New Orleans Public Belt Railroad, port name Hernandez chair

The Port of New Orleans and Public Belt Railroad boards last week elected Tara Hernandez chair.

The boards also named Darryl Berger vice chair and William Langenstein III, secretary-treasurer. With the port's acquisition of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad effective in February 2018, port commissioners also serve as directors of the railroad's board.

Hernandez joined the board in July 2016 when she was appointed by Gov. John Bel Edwards. She succeeds Arnold Baker, whose term as chairman expired this month. Baker will serve as a board commissioner until his five-year term ends in April 2020.

"I look forward to continuing to work with my fellow commissioners, port leadership and our stakeholders as we take bold, strategic action to create opportunities on and off port property and help drive a secure, sustainable future for our jurisdiction and the state of Louisiana," Hernandez said in a press release.

Hernandez is president of JCH Properties, a New Orleans-based boutique urban real estate development firm that focuses on the conversion of underutilized real estate into residential, commercial and mixed-use redevelopment projects.