On March 4, the Oregon Senate approved Gov. Kate Brown’s appointments of Ketan Sampat and Stuart Strader to the Port of Portland Commission. Their terms began on March 15, 2021. Sampat replaces Commissioner Tom Tsuruta and represents Washington County, while Strader replaces Linda Pearce as the Port’s Clackamas County representative.
“I want to thank Tom Tsuruta and Linda Pearce for their years of service, and welcome Ketan Sampat and Stuart Strader to the Port of Portland Commission,” said Governor Kate Brown. “The Port Commission plays a key role in creating new statewide economic opportunities, and Ketan and Stuart’s combined years of experience and leadership will help ensure our marine ports and air terminals continue to keep Oregonians connected to the competitive, global economy.”
Ketan Sampat is co-founder and chief technology & product officer at The Provenance ChainTM Network, a company that works to bring transparency to commerce. He also serves as executive partner at Elevate Capital, Oregon’s first institutional venture capital fund that specifically targets investments in underserved entrepreneurs. Building off his experience in business and technology, Sampat is adjunct professor at the School of Business Administration at Portland State University.
“I am honored by this appointment. I look forward to bringing my international business, entrepreneurial and nonprofit service experience to the Port of Portland Commission. We have the opportunity to create a more vibrant regional economy that includes and serves those who have been historically underserved,” said Sampat.
Sampat was the founding president of TiE-Oregon; held several executive roles at Intel, including president of Intel India; and continues to be active in Portland’s entrepreneurial eco-system. He co-founded CafeGive Social in 2008, a leading cause marketing provider for businesses and nonprofits, and works to provide access to healthcare by serving on the boards of the Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation and the Health Center.
Stuart Strader has worked in the marine transportation industry for the last 16 years as a longshore worker and union leader. He has been a union officer for ILWU local for the past eight years, working directly with the Port and its partners to make Terminal 6 productive. Strader was a key partner in working to bring container service and other operations back to the terminal. He also spent seven years in various capacities as an administrator and instructor at Clackamas Community College and was a commercial real estate manager for six years.
“I am truly grateful to having the opportunity to serve my community as a part of the Port of Portland Commission. Transportation, international trade, and commerce are critical to the continuing economic advancement and sustainability of our region and the quality of life of all Oregonians,” said Strader.
Strader, who started working in the family business at age 11, was born and raised in the Portland metro area. He attended the North Clackamas school system, and today he and his wife live in West Linn and have raised two children.
Other members of the Commission are: Alice Cuprill-Comas, Commission president, executive vice president and general counsel at Oregon Health & Science University; Michael Alexander, Commission vice president, retired Urban League of Portland president and CEO, and seasoned healthcare-industry leader; Robert Levy, Commission secretary, self-employed farmer operating both Windy River and L&L Farms in Hermiston; Katherine Lam, President and co-owner of Bambuza Hospitality Group; Pat McDonald, vice president of human resources and director of the Intel Talent Organization at Intel Corporation; Meg Niemi, president of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 49; and Sean O’Hollaren, former vice president of government and public affairs at Nike.
The nine-member Port Commission meets monthly (with meetings taking place virtually right now). At least two commissioners must each live in one of the three counties in the Port district (Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties). The remaining members may live in any part of the state. Commissioners are unpaid volunteers who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate. They serve four-year terms and can be reappointed for an additional term. Commission presidents are selected by and serve the Governor. The Commission appoints the Port's executive director.