Administration
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Executive Director
Richert L. Self
Executive Director
rlself@portlc.com
(337) 493-3501
Richert Self joined the Port of Lake Charles in 2003 and served as the Director of Administration and Finance overseeing the daily operations of the finance, accounting, risk management, information technology, human resources and administration departments. In 2017, he began serving as Deputy Executive Director and became Executive Director in 2020.
A native of Lake Charles, he holds a bachelor of science in business from McNeese State University and an MBA from the University of New Orleans and is a Certified Public Accountant. His professional certifications also include Professional Port Manager from the American Association of Port Authorities.
Richert is actively involved with the American Association of Port Authorities and formerly served as the Chairman of the Finance Committee. He is also actively involved with the Gulf Ports Association and served as the Vice President of the Gulf Seaports Marine Terminal Conference. He previously served on the Louisiana Board of International Commerce.
Richert is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants, the Government Finance Officers Association and the Louisiana Government Finance Officers Association.
Executive Counsel
Jonathan Ringo
Executive Counsel
jringo@portlc.com
(337) 493-3517
Jon Ringo serves as Executive Counsel to the Port of Lake Charles.
The Port Board appointed him to that position in 2020 after serving as Assistant General Counsel for four years.
Ringo advises the Port’s senior staff and board members as to the law and its impact on the Port.
He has been involved in some of the most exciting projects to come to Southwest Louisiana in recent years, including several LNG projects and other energy-related developments.
Prior to joining the Port, Ringo was in private practice in Baton Rouge, focusing on commercial litigation and government relations. He has been married to Blair, a Lake Charles native, since 2006 and they have three children.
Director of Administration and Finance
Cameron Landry, CPA
Director of Administration and Finance
clandry@portlc.com
(337) 493-3546
Cameron Landry is the Director of Administration and Finance for the Port of Lake Charles. He began his career at the Port in 2018 as the financial analyst and assumed his current role in 2020. A graduate of McNeese State University, he holds degrees in accounting and finance and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He is a member of the Society of Louisiana CPAs, American Institute of CPAs and Government Finance Officers Association.
Landry prepares, monitors, and controls the Port’s operating and capital budgets, manages the Port’s investment portfolio, and advises the Executive Director and the Port’s Board of Commissioners on the financial feasibility of projects.
In coordination with his staff and an independent CPA, he oversees the preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).
Director of Navigation
Channing Hayden
Director of Navigation
chayden@portlc.com
(337) 493-3620
Channing Hayden began his maritime career on the Mississippi River in 1967.
He first worked with the New Orleans Steamship Association, administering ILA labor contracts.
He retired in 2005 as President and CEO of the New Orleans Steamship Association, d/b/a Steamship Association of Louisiana.
Hayden began working for the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District in 2006, where he now serves as Director of Navigation.
Director of Operations
Todd Henderson
Director of Operations
thenderson@portlc.com
(337) 493-3520
Todd Henderson, the Director of Operations, has been with the Port of Lake Charles since 2003. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he attended Lamar University and McNeese University.
Todd has more than 30 years of experience in the maritime, material handling and automation industry.
While at the Port, he has worked with the Port’s customers to identify their shipping and terminal needs as well as overseeing all the operations at the Port.
Director of Engineering, Maintenance and Development
Nick Pestello, P.E., PPM
Director of Engineering, Maintenance and Development
npestello@portlc.com
(337) 493-3627
Nick Pestello is the Director of Engineering, Maintenance and Development at the Port of Lake Charles, responsible for all capital and maintenance projects, future project development and grants management. He has been at the Port for 11 years, working closely with engineers, consultants, and contractors to plan, construct and deliver projects. He earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from McNeese State University. He is a licensed PE in Florida, Louisiana and Texas and is a 2023 graduate of the Professional Port Manager program through the American Association of Port Authorities.
Director of Cargo and Trade Development
Therrance Chretien
Director of Cargo and Trade Development
tchretien@portlc.com
(337) 493-3579
Therrance Chretien became the Director of Cargo and Trade Development in 2020 after serving as the Deputy Director of Operations. His journey with the Port started in 1997 when he received the Port Maritime Enhancement Scholarship. He graduated with honors in marketing from McNeese State University in 2002.
He began his career as a trades apprentice in 2002. His hard work and dedication earned a promotion to Marketing Representative the following year. In 2007, he took on the role of overseeing agricultural cargo, helping the port become a top U.S. breakbulk export hub for the USAID Food for Peace program. He was promoted to Marketing Manager in 2009, where he extended his port’s cargo portfolio to include a diverse range of general cargoes, including forest products.
In 2010, Therrance was promoted to Automated Terminals Manager, where he managed operations at the Port’s general cargo facility and bulk terminal.
Staff
Michelle Bolen
Executive Administrative Assistant
mbolen@portlc.com
(337) 493-3501
Michael Witherspoon
I.T. Technical Support Supervisor
mwitherspoon@portlc.com
(337) 493-3626
Lisa Talbot
Accounting Manager
ltalbot@portlc.com
(337) 493-3534
Jo Ellen Elliott
Human Resources Specialist
jelliott@portlc.com
(337) 493-3530
Derek Schierloh
Sales Manager
dschierloh@portlc.com
(337) 493-3515
Regan Brown
Health, Safety,
& Environmental Compliance Manager
rbrown@portlc.com
(337) 493-3540
Tiffany Fournet
Traffic Manager
tfournet@portlc.com
(337) 493-3516
Jenna Greiner
Foreign Trade Zone 87
jgreiner@portlc.com
(337) 493-3504
Capt. Timothy Atkins
Harbor Police Chief
tatkins@portlc.com
(337) 493-3553
