Virginia Port Authority Appoints New Members

Governor Terry McAuliffe has appointed five new members to the Virginia Port Authority’s Board of Commissioners and asked the incoming members to act swiftly to improve The Port of Virginia’s fiscal management and return it to profitability.

“The Port of Virginia is one of the Commonwealth’s most important economic assets, and improving its performance is one of my top priorities,” McAuliffe said. “This team of Virginia leaders has the right experience and vision to strengthen the port financially and put it on the path toward long-term, sustainable growth. I know they are just as eager as I am to work alongside the dedicated men and women of The Port Virginia to make it stronger and better prepared to succeed in a 21st century economy.”

The new members of the Virginia Port Authority Board of Commissioners are:

•  G. Robert Aston, Jr., Portsmouth

The chairman of the board and CEO of TowneBank, which he founded in 1998. Bob Aston is a professional banker with 49 years of leadership in community banks and a super-regional bank, including 29 years’ experience as president and CEO.

•  Alan Diamonstein, Newport News

Diamonstein is a former senior member of the Virginia House of Delegates and represented the Virginia Peninsula for more than 30 years during his time in office. As a partner in the Patten, Wornom, Hatten, Diamonstein law firm, he specializes in public policy issues and project finance, economic development law and real estate ventures.

•  Gary T. McCollum, Virginia Beach

McCollum is the senior vice president and general manager for Cox Communications. He was appointed to oversee all Cox operations in Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia and Roanoke in February 2010.

•  Val McWhorter, Fairfax

Val McWhorter is a founding partner of Smith, Patcher, McWhorter and has focused his practice in the area of Construction law for 30 years. His practice has included representing contractors in large, complex claims arising under federal, state, and local government contracts, as well as contracts between private parties.

•  John G. Milliken, Arlington

Milliken is a partner with the law firm Venable LLP, and is a former chairman of the Virginia Port Authority Board of Commissioners, a board that he served on from 2002-2011. He served as director of transition for former Gov. Mark R. Warner and then as Warner’s secretary of transportation. In addition was a member of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

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Press Release, April 21, 2014