Search for executive director hurt by port authority’s past

We couldn’t agree more with Dave Mosure, one of the new members of the Western Reserve Port Authority: Eight applicants for the position of executive director – with possibly a six-figure salary – is disappointing.

And, we share Mosure’s view that the problems that plagued the port authority last year undoubtedly had a dampening effect on the national search for a successor to former Executive Director Rose DeLeon.

Indeed, in urging the port authority to advertise for the job nationally, we noted that DeLeon, who served for five years, had set the standard. She came from the Cuyahoga County Port Authority with a deep understanding of the job and the statutory powers that make the WRPA a major player in the Mahoning Valley’s development.

DeLeon’s background, qualifications and experience were tailor-made for the fledging position. Unfortunately, illness prevented her from fully performing her duties. She died in March.

Given the specialized nature of the position, we believed a wide net needed to be cast to attract the most qualified and experienced applicants.

But in this era of instant communication via the Internet, there are no secrets. Thus, the Western Reserve Port Authority’s dirty laundry, including infighting among members of the board and the resignations of several, was on display for all to see – around the country and worldwide.

Like Mosure, chairman of the planning committee leading the selection process, we had hoped for a large number of applicants to allow the authority to pick from a host of qualified, experienced candidates.

Unfortunately, the governing board of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport has received just eight resumes.

That said, there are some interesting ones that, if nothing else, will give the authority the chance to make an objective comparison.

The applicants

The eight applicants: John Moliterno of Girard, interim director of the WRPA and an owner of a printing business; Derek Martin of New Jersey, manager of air service at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; Jeffrey Miller of Mishawaka, Ind., senior airport operations specialist at San Jose [Calif.] International Airport; Anthony T. Trevena of Ormond Beach, Fla., owner of a restaurant; John Sernnulka of Richmond, Ky., recently retired from Sherwin-Williams Co.; Albert R. LeRoy of Vienna, general manager of B2B Sales and Service; Michael Haritakis of Hudson, co-founder of Thermedx, a medical-device manufacturer; and Daniel DeSantis of of Somersworth, N.H., economic-development director for the Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corp. since 2010. DeSantis was president and CEO of the Warren Redevelopment and Planning Corp. (WRAP) from 1981 to 1982, when the organization was first created.

We list each of the names to give readers a cursory look at the caliber of the applicants. Further details can be found on Vindy.com.

There should be no doubt about the importance of finding the right person to serve as executive director. When DeLeon was performing at her peak, she established close ties with area governments and economic development agencies and demonstrated how state statutes pertaining to port authorities can be used to help make development projects a reality.