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Port District Names New Executive Director
The Illinois International Port District (IIPD) has named Erik Varela as its incoming executive director. Alongside IIPD’s board of directors, Varela will work to solidify the Port District, located on Chicago’s South Side, as one of the most important domestic and international trade hubs.
Prior to being named IIPD executive eirector, Varela most recently served as senior director of public affairs for Union Pacific Railroad. In that role he was responsible for leading all legislative, governmental and community relations activities in Illinois and Wisconsin on behalf of Union Pacific.
Varela’s appointment comes at a unique inflection point for the history of the IIPD. Chicago’s COVID recovery plan, the first of any major city in the country, focuses on transportation, distribution, logistics and warehousing.
The port is also located adjacent to Chicago’s Pullman and South Chicago neighborhoods, both of which are key communities in Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s INVEST South/West initiative.
- ◦People
