Lieutenant Commander Kevin E. Wirth (right) relieved Lieutenant Commander Steven C. Teschendorf (left) in July as commanding officer of the 225-foot buoy tender USCG Alder. Commander Wirth previously led the Current Intelligence Watch at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Commander Teschendorf will continue his service as the Leadership and Organizational Performance Branch Chief of the Leadership Development Center located at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn.
Bill Kron, a St. Louis County commissioner since 1977, was re-elected Duluth Seaway Port Authority president at the board’s annual meeting. The St. Louis County board originally appointed Mr. Kron to the Port Authority board in 1992. He is past chair of the county board and has served as chair of a number of its committees over the years. Steve Raukar, a St. Louis County commissioner since 1989, was elected as Port Authority vice president. Mr. Rauker is past chair of the County Board and serves on numerous additional committees, boards and commissions. He was originally appointed to the Port Authority board in January 1998. The other officers are Janet E. Nelson, Duluth, secretary; Thomas E. Cashman, Mankato, treasurer; and Thomas A. Clure, Duluth; assistant treasurer. They are joined on the board by Ray Klosowski, Duluth.

George J. Ryan, former president of Lake Carriers’ Association, Cleveland, Ohio, was honored in July by the Soo Locks Visitors Center Association as an inductee into the “Great Lakes Marine Hall of Fame” at the Museum Ship Valley Camp.

Al Klein, an 18-year veteran of area engineer duties at the Corps Duluth Office, was named Corps of Engineers’ Soo Locks chief Engineer, where he will oversee a crew of 94 that staff the Sault Area operation. Steve Brossart was named in August the Acting Area Engineer at the Duluth Area Office. He will serve in this capacity for a term of 120 days, or until a permanent selection is made for this position.
Lori Yecoshenko has been named accountant for the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. She will maintain overall responsibility for financial statements, fixed assets, grant compliance, cash reporting, sales tax reporting and accounts receivable reporting. She will also assist with computerized system development and maintenance by being responsible for coordinating updates and verifying integrity of files and will assist with budget preparation and develop and maintain account analysis worksheets.

Before joining the Port Authority she was employed for 14 years as a cost accountant/office manager for a local construction testing company.

She and her husband, Jason, have three children and live in Lakewood Township, just outside of Duluth.