Steve Raukar

St. Louis County Commissioner Steve Raukar of Hibbing, Minn., has been reappointed to the Duluth Seaway Port Authority Board of Commissioners by the County Board. The County Board originally appointed Mr. Rau-kar to the Port Authority Board in 1998, and he currently serves as the Port Authority Board's vice president. The Port Authority's seven-member board is made up of three appointees by the Duluth City Council, two by the governor and two by the St. Louis County Board. Each appointment is for six years.

The U.S. Wheat Associates announced in January a series of executive changes led by the recent departure of Paul Dickerson, vice president of overseas operations. Vince Peterson, most recently USWA's regional vice president for Europe, will succeed Mr. Dickerson effective in July 2004. Replacing Mr. Peterson will be George Galasso, currently regional director for North Africa, who will be promoted to vice president. Ed Wiese, another regional director for North Africa, will be promoted to vice president while continuing to be responsible for market development in most of sub-Sahara Africa.

The Minnesota Transportation Alliance in December named Rick Krueger as its executive director. Mr. Krueger previously served many years in both the private and public sectors, including the political arena (with six terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives, from 1983 through 1994) and association management. He succeeds Fred Corrigan, who departed in June after 14 years of leading the Alliance to join the Aggregate and Ready Mix Association of Minnesota.

Thomas J. Simmers in November was named president and chief executive of Ceres Terminals, Inc., headquartered in Weehawken, N.J. Mr. Simmers, a U.S. Merchant Marine Academy graduate, worked in marine cargo handling for 29 years, most recently as executive vice president of sales and marketing for Ceres. He entered the industry as a vessel superintendent with Atlantic & Gulf Stevedores in Philadelphia and has held a variety of positions at 14 ports. Mr. Simmers succeeds Christos N. Kritikos, the company's founder, who will remain as an adviser to Ceres, which was acquired by NYK Line last year.

The Minnesota Agri-Growth Council recognized Gerald Tumbleson, a farmer from Sherburn, with its "Superior Award for Leadership in Agriculture" during the organization's annual meeting held in November. The award is presented each year to an outstanding individual who has made and continues to make significant contributions to Minnesota agriculture. Mr. Tumbleson, who serves on the Minnesota Corn Growers Association Board of Directors, was noted for his wide variety of local, state and national agricultural initiatives and organizations.

Former Duluth Port Director Davis Helberg has been elected 2004 president of the Lake Superior Marine Association. Mr. Helberg, who retired from the Seaway Port Authority on March 31, 2003, succeeds Bruce Von Riedel, president the three previous years. Former Great Lakes Fleet marine superintendent Fred Cummings was elected vice president, succeeding Charles (Chip) Davis. Jack Schilling was re-elected treasurer. The LSMMA has about 550 members and supports activities at Duluth's Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center.