The Board of Directors is made up of one representative appointed by each of the six constituent counties, and three members appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Illinois State Senate. Each member offers many years experience working in different industries such as law, banking, transportation and economic development.

• Governor appointee - Dan Silverthorn (Chairman)
Mr. Silverthorn contributes extensive construction and consulting knowledge to the Board.  Dan has over 40 years of experience in the Union Construction Industry and serves as the Executive Director for West Central Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council.  As Executive Director, he manages the day-to-day operations of the Council that covers a thirteen county area in West Central Illinois, includes 62 local unions, and has more than 15,000 members.  Previously, Dan has served as Vice President of the Allied Construction Services and Illinois Division Manager.  Dan contributes Public Services as a Board Member for multiple organizations such as: the Peoria Civic Center, Economic Development Council for Central Illinois, CEO Roundtable, Peoria Area Labor Management Council and the Tri-County Construction Labor Management Council.

• Governor Appointee –  Earl (Sandy) Moldovan, P.E. (Vice-Chairman)
As a Principal with AECOM, a world leader in providing architectural and engineering services, Mr. Moldovan brings his professional engineering background to the Board.  Sandy has an extensive resumé of community involvement, including: serving as Commissioner of the East Peoria Police & Fire Commission,  Board Member of the Illinois Workforce Investment Board, Board Member of the Economic Development Council for Central Illinois, Commissioner of the Peoria Race Relations Committee, and Commissioner of the Peoria Commission on Sustainability and Green Technology.

• Governor Appointee  – Al Covington (Treasurer)
Mr. Covington serves as a TransPORT board member with many years of banking and public service experience.  Al is current Senior Vice-President for Illinois National Bank, and has more than 30 years of banking experience, primarily in commercial lending.  Public service is also a priority, as Al has served as Vice-Chairman of the Peoria Citizens Committee on Economic Opportunity (PCCEO, Inc.) for 15 years.  He participates in the Government Relations Committee of the Illinois Bankers Association, and was previously President of the Peoria Public Library Board of Trustees.

• Peoria County Representative – Beth Jensen (Secretary)
Ms. Jensen is a member of the law firm Kavanagh, Scully, Sudow, White & Frederick, P.C. She concentrates her practice in school, labor and employment, and municipal law.  Beth is an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Peoria County Bar Association. She has served on the Illinois Comptroller's Merit Commission and Local Government Advisory Board, as well as the City of Peoria's Neighborhood Development Commission.  As a result of extensive civic involvement, she received the Judi Lasco Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award from the Center for Prevention of Abuse, and the Charles C. Schink Good Government Award, as well as being recognized by the Peoria Chamber of Commerce among its 40 Business Leaders Under 40.  Beth and her husband have two young sons, whom she enjoys coaching in tee-ball and soccer.

• Tazewell County Representative – Randy Belsley
In addition to having lived his entire life in Tazewell County, Mr. Belsley brings to the TransPORT board over 20 years work experience in both the public and private sectors, primarily in the fields of community development, economic development, and business development, resulting in the establishment of many long-standing relationships with key decision-makers at all levels of government and business throughout Central Illinois.  Actively engaged in supporting several civic and professional organizations, Belsley is employed by Caterpillar Logistics Services, Inc. and is also a State of Illinois Licensed Realtor.

• Woodford County Representative – Bill Christ
Mr. Christ was appointed to the TransPORT Board in 2008.  He is a Director on the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, a member of the Snyder Village Nursing Home Board, and Republican Chairman in Woodford County.  Bill has been an agent for Country Financial for 25 years, and is active in his church, Cazenovia Mennonite Church. He farms 1400 acres in Woodford and Marshall counties, and has a small herd of Hereford cattle. 

• Fulton County Representative – Kent Kowal
Mr. Kowal graduated from Western Illinois University with a BA in Education, and earned an MA from Bradley University in Guidance and Counseling in 1970.  He has been at the Bank of Farmington since 1971, and has served as President of the bank since 1990.  Kent has served extended periods of tenure on various boards: Farmington Central School District #265, Farmington Public Library, Graham Hospital, and the Community Bankers Association of Illinois as Regional President.  He currently serves on the Graham Hospital Foundation Board, and is a member of Farmington Rotary Club, as well as President of the Farmington Chamber of Commerce.

• Mason County Representative – Terry Svob
Mr. Svob is Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Havana.  He comes to the economic development field with the experience of a former manufacturing plant manager and business owner.  Before joining the City of Havana staff, Terry spent 13 years as Plant Manager for Whalen Manufacturing, a privately owned manufacturing plant in Macomb, Illinois, which primarily supplied parts to John Deere.  Prior to that, he ran his own business, Svob Enterprises, a welding and machine shop in Ellisville, Illinois.  Terry’s business and manufacturing background also includes 21 years with International Harvester Company, with 17 years in management.

• Marshall County Representative – Neil Pobanz
Mr. Pobanz is the Airport Manager at Marshall County Airport in Lacon, Illinois. He is a Senior Technical Consultant for a worldwide aircraft owner's organization. Neil is also a board member of the Illinois Aviation Trades Association and serves on a national advisory panel to the FAA. Helping the community, Neil has served as Senior Officer on accident response teams, including several years as Senior Mission Coordinator for both search and rescue operations and civil disaster situations.  Neil is currently the Emergency Manager for Marshall County.

Staff Biographies

• Executive Director – Steve Jaeger
Mr. Jaeger was chosen as Executive Director of TransPORT in 2006.  Before accepting the position of Executive Director, Steve was Director of Marketing for the Port of Houston Authority at Houston, Texas from 1986-1989 and had earlier assignments in marketing and operations for private sector ship-owners Wilhelmsen Lines and Orient Overseas Container Line in Chicago, New York and Houston.  He was employed for fifteen years by the Port of New Orleans, Louisiana, as Director of Marketing and Director of Operations until 2004.  Steve then served as Director of Marketing for motor carrier Garlepied Transfer in 2006.  He also served as president of the World Trade Club of Greater New Orleans 2004-06, and was an adjunct professor of Transportation and Logistics within the business programs at both Loyola University New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana University.

• Project Manager – Maureen McNamara
Ms. McNamara accepted the position of Project Manager for TransPORT in 2007.  Maureen has more than 20 years of executive experience in the area of social services.  Her leadership in the not-for-profit environment has given her skills in initiating and executing public service projects, especially those requiring the coordination of multi-agency cooperative ventures.  She has an academic background in philosophy and law, and serves as the Ethics Officer for the Port District, having been appointed in 2008. Peoria is her hometown, yet Maureen has lived in Africa and Europe and is particularly interested in opportunities for the Port District in the global economy, and the potential of the Illinois Waterway for international trade.