Port Manatee picks Carlos Buqueras to be new executive director

MANATEE -- Carlos Buqueras, an official at Port Everglades, is Port Manatee’s choice as its next executive director.

Buqueras, whose career at Port Everglades spans more than 20 years, was chosen out of five finalists who were interviewed Friday.

Buqueras is currently director of business development at Port Everglades, a post he has held since 1993.

Port Everglades is in Fort Lauderdale.

Buqueras’s accomplishments during his career at Port Everglades include increasing containerized cargo by 247 percent during his tenure there. Increasing its cargo capacity and business is one of the main goals of Port Manatee.

Negotiations have not yet begun with Buqueras, who is in Brazil until the end of the week for a trade mission led by Gov. Rick Scott. Port Manatee’s executive director post carries an annual salary of $150,000 to $190,000.

David McDonald, the port’s current executive director, is retiring at the end of this year after 20 years in the post.

Authority members hope Buqueras will start work in November or December and take some time to be mentored directly by McDonald.

This story was originally published October 24, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Port Manatee picks Carlos Buqueras to be new executive director."