Board of Harbor Commissioners

As an economic entity of the City of Milwaukee government, Port Milwaukee is governed by the seven-member Board of Harbor Commissioners (BHC), a panel appointed by Mayor Tom Barrett and confirmed by the Common Council. The BHC is responsible for supervision of the day-to-day operations of Port Milwaukee, including: harbor development and improvement, recreational use of Port Milwaukee's North Harbor Tract, and leases of harbor land and facilities to commercial enterprises seeking to utilize Port Milwaukee’s multimodal capacity.

Unless otherwise specified, the BHC meets every two months at the Port’s Administration Building (2323 S. Lincoln Memorial Drive; Milwaukee, WI 53207). Scheduled meetings for 2020 include:

• February 13, 2020
• April 2, 2020
• June 11, 2020
• August 6, 2020
• October 8, 2020
• December 3, 2020

Individuals seeking to review BHC meeting materials, prior to review and potential action by the BHC (or any of its committees) at scheduled meetings, may do so by appointment at Port Milwaukee’s Administration Building (2323 S. Lincoln Memorial Drive; Milwaukee, WI 53207) during the Port’s normal business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).

To request an appointment up to a week prior to a scheduled BHC or committee meeting, please email port@milwaukee.gov. BHC meeting agendas are also posted, in advance at https://city.milwaukee.gov/Calendar522/CityHallMeetingSchedule.htm. 

Timothy Hoelter, President of the Board

Tim Hoelter was first elected President of the Board of Harbor Commissioners on August 8, 2008. Commissioner Hoelter was originally commissioned on December 9, 1996 and has been reappointed every three years thereafter by the Milwaukee Mayor. Mr. Hoelter was one of 13 executives who purchased Harley-Davidson in a leveraged buyout from AMF Incorporated. During his career at Harley, Mr. Hoelter served as General Counsel and later as Vice President of Government Affairs. Mr. Hoelter also chaired the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Industry Trade Advisory Committee for Consumer Goods. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin and Harvard Law School, Tim is the proud father of four daughters and also serves on the Board of Directors of Harbor District, Inc.

Ron San Felippo, Vice President of the Board

Ronald S. San Felippo was originally commissioned on July 14, 2000. Commissioner San Felippo serves as Vice President of the BHC as well as Chair of the BHC Finance and Personnel Committee. Commissioner San Felippo is President of San Felippo Consulting Company, a marketing, management consulting and real estate development company. Commissioner San Felippo is also Managing Partner of MSSD, Inc. which owns and operates residential and commercial real estate properties. Mr. San Felippo’s extensive public service history includes having been President of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors, a member of the Milwaukee Public Library Board of Trustees, a member of the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission, and various other social service and arts boards. Commissioner San Felippo is a former Director of Wisconsin Emergency Management as well as a former Director of the State Employment Service for Southeastern Wisconsin. Commissioner San Felippo is Chair of the Milwaukee Business Improvement District #2 for the Historic Third Ward and is also Chair of the Milwaukee St Anthony Parish School Board.

Alderman Mark A. Borkowski

Alderman Mark Borkowski is the City of Milwaukee Common Council representative to the Harbor Commission. Prior to his service to the City of Milwaukee, Alderman Borkowski served for over 23 years as a Milwaukee County Board of Supervisor, representing southwest Milwaukee and parts of Greenfield and Franklin. He won a special election in August 2015 after the death of his predecessor. He was re-elected in 2016 and serves as Chair of the Judiciary & Legislative Committee, Vice Chair of the Public Works Committee, Vice Chair of the Public Safety & Health, and a member of the Steering & Rules Committees.

Craig Mastantuono

Craig Mastantuono was appointed to the Board of Harbor Commissioners by Mayor Tom Barrett in 2006. Commissioner Mastantuono holds a BBA in business administration from Loyola University of Chicago and a law degree from DePaul University of Chicago. He is a partner at Mastantuono & Coffee S.C., a Milwaukee law firm that represents people and businesses in criminal justice cases and crisis management. Commissioner Mastantuono has been recognized as a Leader in the Law by the Wisconsin Law Journal, and was honored as one of the United Way’s Philanthropic 5 for his firm’s charitable support of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. He is an adjunct professor at Marquette University Law School. Craig, his wife and daughter reside in Milwaukee’s Brady Street neighborhood.

Claude Krawczyk

Claude Krawczyk was appointed to the Board of Harbor Commissioners by City of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett on July 30, 2008. A lifelong resident of Milwaukee, Commissioner Krawczyk has served in many leadership roles within his community, serving as a chairperson, board member, and officer for a number of non-profit organizations since 1988. Commissioners Krawczyk has also served as volunteer legal counsel to numerous community organizations helping them to achieve their goals. Since 1986, Commissioner Krawczyk has served as an Attorney for O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, Dejong, & Laing, S.C., a Milwaukee-based law firm, representing landlords and tenants in commercial lease transactions, developers of real property, lenders and borrowers in loan transactions, and business owners drafting and negotiating manufacturing, distribution, and other related agreements and contracts.

Kathleen Smith

Kathleen Smith was first appointed as a Board of Harbor Commissioner on December 4, 2013. Commissioner Smith graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Accounting from St. Xavier College in Chicago, Illinois. Commissioner Smith began her work experience as a Congressional aide, focusing on immigration, naturalization, social security disability, and appointments to the U.S. Military Academies. Commissioner Smith went on to become assist regional partner for Hyatt Legal Services. Commissioner Smith has managed finances and investments for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, World Mission Office. Commissioner Smith is currently the Finance Office and Human Resources Manager at the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, Inc.

Diane Diel

Diane Diel was first appointed as a Board of Harbor Commissioner on December 4, 2013. Commissioner Diel received her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School. Commissioner Diel is engaged in private practice and has broad experience in virtually all facets of civil practice and litigation. Commissioner Diel’s primary focus is on family law, and she has been recognized as a Super Lawyer every year since 2005. Commissioner Diel is a past president of the State Bar of Wisconsin, the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, the Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin, and the Milwaukee Area Association of Women Lawyers. Commissioner Diel currently serves as a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Ethics Committee and as Director of the Association of Women Lawyer’s Foundation. Commissioner Diel has been involved in many community organizations, including Our Home Foundation (Meta House).

Port Director

Adam Schlicht

Adam Schlicht was appointed Director of Port Milwaukee in May 2018 by Mayor Tom Barrett. Following unanimous approval by the Milwaukee Common Council, Port Director Schlicht officially assumed the role on August 6, 2018. As Director, Mr. Schlicht oversees and directs the Port’s multimodal and commercial operations, which generates over $100 million in local economic activity annually, and is responsible for administration of Foreign Trade Zone No. 41.

A longtime employee of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) at the U.S. Department of Transportation in both Washington, D.C. and Cleveland, Ohio, Port Director Schlicht brings significant experience in marine transportation, international marketing, and Great Lakes shipping to his position. In Cleveland, Port Director Schlicht was named a recipient of the 2016 Northeast Ohio “Top 25 Under 35 Movers & Shakers Award” for a demonstrated “record of excellence in his work, civic engagement, and philanthropic efforts,” particularly the successful effort to establish and lead the Seaway’s Great Lakes international trade office.  

A native of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Port Director Schlicht holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from American University in Washington, D.C. Port Director Schlicht has worked and volunteered abroad extensively, including in Canada, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Kenya, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and the United Kingdom. Port Director Schlicht is an ordained minister, and he officiates numerous marriage ceremonies per year. Port Director Schlicht is also a member of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee and the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society. Port Director Schlicht’s fiancé, Aaron Tindall, is a pediatric intensive care and surgical nurse. They reside in the Bay View neighborhood of Milwaukee.