Since 1964, over fifty (50) individuals, representing all walks of life, have served on the Board of Directors. The Mayor appoints each board member with consent from City Council. Each member serves a four year term and terms are staggered. Since its creation, the Lorain Port Authority has been nonpartisan in nature. The Lorain City Council ordinance creating the agency stipulated that membership shall not consist of more than five members of a single political party.
Brad Mullins
Chairman
Brad Mullins is Chief Operating Officer of Amware Companies. He provides over 22 years experience in executive management, specializing in sales and marketing, distribution, logistics, and business development. Brad is a results-oriented individual with innovative initiatives to drive growth, recognize efficiencies, implement and execute strategies associated with business plans and build strong customer relations.
His experience in business development has provided him a keen understanding of all facets of running a successful business. Brad brings a wide range of experience at an executive level with large companies like Frito-Lay, Nestle USA, and Michael Foods. His 12 years of experience with a private equity group has provided Brad with experience in purchasing companies and developing business plans to grow sales and reduce costs, making them attractive targets for an eventual acquisition.
Brad holds an undergraduate degree from Wittenberg University where he played four years of NCAA collegiate football, playing in the NCAA Division III National Championship in 1979 . Brad was the defensive captain his senior year and earned multiple honors in the Ohio Athletic Conference. He was inducted into the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
Brad is also co-owner in a real estate management company with properties throughout the city of Lorain.
Brad commits a large portion of his free time using his business experience to sit on the Board of Directors for private companies as well as non profit organizations that include;
- Lorain County Board of Advisors for Junior Achievement
- Board of Advisors for Teamsters Retirement Funds with 3 different locals
- Board of Directors for Balanced Asset Management wealth management company
- Board of Directors for Samuel Felton Foundation
- Board of Directors Vice Chair for Lorain Port Authority
Carl Nielsen
Vice Chairman
Carl Nielsen is the co-owner of Nielsen Jewelers in Lorain, Ohio, and has grown up working for the family business. The life-long Lorain resident is married to his wife, Wendy, and together they have raised two sons, Alex and Carl.
Nielsen graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in business administration. From 1986 to 1999, he served on the Lorain County Airport Authority Board and acted as chairman twice. Nielsen was also commodore of the Lorain Sailing Club for two years in the late 1980s and previously raced Olympic-class sailboats across the country.
Nielsen has served on the Lorain Port Authority Board of Directors twice, but his most recent appointment was in July 2008. After growing up around the water and seeing what effective ports can do for a city through his years of traveling while sailing, Nielsen is convinced our port should be the front runner in creating opportunities for Lorain.
Michele Silva Arredondo
Michele Silva Arredondo was appointed to the Lorain Port and Finance Authority Board of Directors in November 2022. Her term will continue through January 8, 2025.
Tamika Bonilla
Tamika Bonilla was appointed to the Lorain Port and Finance Authority Board of Directors in May 2021.
For nine years, Bonilla has served as the owner and operator of Jump at the Sun Early Learning Child Care Center, LLC. She is also the administrator at the center and said she loves watching the growth of the children in her care from infancy to school age.
Tamika graduated from Lorain Admiral King High School and went on to achieve a bachelor’s degree in Journalism/Mass Communication from Wilberforce University and a Master of Education in Literacy/Curriculum and Instruction from Ashland University. She is a life-long Lorain resident and is also a member of the Lorain Historical Society (Development Committee), the Lorain Alumni Association (Treasurer) and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Hannah Kiraly
Hannah Kiraly was appointed to the Lorain Port and Finance Authority Board of Directors in May 2022. She is a program manager in the City of Lorain’s Building, Housing and Planning Department.
Hannah received her Bachelors of Art in Urban Planning from the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University and her Masters Degree in Nonprofit Organizations from the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University.
Vassie Scott
Vassie Scott was appointed to the Lorain Port and Finance Authority Board of Directors in February 2021. He was born in Elyria, Ohio, raised in Lorain, Ohio, graduated from Clearview High School, and attended the University of Dayton.
He retired from Prudential Financial after 34 years of service, and is currently a member of The Scott Group, Inc., located at 520 Broadway Avenue in Lorain, Ohio. During his career he has received several awards with the Company and industry-wide, including several President Citations, the Prudential Leaders Council Award, and Lifetime status with the Million Dollar Round Table, which is achieved by consistently performing in the top ten percent of all financial advisors worldwide. During his career, he has earned the designations of Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), and Accredited Estate Planner (AEP).
Having been blessed with an exceptional professional career, his passions now include being of service to our local communities and sharing his experience, strengths and hope with the youth within our community. He was past president of the Lake Erie Landlord’s Association, past president of the Lorain County Board of Developmental Disabilities and was past treasurer for the Board of the Lorain County Community Action Agency. In the past, Vassie has mentored in Lorain City Schools in conjunction with the Lorain County Urban League, Elyria Salvation Army, and 100 Men of Lorain County.
He currently resides in Amherst, Ohio with his family. His personal interests include golf, chess, biking and traveling.
Jon Veard Jr.
Jon R. Veard Jr. was appointed to the Lorain Port and Finance Authority Board of Directors in June 2020. He is the owner of Veard Construction Inc. in Lorain, OH.
Jeff Zellers
A native of Westlake who has lived in Lorain since 1985, Jeff Zellers is Vice President with The Brewer-Garrett Company. He has over 37 years of experience in engineering, energy services, construction support service maintenance and accounting to produce innovative and award -winning solutions.
Jeff is actively involved in developing the correct and cost-effective solutions for customers. He assembles the team of in-house professionals who are best suited for each specific project. He continues to be engaged with the project from development through final customer acceptance and implementation.
Jeff’s attention to detail, standards of quality and commitment to the client have made him a respected member of the HVAC industry. He has spoken on the benefits of Design/Build Contracting. He served as Treasurer for MCA, and has served on the Pipefitting Apprenticeship Committee and the Supplemental Unemployment Committee with Local 120 Pipefitters.
Jeff received his undergraduate degree in Industrial Technology from Ball State University. He and his wife Jane have three daughters and attend St. Anthony’s Parish. For the last three years, Jeff has played an integral role in the City of Lorain’s Zoning Board and Planning Commission.
Alan Zgonc
Alan Zgonc is a Lorain resident who was appointed to the Lorain Port and Finance Authority Board of Directors in January 2015. He graduated from Lorain Admiral King in 1965 and went on to study psychology at The Ohio State University.