PRPA Announces Retirement of President & CEO Shaun Stevenson
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 6, 2025
PRINCE RUPERT, BRITISH COLUMBIA – The Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) announced today the retirement of Shaun Stevenson, President and Chief Executive Officer effective December 31, 2025. Shaun Stevenson has led PRPA as President and Chief Executive Officer since 2018 and has been a key contributor to the organization’s success since 1997.
“It has been an honour to lead the Prince Rupert Port Authority and work with such a talented team,” said Shaun Stevenson. “I am proud of what we have accomplished together with our partners, including over $3 billion in transformative development currently underway at the gateway. I’m confident the organization is well-positioned to continue its work in building a better Canada by growing trade.”
Shaun’s focus on growing the Prince Rupert gateway through developing, diversifying, and enhancing numerous port business and infrastructure projects has been instrumental in the Port of Prince Rupert’s position as Canada’s third largest port, anchoring more than $60 billion in trade, generating $1.4 billion in economic activity across northern British Columbia annually, while supporting 7,500 jobs in the gateway industry.
“Under Shaun’s leadership we’ve experienced unprecedented growth and diversification at the Port of Prince Rupert,” said Peter Lantin, Chair of the Prince Rupert Port Authority Board of Directors. “The Board of Directors extends its deepest gratitude to Shaun for his dedication and contributions to the organization.”
The Board of Directors will initiate a comprehensive search for a new CEO and is committed to ensuring a smooth transition.
EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 24, 2025
PRINCE RUPERT, BRITISH COLUMBIA – The new Visiting Specialist Clinic at Prince Rupert Regional Hospital is significantly expanding access to specialized healthcare for North Coast residents. With $108,000 in support from the Prince Rupert Port Authority’s (PRPA) Community Investment Fund, the facility is fully equipped with medical and IT equipment that provides visiting doctors with the tools and support they need to conveniently and efficiently hold in-person clinics for local patients requiring a wide range of specialized services.
Since opening in 2025, the Visiting Specialist Clinic has welcomed 20 individual specialists offering 10 different specialties, including cardiology, neurology, rheumatology, pediatrics, plastics, urology, geriatric outreach, and ear, nose, and throat. A total of 34 in-person clinics have been hosted in the renovated fourth floor space, with more than 1,400 patients registered thus far. Nearly two dozen additional specialty clinics are already scheduled into early 2026, far exceeding initial projections for participation in the Visiting Specialist program.
“The creation of this dedicated clinic enables Northern Health to attract more talented specialists to Prince Rupert Regional Hospital, and it supports the recruitment of long-term physicians and other healthcare professionals to our community. The partnership with the Prince Rupert Port Authority’s Community Investment Fund has made this possible,” said Franklin Kutuadu, Health Services Administrator, Prince Rupert.
“By optimizing this space to suit the needs of top tier specialists, this critical investment is improving access for the nearly 20,000 people living in Prince Rupert, Port Edward, and surrounding Indigenous communities. Providing this level of care locally is vital to strengthening and growing our region,” said Shaun Stevenson, President and CEO, Prince Rupert Port Authority.
Since its inception, PRPA’s Community Investment Fund has committed over $1 million to local healthcare projects benefiting:
Prince Rupert Regional Hospital
- Maternity Ward Renovation – $125,000
- Enhanced Laparoscopic Towers – $256,050
- Bed Replacement Project – $150,000
- Cancer Care Unit upgrade – $100,000
- Diagnostic Ultrasound Machine upgrade – $72,500
- X-Ray Machine Replacement – $69,750
- Orthopedic Surgical Equipment – $60,500
- Laparoscopic Surgical Tower – $60,000
- In-patient Bathtub upgrade – $45,500
- Palliative Care upgrades – $36,500
- Cancer Screening Scope Guide – $35,260
Acropolis Manor
- Wall Wrap Project – $18,130
- Door Wrap Project – $15,000
EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 18, 2025
PRINCE RUPERT, BRITISH COLUMBIA – A new outdoor classroom and expanded garden are broadening opportunities for hands-on learning and food education at École Roosevelt Park Community School in Prince Rupert for the new school year. The Salmonberry School Garden project was developed through the latest partnership between the Prince Rupert Port Authority’s (PRPA) Community Investment Fund and School District 52.
These new assets offer a safe and accessible place for educators, children, and families from the school community to engage in new experiences, gain knowledge, and nurture the skills to grow healthy food locally on the North Coast. 2025-2026 will mark the first full school year of operation for the redesigned space.
Located on the east side of the school, the Salmonberry School Garden includes raised garden beds, planters, picnic tables, compost bins, a tool shed, and a greenhouse, which enables year-round growing, even in the damper and darker fall and winter months. After celebrating a grand opening in late June, over the summer break members of the school community were invited to help tend to the garden and share the food that they harvested.
“Through all seasons, our goal with the Salmonberry School Garden project is to embrace conventional gardening practices and emphasize Indigenous Principles of Learning as we continue to develop and grow this space,” said Erika Bader, teacher and project lead. “Students from Kindergarten through Grade 5 will further strengthen their understanding for native plants and build confidence by contributing to the garden’s success.”
“The Salmonberry School Garden project directly aligns with Community Investment Fund’s purpose, by enriching youth with practical knowledge and abilities that will serve them throughout their lifetime,” said Shaun Stevenson. “Each year, new students, educators, and families can share in its progress, be part of its evolving legacy, and support future food security in the Northwest.”
PRPA committed $57,000 to the $117,000 project. This is the third time PRPA’s Community Investment Fund has collaborated with School District 52 to create an outdoor classroom or garden at a Prince Rupert public school. In 2023, PRPA partnered to build the ‘Syndooynm Na Ḵ’oom’ or ‘Garden of Hope’ at Conrad Elementary School. In 2022, PRPA supported the development of a sheltered outdoor classroom at Lax Kxeen Elementary School.
EFFECTIVE JUNE 16, 2025
PRINCE RUPERT, BRITISH COLUMBIA – The Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) announced today that Katherine Bamford is joining the organization as the new Vice President of Business Development.
Ms. Bamford is a dynamic leader with over 25 years of experience in business development, stakeholder engagement, and business innovation. She is a trusted advisor in strategic communications, integrated marketing, government relations, and brand management. In successive roles at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, Ms. Bamford led initiatives in international market expansion and customer engagement across North America, Asia, and Europe. Serving for 13 years as Director, Trade Development, she was responsible for providing strategic leadership and daily management of the Port’s commercial customer engagement and outreach strategies, maintaining and growing market share across port sectors.
“Katherine has decades of demonstrated experience and valued expertise in developing global supply chains with a deep understanding of the diverse business of the Prince Rupert Gateway,” said Shaun Stevenson, President & CEO, Prince Rupert Port Authority. “Her depth of knowledge and existing relationships with many of the Port of Prince Rupert’s partners and customers will be a tremendous asset for PRPA.”
Ms. Bamford will lead national and international marketing efforts to encourage volume through the gateway, pursue investment in terminal development and expansion to support market diversification, and build upon the successful growth of Port of Prince Rupert to continue to enhance the economic benefits it brings to the community, region, and country.
Ms. Bamford holds an executive Master of Business Administration and a Graduate Certificate for Business in the Americas from the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University, a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of British Columbia, and is a graduate of the Anatomy of Shipping diploma program from the Cambridge Academy of Transport in Cambridge, England. She is an accredited member of the International Association of Business Communicators and served ten years on the Board of Directors of the REACH Child and Youth Development Foundation, including five years as Vice-Chair.
EFFECTIVE JUNE 9, 2025
PRINCE RUPERT, BRITISH COLUMBIA – The Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) is honouring five companies for their outstanding participation in the Green Wave program.
The recipients of the 2024 Green Wave Award are intermodal carriers COSCO and Yang Ming, liquid-bulk shipping lines SK Shipping and Navigator Gas LLC, and coastal passenger and vehicle transportation service BC Ferries.
PRPA also recognizes nine individual vessels for using underwater noise mitigation technology, including: container vessels YM PLUM, YM UNIFORM, YM MUTUALITY, and MOL CHARISMA; LPG carriers BOREAL VOYAGER and HLS DIAMOND; dry-bulk carriers XH SQUARE LEG and YANGZE 16; as well as cruise vessel ROALD AMUNDSEN.
Launched in 2013, the Green Wave program offers financial incentives to commercial vessel owners who voluntarily invest in environmentally sustainable measures. Guided by standards recognized throughout the global maritime industry, PRPA provides lower harbour fees based on a vessel’s air emissions and underwater noise performance. The Green Wave program requirements are regularly updated to integrate environmental best practices as they evolve.
Over the past five years, there has been a notable increase in Green Wave program participation, demonstrating the accelerating shift within the global shipping fleet towards adopting environmentally sustainable practices. In 2024, 316 commercial vessel calls met the program’s criteria, representing a 33 percent rise over 2019.
“The Prince Rupert Port Authority commends the 2024 Green Wave Award recipients for their commitment to decarbonizing the global shipping and passenger transportation sectors and lessening the impacts of their operations on the environment,” said Shaun Stevenson, President and CEO, Prince Rupert Port Authority. “We are also encouraged to see a record number of vessels calling on the Prince Rupert Gateway that are activating measures to reduce underwater noise. These critical investments help support the protection of marine mammals and other aquatic life around the North Coast and beyond.”
The Green Wave program is an important component of PRPA’s environmental stewardship strategy and exemplifies the organization’s leadership role in supporting the decarbonization of transpacific supply chains. The initiative advances PRPA’s own continuing actions to drastically cut carbon dioxide, airborne particulates, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide emissions in the airshed surrounding the Port of Prince Rupert. It also directly supports PRPA’s goal of reducing carbon intensity at the Prince Rupert Gateway by a further 30 percent in the next five years and reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.
QUICK FACTS:
- In 2024, 174 individual vessels calling on the Port of Prince Rupert qualified for the initiative, an 89 percent increase year-over-year.
- Between 2014 and 2024, ~710 calls met Green Wave standards under the RightShip Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) Rating (Ratings A and B), a method developed by the world’s leader in maritime environmental assessment to rate vessels on relative efficiency.
- Based on RightShip rated calls alone, approximately 808,690 tonnes of GHG emissions were avoided in the local airshed over the decade, which is equivalent to removing 17,025 passenger vehicles from the road for a year.
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ABOUT THE PRINCE RUPERT PORT AUTHORITY
The Prince Rupert Port Authority manages the Port of Prince Rupert, Canada’s northernmost trade gateway on the west coast. The Port of Prince Rupert anchors one of the fastest and most reliable supply chains between North America and Asia, providing vital infrastructure to support shippers and industries as they move their goods and resources to market. The port handles approximately $60 billion in trade value per year and supports an estimated 3,300 direct supply-chain jobs in northern BC, $340 million in annual wages, and generates $1.4 billion for the northern B.C. economy.
FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES CONTACT:
Olivia Mowatt
Senior Communications Officer
Prince Rupert Port Authority
omowatt@rupertport.com
EFFECTIVE APRIL 15, 2025
PRINCE RUPERT, BRITISH COLUMBIA – The District of Port Edward is safer and more secure with a brand-new fire truck now serving the community and surrounding area. The specialized vehicle was purchased for the volunteer Port Edward Fire Department through a partnership between the Prince Rupert Port Authority’s (PRPA) Community Investment Fund and the District of Port Edward, with PRPA contributing $155,000 to the $500,000 cost.
The new fire truck replaces the district’s aging truck that had been in use for three decades and reached the end of its lifespan. Equipped with a new water pump, hoses, and ladder, the new vehicle enables volunteer firefighters to greatly enhance their response. The truck also provides fire crews with safer seating that better protects them from the elements when travelling to-and-from emergencies.
“PRPA is committed to strengthening emergency management and preparedness on the North Coast. This investment will help improve the safety, security, and sustainability of Port Edward and provide volunteer firefighters with the tools they need to do their important work,” said Shaun Stevenson, President & CEO, Prince Rupert Port Authority.
“Having this valuable support from PRPA’s Community Investment Fund ensures the Port Edward Fire Department has safe and reliable equipment,” said Jason Giesbrecht, Fire Chief, Port Edward Volunteer Fire Department. “The new truck allows our department to respond to emergencies more effectively and efficiently, covering a wide area that includes Port Edward out to Cassiar Cannery and along Highway 16 from Galloway Rapids Bridge to Tyee Overpass.”
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ABOUT THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND
The Community Investment Fund is financed by a share of the Prince Rupert Port Authority’s annual net income that has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents of the North Coast. By investing these funds into community projects, led mostly by dedicated local volunteers, the Port Authority has been able to share its financial success with the communities that enable it. Since 2010, more than $18.9 million has been committed to the Fund, helping to bring more than 115 local and regional projects to life. Each of these projects has filled an important role in supporting recreation, health and wellness, arts and culture, youth, education, the environment, and other needs in the community.
FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES CONTACT:
Olivia Mowatt
Senior Communications Officer
Prince Rupert Port Authority
250-627-2588
omowatt@rupertport.com
EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 2025
PRINCE RUPERT, BRITISH COLUMBIA – Prince Rupert’s Rushbrook Trail is safer and more accessible after the popular waterfront pathway underwent further structural upgrades. These latest improvements were funded through a collaboration between the Prince Rupert Port Authority’s (PRPA) Community Investment Fund and Kaien Island Trail Enhancement and Recreation Society (Kaien Trails) and represent their joint commitment to enhancing outdoor recreation for all community members on the North Coast.
PRPA invested $50,000 in this project, bringing its total contributions to Rushbrook Trail revitalization efforts to $885,000 since 2018.
To make Rushbrook Trail more inclusive for people with varying mobilities, three steep sections of the pathway were regraded, significantly reducing the slopes in those areas. When planning these upgrades, Kaien Trails incorporated the Trans Canada Trail’s best practices and guidelines for designing and developing an ‘All Persons Trail’. These new safety improvements bring the pathway closer to being accessible to people of all abilities and enable much broader use of the scenic seaside pathway for residents and visitors alike.
“The repeated support from the Prince Rupert Port Authority helps ensure this beloved community asset remains a centerpiece of Prince Rupert’s network of walkways and makes it easier for people with limited mobility to safely experience one of the most used trails on the North Coast,” said Steve Milum, President, Kaien Island Trail Enhancement and Recreation Society.
The upgrades to Rushbrook Trail are the latest in a series of investments by PRPA into enhancing Prince Rupert’s waterfront including the revitalization of Seal Cove Salt Marsh and development of the Millennium Walkway, Cow Bay Marina, Atlin Promenade, Atlin Terminal, and Northland Cruise Terminal.
“PRPA remains committed to enabling greater access to the waterfront for all residents and the improvements to Rushbrook Trail will create a wide range of opportunities for more people to get outside and enjoy the views from one of the most unique pathways in BC,” said Shaun Stevenson, President & CEO, Prince Rupert Port Authority.
Community members are invited to a celebration to mark the reopening of the Rushbrook Trail on Sunday April 6th. A free hot dog BBQ will be set up at the trailhead by the Rushbrook Floats from 12pm to 2pm. Participants are encouraged to park in Seal Cove, walk the trail and have a bite before looping back.
QUICK FACTS:
- Rushbrook Trail was initially built by the City of Prince Rupert in 1985, following the closure of the CN rail line to Seal Cove.
- Safety concerns from unstable rock and falling debris forced the city to close the path in 2003.
- PRPA’s Community Investment Fund, Rotary Club of Prince Rupert, and Kaien Trails were key partners in its repair and reopening in 2018.
- Kaien Trails maintains the city-owned asset for the benefit of the community.
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ABOUT THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND
The Community Investment Fund is financed by a share of the Prince Rupert Port Authority’s annual net income that has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents of the North Coast. By investing these funds into community projects, led mostly by dedicated local volunteers, the Port Authority has been able to share its financial success with the communities that enable it. Since 2010, more than $18.9 million has been committed to the Fund, helping to bring more than 115 local and regional projects to life. Each of these projects has filled an important role in supporting recreation, health and wellness, arts and culture, youth, education, the environment, and other needs in the community.
FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES CONTACT:
Olivia Mowatt
Senior Communications Officer
Prince Rupert Port Authority
250-627-2588
omowatt@rupertport.com
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 30, 2025
PRINCE RUPERT, BRITISH COLUMBIA – The Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) and the Metlakatla Development Corporation (MDC) are partnering to develop the South Kaien Import Logistics Park (SKILP). The $100M+ Indigenous-led joint venture will enable long-term economic benefits for Metlakatla and new employment opportunities for local Indigenous workers, while bolstering intermodal trade through the Prince Rupert Gateway.
A portion of SKILP will host a logistics and warehousing complex that significantly expands and strengthens import transloading and related capabilities at the Port of Prince Rupert. Construction is underway in developing the 56 acres of flat, serviced industrial land in proximity to Fairview Terminal, CN Rail, and the recently announced CANXPORT facility.
The majority of SKILP is pre-leased, with IntermodeX, a leading integrated intermodal services company and subsidiary of SSA Marine, as the anchor tenant. As Prince Rupert’s first major import logistics operator, IntermodeX will develop and operate the new 33-acre logistics and warehousing facilities, with operations commencing in Q1 2027. Another 23 acres remain available for tenants wanting access to a deep-sea port, CN rail line, provincial highway, and full-service intermodal gateway.
The primary construction contractor is Coast Tsimshian Northern Contractors Alliance (CTNCA), an Indigenous-led joint venture that includes Coast Tsimshian Enterprises and IDL Projects Inc. To enable SKILP, MDC received $43.3 million from the National Trade Corridors Fund to support the project. The Canada Infrastructure Bank has provided $60.9 million in financing through its Indigenous Community Infrastructure Initiative.
SKILP is a key component of the port’s fully integrated intermodal ecosystem that connects supply chain infrastructure within the growing gateway’s existing footprint. The IntermodeX facility will complement the future operations at CANXPORT, a large-scale export transloading and logistics facility currently under construction on nearby Ridley Island. The two projects are designed to maximize efficiency and build greater competitive advantages for shippers, by reinforcing the balance of intermodal trade flowing through the Prince Rupert Gateway.
QUOTES:
“MDC acquired the South Kaien lands in fee simple in 2019. We envision these lands as an integral part of the Prince Rupert Gateway and other commercial uses. However, SKILP is step one: MDC plans to develop the remaining 280 acres in subsequent phases to support regional growth and provide economic opportunities for the region and next generation of Metlakatla members.” Harold Leighton, CEO, Metlakatla Development Corporation
“This valued partnership with Metlakatla Development Corporation reinforces our commitment to creating sustainable business opportunities that generate employment, economic, and social benefits for Indigenous peoples on the North Coast, while also strengthening import transloading and logistics capabilities, bringing greater flexibility, agility, and resilience to shipper supply chains at the Port of Prince Rupert,” said Shaun Stevenson, President & CEO, Prince Rupert Port Authority.
FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES CONTACT:
Olivia Mowatt
Senior Communications Officer
Prince Rupert Port Authority
omowatt@rupertport.com
Taylor Zeeg
Owner’s Representative
Metlakatla Development Corporation
tz@tributaryps.ca
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 20, 2025
PRINCE RUPERT, BRITISH COLUMBIA – The Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) announced today that 23.1 million tonnes of cargo moved through the Port of Prince Rupert in 2024, reflecting a one percent decline compared to 2023.
Intermodal volumes at DP World Prince Rupert’s Fairview Container Terminal rose five percent year-over-year. Performance was impacted by the realignment of carriers’ transpacific trade routes, two labour disruptions, and the brief suspension of rail service due to wildfire that paused terminal operations.
Strong demand for western Canadian energy products saw AltaGas’ Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal ship 2.3 million tonnes of liquified petroleum gas (LPG), representing a 15 percent increase year-over-year. Pembina’s Watson Island LPG Bulk Terminal handled 502,800 tonnes. Drax’s Westview Wood Pellet Terminal shipped 1.2 million tonnes of biofuel to markets in Europe and Asia.
Following a strong crop year, Prince Rupert Grain Terminal saw a 26 percent increase in exports, handling over 4.5 million tonnes of western Canadian agricultural products. Total coal export volumes fell 23 percent at Trigon Pacific Terminals, with metallurgical and thermal coal exports down 29 and 22 percent. Cruise passenger volumes decreased 27 percent compared to 2023, with over 59,400 cruise passengers transiting through Prince Rupert in 2024.
Despite this slight decrease in annual volumes, the Prince Rupert Gateway is improving competitiveness and actively diversifying through the development of new terminal and logistics capacity, building greater resiliency against market fluctuations. In 2024, the Port marked considerable progress on multiple strategic projects that set the stage for long-term growth and sustainability. These developments total over $2.5 billion in capital investment and are essential to strengthening and diversifying exports, maximizing supply chain efficiency, and restoring cargo volumes.
“The 2024 results highlight the critical nature of the ongoing projects that will advance Prince Rupert as a full-service port and affirm our position as a key player in global trade and energy security,” said Shaun Stevenson, President and CEO, Prince Rupert Port Authority. “An historic period of expansion is taking place at the Port of Prince Rupert, and 2024 was a pivotal year of development as we made strides towards enhancing services, capacity, and capabilities and diversifying markets to maintain our competitive edge and support our trade partners.”
Beyond terminal performance, multiple major project milestones were met in 2024, building the foundation for future growth and diversification of the trade gateway:
- Construction commenced on the Ridley Island Energy Export Facility (REEF), a large-scale LPG and bulk liquids export terminal. The $1.35 billion AltaGas and Vopak joint venture reached a final investment decision in Q2 2024. REEF will significantly strengthen Canadian energy exports to the Asia Pacific, with an initial development phase that includes approximately 55,000 barrels per day of LPG export capacity and 600,000 barrels of LPG storage.
- The Canada Infrastructure Bank reached financial close on a $150 million loan to PRPA for the first phase of CANXPORT in Q2 2024 and construction is well underway. The large-scale export logistics and transloading facility will be constructed and operated by Ray-Mont Logistics to provide 400,000 TEUs of annual capacity for forestry, agricultural, and resin products, and significantly increase competitiveness and container movements, while bringing greater stability to intermodal trade.
- Trigon Pacific Terminals made significant progress on construction of its second marine berth. The Berth Two Beyond Carbon project will add significant vessel berth capacity to the terminal. The marine infrastructure is expected to be completed in 2025.
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 8, 2025
PRINCE RUPERT, BRITISH COLUMBIA – The Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) announced today a new addition to its Board of Directors. The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Transport for the Government of Canada, has confirmed the appointment of Jean-Jacques (JJ) Ruest.
Mr. Ruest is a seasoned private sector executive with over four decades of experience in transportation, logistics, international trade, and chemical manufacturing. Recognized as an expert in freight rail, intermodal, and port sectors, he most notably served as CEO, President, and Chief Marketing Officer at CN Rail. Mr. Ruest received the Railroad Innovator Award in 2021 and was inducted into the International Maritime Hall of Fame in 2017. He holds a degree in Applied Chemistry from the University of Sherbrooke, an MBA in Marketing from HEC University of Montreal, and completed an Executive Business program at the University of Michigan. His three-year term commenced December 17, 2024.
“I warmly welcome JJ and congratulate him on joining our Board,” said Peter Lantin, Board Chair, Prince Rupert Port Authority Board of Directors. “JJ’s extensive background and prior role in the commercial development of the Port of Prince Rupert will be a tremendous asset to PRPA during this next crucial chapter for growth and diversification at our Gateway.”
Mr. Ruest is a User Appointee and was put forward by the Port User Nominating Committee. The Prince Rupert Port Authority’s Board of Directors is comprised of seven people. Three of the Board members are appointed directly by each level of government – municipal, provincial, and federal – while the balance is appointed by the federal government in consultation with the Port User Nominating Committee. Board members are appointed for a term of no more than three years with a maximum tenure of three terms. Learn more about PRPA’s Board of Directors.
