"Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality."

Mayor Jon Mitchell

Chairman

Chair (ex officio) was first elected in 2011 as New Bedford’s thirty-eighth mayor. Mayor Mitchell has moved aggressively to re-establish New Bedford as one of the leading cities in the Northeast. Under Mayor Mitchell’s leadership the city has diversified its marine industrial sector and improved waterfront infrastructure.

Patricia Lareau

Vice Chairman

Is a self-employed insurance broker in the city of New Bedford and has been a member of the NBPA Commission since 2007. Patricia grew up within the New Bedford fishing industry on New Bedford’s working waterfront. She is a staunch advocate and liaison to the fishing industry and Port of New Bedford.

James Oliveira

Specializes in workforce training and development. He is former Director/CEO of the MassHire Greater New Bedford Workforce Board which creates and sustains powerful connections between businesses and job seekers through a statewide network of employment professionals. James works closely with our academic institutions and companies promoting good paying jobs through strong labor standards and training and internship programs.

Dr. Brian Rothschild

Is Professor Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology. Dr. Rothschild has been a member of the NBPA Commission since 2007. Dr. Rothschild was a Charter Member of the Senior Executive Service in the Department of Commerce. He has served as Senior Policy Advisor to the Administrator of NOAA; he managed NOAA’s implementation of the Fisheries Conservation and Management Act of 1976 and is the Port Authority’s senior advisor on fisheries and sustainability.