Port of Seattle

Tay Yoshitani, appointed CEO of the Port of Seattle in January, 2007, began the role in March. As CEO, he carries out policies set by the Port Commission and leads Seattle's Seaport, one of the largest container ports in North America, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which welcomes more than 29 million passengers a year. Prior to joining the Port of Seattle, Yoshitani served as Senior Advisor to the National Association of Waterfront Employers (2004 to 2007), providing industry expertise on port security and environmental issues. Previously he served as Executive Director of the Port of Oakland (2001 to 2004), where he led a significant expansion program to substantially increase the size of both the seaport and airport. He oversaw environmental permitting and planning that enabled construction to begin on the airport expansion, including the Terminal Improvement Program that used "green building" technology. He also led the effort to transfer ownership and begin cleanup of two military bases and convert them into container terminals and rail yards. By doing significant environmental cleanup at the same time as the seaport construction, the effort saved millions of dollars and nearly a decade of red tape. He served as Oakland's Deputy Executive Director from 1998 to 2001. He is credited with creating the first master plan at the Maryland Port Administration, where he served as Executive Director (1995 to 1998). His accomplishments there included turning around the floundering Port. As Deputy Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles (1989 to 1995), he oversaw the creation of the West Coast's largest dry bulk export terminal. As president of Grand American, Inc. (1987-1989), Yoshitani directed property development and management operations specializing in office buildings and retail centers in three states. From 1975 to 1987 he also held various positions for Fortune 500 companies including Castle & Cooke, Inc., and Avery International. Prior to becoming Executive Officer in Viet Nam for an engineering company, he attended U.S. Army Airborne and Ranger training. He served as aide-de-camp for the Commanding General, U.S. Army, Japan, and was honorably discharged at the rank of Captain. Yoshitani, the fourth son of American-born parents, came to the U.S. as a 7-year-old aboard a ship that sailed from Yokohama and docked in Seattle in 1954. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and earned his MBA at Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. He serves on the National Urban Fellows, Inc. Board of Directors.

John Okamoto joined the Port's executive staff as chief administrative officer in January 2003. Okamoto oversees key administrative departments including Public Affairs, Government Relations, Economic and Trade Development, Regional Transportation, Human Resources, Labor Relations and Facilities. Okamoto served as assistant secretary of Washington State Department of Transportation from 2001, leading 2,500 employees and administering a $2.2 billion biennial budget. In that capacity he fostered public support and initiated planning and design for six major transportation projects. Prior to that position, from 1996 he served as a Department of Transportation regional administrator over the most populated and congested six-county region of the state, working to improve the organization's responsiveness and external customer focus. He also held leadership positions with the City of Seattle, as director of the Engineering Department, and as Human Resource director. He is active in community and public service organizations including the Seattle Aquarium Society, Japan America Society, Trade Development Alliance, enterpriseSeattle, Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau, Nikkei Concerns, American Public Works Association, the Intelligent Transportation Society of Washington, and Mountains to Sound Greenway. Okamoto has a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Washington. He has attended Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government in the Senior Executives program for state and local government officials.