poole was elected to serve as secretary/ treasurer.
Each will serve in these positions for one year.
Click here to learn more about the Port of Palm Beach District Board of Commissioners.