McDermott + Bull has successfully placed Heather Tomley as the Managing Director of Planning and Environmental Affairs at Port of Long Beach (POLB). In this role, Heather will be responsible for developing and implementing strategic initiatives for the Port’s Environmental Planning Division, Master Planning Division, and Transportation Planning Division. She will provide direct and indirect supervision of division directors, establishing goals and objectives, measuring performance, and ensuring effective and customer-oriented service. Additionally, Heather will provide strategic direction for the Environmental Affairs + Planning Bureau to align its services and mission with the overall mission of the organization.
Heather has worked with POLB since 2005 and has served as Acting Managing Director of Planning and Environmental Affairs since 2018. She was responsible for overseeing the directors of the bureau’s three divisions – Environmental Planning, Master Planning, and Transportation Planning – while managing 40 staff members. Since her start at POLB, she has served as Environmental Specialist, Assistant Director of Environmental Planning, and Director of Environmental Planning. Her strong understanding of the port’s strategic priorities and in-depth knowledge of its resources and strengths make her a great fit for the role. Heather earned a Master of Science in environmental science from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and a Bachelor of Science in chemistry with a minor in psychology from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
POLB is one of the world’s busiest seaports and is a leading gateway for international trade. Founded in 1911, it has grown to more than 3,200 acres and moves more than $180 billion in trade each year.
This executive search was completed by McDermott + Bull Managing Director Jake Vander Zanden, Co-Founder and Managing Partner Chris Bull, and Executive Recruiter Quyen Doan.