Port of Albany staff accepts board appointments

Port of Albany staff members have recently joined the volunteer leadership teams of regional and national business, non-profit, and maritime industry organizations in service to the community.

Port of Albany’s General Counsel Patrick K. Jordan has been named the new Vice-Chair of the Government Law Center Advisory Board at Albany Law School and to the Board of Directors at theREP (formerly Capital Repertory Theatre), part of the Proctors Collaborative.

Jordan is the Port’s chief legal officer and serves as legal advisor to the Albany Port District Commissioners, CEO, and staff in the execution of the Port’s mission and duties. Before joining the Port, he served as Deputy Corporation Counsel for the City of Albany and served as counsel to the City’s Common Council, Planning Board, and the Citizens’ Police Review Board. He serves as Chair of American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) Law Review Committee and as Vice President of the Board of the USS Slater Destroyer Escort Historical Museum. He earned a JD from Albany Law School in Albany, NY and BA in English from Siena College in Loudonville, NY.

Port of Albany Chief Financial Officer Christine Stuto recently accepted a seat on Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany’s Tri-County Services Board.

Stuto is responsible for the Port’s accounting and financial management programs and processes. Previously, she was the Director of Finance at Berkshire Farm Center and Service for Youth, a child welfare agency serving youth and families throughout the state of New York, where she was responsible for its $45 million budget. She serves on the Board of Trustees of the Foundation of St. Catherine’s Center for Children and as the representative for New York/Northern New Jersey on the Board of Directors for the North Atlantic Ports Association. She holds a BS in Accounting from Bentley College in Waltham, MA.

Port of Albany Director of External Affairs Penny Vavura was elected Chair of the AAPA’s PR Committee.

Vavura is responsible for communications and managing the Port of Albany’s brand, messaging, engagement among its community, governmental, industry, and media relationships. Prior to joining the Port, Vavura spent 25+ years building on her experience in public relations, marketing and development in museums and in public relations agencies, where her client work was recognized with awards from the American Marketing Association, the Albany Ad Club and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Capital Region Chapter. She holds a BA in Anthropology/Archaeology from Binghamton University in Binghamton, NY

The Port of Albany continues to be a key economic driver with an annual impact of more than $813 million and approximately 4,500 jobs throughout the state.