Port of Long Beach appoints Michael Gold Director of Communications
The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners has selected Michael Gold as Director of Communications and Community Relations for the Port of Long Beach, beginning in mid-July, the POLB press release said.
The Board voted Gold to the post at their July 1 meeting, following a six-month search to replace Heather Morris, who retired after heading the department for more than eight years.
Gold has been working in the public affairs and legislative fields for more than 16 years. Prior to joining the Port of Long Beach, he was Public Affairs Manager for the Orange County Sanitation District, overseeing the communications, outreach and legislative programs for the third-largest wastewater treatment agency west of the Mississippi River. He led successful efforts to update the agency's public image, create innovative social media and public education campaigns and transform the legislative program. Earlier in his career, he worked with the League of California Cities serving Sacramento, Los Angeles and Orange County.
As Director, Gold will supervise a 16-person communications and community relations team and direct a budget of more than $4.5 million annually. He will oversee media relations, crisis communications and community and educational outreach efforts. He will also direct the production of community and industry newsletters and other publications, produce video programming, develop international and local advertising and create strategies to promote the advancement of the Port by informing, educating and engaging the Port's diverse stakeholders.
A native of Los Angeles, Gold holds a master's degree in Urban & Regional Planning from Florida State University; a BA degree in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego, and was recently a Coro Foundation Executive Fellow.
