The Jefferson County Port Authority needs a new captain.
Neal Breitweiser, 61, who has been the agency’s executive director since December 2016, has resigned, effective at the end of September.
“Neal turned in his resignation and the (Port Authority) board accepted it,” said Derrick Good, president of the Board of Directors. “We’re looking for a new executive director.”
Good said he did not know about
Breitweiser’s plans. “All I can say is that Neal decided it was time to move on,” he said.
Breitweiser had no comment on his plans. “All I will say is I think this is the perfect time to move on,” he said. “I’m close to retirement age, and because of my experience, I think I have a lot to offer. I plan to stay in the logistics field, which is where my expertise lies, be it ground, air or water.”
Good credited Breitweiser for a number of achievements while he helmed the authority.
“Shortly before he was hired, the Port Authority had just separated from the Economic Development Corporation,” Good said. “Neal helped to set us up as an independent entity. He was instrumental in us moving into our own office (in Crystal City). He was very much involved in our purchase of the Old House in Kimmswick.
“And the new port in Kimmswick and the boats coming in and out and everything involved in that, he was a big part of,” Good said.
Breitweiser said he had a lot of good people around him to help him in his job.
“The wheels are in motion for a lot of good things in Jefferson County. The Kimmswick port is up and running. Down the line, there’s the possibility of a container port in Herculaneum and another port in Crystal City. The foundation has been laid for a bright future in Jefferson County. I think the county and the Port Authority can take the ball from here.”
Good credited Breitweiser’s people skills with the accomplishments during his term.
“He was excellent at creating and maintaining relationships with people, which moved some of these projects forward,” Good said.
He said those qualities will be essential as the board chooses a successor.
“A committee of the board has been set up to search for candidates, advertise and go through the applications,” Good said. “We’ll be looking for a go-getter and a people person, someone who can build relationships. Knowledge of the river and transportation and urban economics would be a plus and those are things that Neal brought to us, but those things can be learned.”
Good said the board has no timeline to hire a new executive director.
“There is still a lot of work to be done,” he said. “While we need to get someone in there to keep us moving, we want to do this right, so we’re not going to set any kind of artificial deadline.”
Good said the anticipated range of salary and benefits for the position will be $65,000 to $80,000.
Breitweiser was paid a $65,000 annual salary, plus benefits.