Board of Directors
The Port Authority is governed by a nine-member board of directors.
The Port Authority is governed by a nine-member board of directors, three each appointed from the City of Heath, the City of Newark, and the Licking County Commissioners. The Board meets bi-monthly at the offices of the Port Authority in Heath.
One Board member, Newark-appointee Dr. Bob Klingensmith, has served continuously on the Board since the founding of the Port Authority in 1995.
The Board is a business-oriented Board that has always read like a “Who’s Who” list of community leaders in Licking County. Steve Layman is Chairman and Fred Paul is Vice Chairman/Secretary.
The Board members are:
![boardsteve Mr. Steve Layman](http://hnlcpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/boardsteve.jpg)
Mr. Steve Layman
Chairman
Shai-Hess Commercial Real Estate
Licking County appointee since 1996
![boardfred Mr. Fred Paul](http://hnlcpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/boardfred.jpg)
Mr. Fred Paul
Vice Chairman/Secretary
retired Rockwell and C-TEC
Heath appointee since 2004
![boardmarcia-1 Image of Marcia](https://hnlcpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/boardmarcia-1.jpg)
Ms. Marcia Downes
retired The Works
Licking County appointee since 2021
![boardfrank Mr. Frank Flynn](http://hnlcpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/boardfrank.jpg)
Mr. Frank Flynn
retired Newark AFB
Heath appointee since 2001
![boardbob Dr. Robert Klingensmith](http://hnlcpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/boardbob.jpg)
Dr. Robert Klingensmith
retired Ohio State-Newark
Newark appointee since 1995
![boardkim Ms. Kim Lust](https://hnlcpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/boardkim.jpg)
Ms. Kim Lust
retired State Farm Insurance
Newark appointee since 2010
![jenniferroberts](https://hnlcpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/jenniferroberts.jpg)
Ms. Jennifer Roberts
Newark Campus Development Fund
Licking County appointee since 2024
![boardsharad Dr. Sharad Thakkar](http://hnlcpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/boardsharad.jpg)
Dr. Sharad Thakkar
Vice President, Polyolefins and Elastomers, Niche Polymer
Heath appointee since 2018
![boardbill-1 Image of Mr. William Wilson](http://hnlcpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/boardbill-1.jpg)
Mr. William Wilson
retired Park National Bank
Newark appointee since 2000
Meeting Schedule
The Board meets the second Tuesday of every other month at 3:30 p.m. at the Port Authority offices (851 Irving-Wick Dr., W, Heath, Ohio)
Past Board Members
Past members of the Port Authority Board are:
Dave Baker 2014-2024
Girard Besanceney 1995-2000
Jeff Crabill 1995-2001
Dan DeLawder 1995-2000
Daniel Dupps 1995-1997
Valerie Hans 2000-2001
Steve Hoar 2001-2002
Wallace Horton 2002-2003
Jim Lenner 2015-2021
Charles Manning 1995-1998
Mary Jane McDonald 1995-2018
Dr. Lewis Mollica 1995-2001
John Oberfield 1995
Ron Sheldon 2000-2015
Erin Tschanen 2002-2007
Bart Weiler 2008-2014
Tim Weisert 2007-2010
Jan Wilson 1998-2007
Jerry Wray 2003-2004