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:
Mr. Steve Layman
Chairman
Shai-Hess Commercial Real Estate
Licking County appointee since 1996
Mr. Fred Paul
Vice Chairman/Secretary
retired Rockwell and C-TEC
Heath appointee since 2004
Ms. Marcia Downes
retired The Works
Licking County appointee since 2021
Mr. Frank Flynn
retired Newark AFB
Heath appointee since 2001
Dr. Robert Klingensmith
retired Ohio State-Newark
Newark appointee since 1995
Ms. Kim Lust
retired State Farm Insurance
Newark appointee since 2010
Ms. Jennifer Roberts
Newark Campus Development Fund
Licking County appointee since 2024
Dr. Sharad Thakkar
Vice President, Polyolefins and Elastomers, Niche Polymer
Heath appointee since 2018
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
