It’s official!! SDLRLA is proud to announce that President Rafael Castellanos has been sworn in as one of two new Port Commisioners for the City of San Diego.

See the article below:

Port Welcomes New Commissioners

Contact: Tanya Castaneda, (619) 686-6330 on April 15 2013.

The Port of San Diego welcomes two new commissioners representing the City of San Diego. Rafael Castellanos and Marshall Merrifield took the oath of office Monday, April 15, 2013, at the Port of San Diego Administration Building.

“I am pleased to welcome these two community leaders to the Board of Port Commissioners, where they will provide valuable expertise and perspective as we continue to pursue integrated planning for public access, commerce, development and other activities taking place along our waterfront,” said Chair Ann Moore of the Board of Port Commissioners. “I look forward to working with them as a steward of our Big Bay.”

The Port is governed by a seven-member board, of which three members are appointed by the City of San Diego and one each is appointed by the cities of Coronado, Chula Vista, National City and Imperial Beach.

The entire Board of Port Commissioners welcomes our new colleagues, Mr. Castellanos and Mr. Merrifield,” said Vice Chair Bob Nelson. “They bring diverse talents and experiences that will benefit governance of the Port District. I especially want to thank Board Chair Ann Moore of Chula Vista for her excellent leadership during what could have been a difficult time. I am grateful to my fellow Commissioners from the other Port cities, as well. For the past four months, each of my fellow Commissioners from the other Port cities has gone the extra mile to share the workload and to ensure that we operate for the benefit of the entire region, not on behalf of any one city.”

Marshall Merrifield has extensive business experience, having served as President/CEO for a number of firms. He is currently the President/CEO and majority shareholder for Bluewave Security, which manufactures high-tech equipment for video and door-access surveillance. He previously was President/CEO and majority shareholder for the security company General Lock and Clark Security Products, the largest privately held security hardware business in the U.S., until 2010. His past business affiliations have involved industries ranging from animation to investment banking.

Merrifield holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Princeton University. He cofounded Pacific Ridge School in Carlsbad and has been a Board Member for the Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA in Encinitas and for San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders’ Economic Advisory Council. He serves as a member of the Campaign to End Homelessness’ leadership team.

Castellanos is a partner with the law firm Solomon Minton Cardinal Doyle & Smith LLP in San Diego, where he specializes in commercial real estate and business transactional law. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Arizona State University, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Chicago Law School as a Cornerstone Scholar. His professional affiliations include having served as General Counsel to, and a member of, the Board of Directors of MANA de San Diego. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association, currently as its President.

Castellanos is a member of the California State Bar Association, the San Diego County Bar Association, and the Mexican American Business and Professional Association. He was named one of the San Diego Daily Transcript’s Top Young Attorneys in 2008, and was named one of San Diego Metro Magazine’s 20 Men Who Impact San Diego in 2011