Sam Cho was elected to the Port Commission in 2019 and Commission President in 2023. Cho is the son of immigrants who immigrated from South Korea to the United States through the Port of Seattle in the 80s. He is the youngest and first person of color to become Commission President since the founding of the Port in 1911.

Driven to help shape the economy of the future, Commissioner Cho’s career has spanned from government and emerging startups to established companies in the tech and sustainability space.

Commissioner Cho currently serves as Director of Strategic Initiatives in the Office of Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. He also held positions as an analyst at the U.S. Department of State, as a Legislative Assistant to both a Washington State Senator and a member of the United States Congress, and served as a political appointee under President Barack Obama. Prior to his election to the Port, Commissioner Cho was the founder and CEO of Seven Seas Export, an international trading company that exported over 2.5 million pounds of eggs to various countries throughout the Asia-Pacific.

Commissioner Cho earned his Master of Science in International Political Economy from The London School of Economics and his Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from American University.

His priorities as a commissioner include creating economic opportunity, promoting environmental sustainability, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and ending human trafficking.

Carrie Shaeffer is a Vice President at Swinerton and was appointed Director of Aviation in 2016. She oversees an annual $500 million of aviation construction, sales, and marketing efforts across the nation. She ensures that every client’s objectives are clearly defined and that every project has the dedicated resources and best expertise to deliver success.

Sara Roberts is a Principal at KPFF with more than 30 years of experience providing structural engineering services for public agencies and airport authorities, such as Port of Seattle, King County International Airport, Snohomish County Paine Field, and City of Auburn Airport. She has supported the Port of Seattle and SEA Airport for more than 20 years. Her select projects include the SEA Airport International Arrivals Facility, A-Concourse Building Expansion for Lounges, and SEA Airport South Terminal Expansion. Sara brings deep expertise in planning and designing airport facilities and understands how to deliver complex projects successfully within an airport’s critical 24/7/365 operating environment.

Andrew Fernandez is a District Manager with PCL Construction, where he leads operations and client relationships across the Pacific Northwest. With more than 17 years of experience, he brings a broad perspective on delivering complex projects, fostering strong partnerships, and navigating the challenges shaping today’s built environment, including experience supporting aviation-related infrastructure. As moderator, Andrew will draw on his background in both strategic leadership and hands-on execution to guide a practical, forward-looking discussion on modernizing aviation and mobility networks.

Marshall is a proven leader in planning and infrastructure initiatives, with extensive experience building high-performing teams across disciplines and managing large organizations and budgets. He is a passionate coalition builder, adept at building partnerships across government agencies, non-profits, and the community. He has deep experience in land use and transportation plannning, urban design and large-scale infrastructure and development projects - developing innovative approaches, working collaboratively, and managing competing priorities to ultimately make great projects happen.

Prior to joining the Port of Longview, Ken served as Senior Manager of Real Estate, Leasing and Investment at the Port of Portland.

Ken received his MBA in Global Management from the University of Phoenix, and an undergraduate degree in Management of Technical Operations from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

Ken is community-focused and brings over 20 years of experience in real estate development and in the port industry.

Arif Khatri, PhD, CCM is a Senior Program Director with over 20 years of experience in STV’s Program Management / Construction Management group. He brings extensive knowledge in delivering complex aviation and transportation infrastructure programs across the U.S.

With deep experience in active operating environments, he manages large-scale airport capital programs focused on terminal expansion, airside and landside improvements, and coordination among owners, airlines, and public agencies. Arif has supported clients through all phases of program delivery, including planning, funding strategy, procurement, phasing, and construction, while maintaining operational continuity.

Having served as a senior leader on major aviation programs at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport, including Program Director for DFW’s $1.3 billion capital improvement program, Arif has led the delivery of more than $6 billion in aviation infrastructure projects, supporting long-term operational and regional transportation goals. Fundamental challenges in this work include addressing capacity growth, constrained-site development, multimodal connectivity, and the integration of sustainability and resilience considerations into long-term

infrastructure planning.

Arif is committed to developing aviation projects that provide lasting value: facilities designed to support communities for generations and establish a region’s gateway to global connectivity.

Todd has over 25 years of experience leading complex projects and growing successful design practices across the Pacific Northwest. Known for his collaborative leadership and deep client relationships, he has shaped many of the region’s most transformative projects, from major civic and healthcare initiatives to aviation and workplace environments.

As a leader, Todd brings clarity and composure to complex situations, striking a balance between design vision and practical execution. His relationships are built on mutual respect and shared success, leading to long-term partnerships that span multiple projects and decades.

Rachel Fenton is recognized for her work collaborating on and accelerating infrastructure projects with municipalities throughout the West. She has a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Utah, a strong background in Government Relations, and significant experience in the wireless industry. This diverse background gives her the ability to create and foster longstanding symbiotic relationships with Municipalities, commercial real estate developers, and partners in the wireless industry. As the Director of Wireless Solutions in the Pacific Northwest, Rachel is responsible for working with jurisdictions, building owners, developers, and wireless providers (T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T) to augment networks in hard-to-reach and dense places. Her role includes addressing one of the major challenges facing many cities right now, which is to bridge the digital divide. She brings with her twenty-eight years of experience and has spent over ten years working within the City of Bellevue. Working for Boldyn Networks, a wireless infrastructure powerhouse with a global presence, Rachel is part of an international team and works to deliver advanced shared network infrastructures that are needed for a smart, inclusive, and sustainable future.