Board of Commissioners
The Mid-America Port Commission is governed by a nine member board with three commissioners from each state. Two commissioners from each state are appointed b y the county board chairs form their respective state and the other is appointed by the Governor of their state. Illinois Commissioners are appointed from the Mid-America Intermodal Authority Port District which includes all 11 Illinois counties. Commissioners are allowed to serve two six-year terms.
Mike Norris, Chairman
Iowa, Gubernatorial Appointee
Mike is Executive Director of the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission in West Burlington, Iowa, and has worked for the Commission since 2003, serving Des Moines, Henry, Lee and Louisa counties. He has extensive experience in economic development, housing development and finance, public transit management, business loans, transportation planning, land use planning and local government services.
In addition to leading SEIRPC, he is Executive Director of Great River Housing, Inc. (certified Local Housing Trust Fund) and Southeast Iowa Housing, Inc., and Administrator of the Southeast Iowa Regional and Economic Port Authority.
Mike has additionally served in many capacities on statewide policy committees and organizations, including: Iowa Freight Advisory Council, Iowa Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Iowa Strategic Highway Safety Plan Committee, President of Homes for Iowa, Inc., and President of the University of Iowa School of Planning and Public Affairs Alumni Advisory Board.
Mike earned a B.S. in Geography and a M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Iowa.
Blake Roderick, Vice Chairman
Ilinois
Mr. Roderick recently retired as the Executive Director of the Pike/Scott County Farm Bureau and the Two Rivers Farm Bureau Foundation. He received a B.S. in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M University.
He currently serves on the boards of the Mid-America Intermodal Authority Port District and the National Waterways Conference. He is a commissioner on the Mid-America Port Commission representing Illinois.
Past leadership roles include Chairman of the Board of Illini Community Health Care System, Illini Community Hospital, and IHS Pharmacy; Vice-Chairman, BlessingCare Corporation; Treasurer, Illinois Council for Food and Agriculture Research (C-FAR), director of the Illini Community Health Care Foundation, Illinois 25x25 Coalition, Vice Chairman of the Community Foundation of Western Illinois and Northeast Missouri Pittsfield, Public Library and other community groups.
He is a graduate of the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation program and is a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow.
He and his wife Betsy reside in Pittsfield, Illinois. They have four children and three grandsons.
Douglas H. Aeilts, Secretary/Treasurer
Missouri
Mr. Aeilts is the CEO and General Manager of Northeast Missouri Electric Power Cooperative which is comprised of eight Member-Distribution Cooperatives with five located in northeast Missouri and three in southeast Iowa.
Denise Boyer
Iowa
Denise Boyer is a lifelong resident of Lee County and the Fort Madison, Iowa, area. She and her husband Jay co-own and operate Hall Towing, Inc. in Fort Madison. Hall Towing, Inc. provides an array of services to southeast Iowa, including: Harbor services, commodity and bulk material storage and transloading, and specialized services in river construction, tow boat rehabilitation and equipment transfer.
Denise has a history of serving her community through volunteer service. She is a past board member of Fort Madison Economic Development Corporation and current board member of the Southeast Iowa Economic and Port Authority (serving Lee County). When not operating her business or serving on local boards, Denise is active in her local ministry and pursuing her degree.
H.O. Brownback
Illinois, Gubernatorial Appointee
H.O. Brownback of Ashland, Illinois combines roles in higher education, political governance, and the private sector in his service to Illinois.
In academia, Brownback is Vice President and Professor Emeritus of Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) a 26,000 student system based in Belleville, Illinois, where he taught and administered for 40 years. His publications include local histories and accreditation studies. Brownback’s undergraduate work was at Illinois College, with subsequent graduate degrees from the University of Illinois and Saint Louis University. He currently serves as a senior Peer Review Chair for the Higher Learning Commission.
In the private sector, Brownback is Chairman of the Board for West Central Bancshares Incorporated- a multi-bank holding corporation. He served as director and now as Chairman of the West Central Bank and its predecessor bank since 1986 and is also Chairman of its subsidiary, the West Central Insurance Company. Until recent years, Mr. Brownback owned and operated the Brownback Drug Company, an Illinois family business founded in 1847.
In public service, Mr. Brownback is Chairman and CEO Emeritus of Cass County, Illinois—where he held elected office for 25 years. Currently, Brownback is Chairman of the Western Illinois Economic Development Authority and a founding commissioner of the Mid America Port Authority District. He also serves as Chairman of the General Lewis Cass Foundation’s board of trustees and just completed four terms as public member of the Illinois Humanities Council board—the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Most recently, Brownback was re-elected as a trustee for the Hoogland Center for the Arts in Springfield, Illinois.
Mike McLaughlin
Illinois
Mr. McLaughlin is retired and most recently executive director of Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials in Quincy, IL. He has also service more than 16 years as Adams County Board Chairman. He has been actively involved in economic development and officer of a number of state and regional organizations.
Norris Hinton
Missouri
Mr. Hinton is a self employed farmer in Lewis County, Missouri. He currently serves on the Lewis County Rural Electric Cooperative board of directors.
Joe Steil
Iowa
Vice President / Relationship Manager at MIB (Midwest Independent Bank), Keokuk, Iowa. Experienced Community Bank and Holding Company Executive with demonstrated success in leadership. Strong professional with an ABA Graduate School in Banking Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Experienced in the financial and insurance industries, economic development arena, and engaged leadership with civic/non-profit boards. Joe has been involved in leadership with multiple economic development initiatives in various cities and states throughout his career. He continues to be very active in the tristate area serving in a wide variety of organizations that emphasize bettering the geographic area.
Kelly Waymon
Missouri, Gubernatorial appointee
Senior Vice President-Preconstruction Services-mechanical contractor serving over 15 states. Over 37 years’ experience industrial construction including, but not limited to dust collection, thermal oxidizers, combustion system installations, NESHAP compliance installations, fabrication and erection of Industrial process and material handling systems for agricultural, mining (above and below ground) and manufacturing. Managed various terminal system installations for both barge and rail. Waste treatment system fabrication and installations.
Former small business owner and farmer. Certified in Mine Safety and Health Administration and OSHA. Licensed pipefitter, sheet metal worker and universal refrigerant work.
Community service includes: Past President High Ridge Rotary; Paul Harris Fellow; Past treasurer, Northwest Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce; Jefferson County Council, 2010-2014; Past board member Associated Builders and Contractors, Heart of America Chapter; Past Board Member University of Missouri-Jefferson County Extension Council; Cofounder-Highway 30 foundation; Board member-Jefferson County Bicentennial committee
Graduate Ranken Technical college 1980.