Leadership Team

John Wolfe is chief executive officer of The Northwest Seaport Alliance. He sets the organization’s vision and strategy and guides the NWSA’s unique customer-focused culture.

Wolfe previously served as the CEO of the Port of Tacoma, a position he was named to in 2010.

Prior to joining the Port of Tacoma, Wolfe served for two years as the executive director of the Port of Olympia, and before that as Olympia’s director of operation and marine terminal general manager.

Wolfe also spent 10 years with Maersk Sealand/APM Terminal in Tacoma, most recently as the terminal’s operations manager.

He is on the boards of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), Federal Reserve Bank San Francisco Seattle Branch, the Washington State Fair Board, Federal Maritime Commission’s Export Innovation Team and Washington Public Ports Association Trade and Transportation Committee.

Wolfe earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Pacific Lutheran University.

Tong Zhu is responsible for the organization’s commercial team, including the alliance’s container and non-container cargo business portfolio and oversees business development, real estate, and marketing & research departments.

Prior to the formation of the alliance, Zhu served as the chief commercial officer at the Port of Tacoma since 2010. She managed the activities of the Port’s diversified business portfolio, including container, non‐container (breakbulk and RORO), intermodal, and real estate. She also oversaw the marketing, research, and customer outreach activities of the port’s business development teams. Zhu joined the Port of Tacoma in 2007 as director of Commercial Strategies.

Before joining the Port of Tacoma, Zhu managed international relations at the Port of Seattle and directed the State of Washington’s Greater China trade development programs. With the state, she played a critical role in former Gov. Gary Locke’s successful China trade development programs and helped advance and finalize business contracts and international agreements.

A cum laude graduate of the University of Washington, Tacoma with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Zhu is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Business Society.

Zhu serves on the board of trustees for the Clover Park Technical College. She is a member of the University of Washington Milgard School of Business Executive Council, a member of the business advisory council for the Asia Society, and also serves as a board member for the Containerization & Intermodal Institute (CII).

Jeff Bellerud is responsible for overseeing The Northwest Seaport Alliance's marine operations including rail, road, terminals, breakbulk operations, and management of the waterways. 

Prior to joining the Alliance, Jeff’s career spanned the West Coast from Los Angeles to Vancouver, British Columbia. Most recently, Jeff served as Director of Intermodal & Port Operations at CN Rail where he led port operations, including 14 marine terminals across seven port authorities in North America and led all aspects of operations for seven inland terminals in Western Canada.

Jeff earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and an MBA from the University of Northern British Columbia.

Jeff is proud husband to his wife, Jocelyn, and father to their three-year old son, Asher.

David Morrison is the Chief Financial Officer of the Northwest Seaport Alliance. David oversees activities related to budgeting, financial analysis, and treasury and provides strategic financial input on NWSA matters. Prior to being the NWSA CFO, David was Director, Financial Planning & Treasury for the Port of Tacoma. Previously he worked at Microsoft and Intel in various financial roles including factory controller.

David has experience in management consulting and served in the US Navy at the headquarters of the Nuclear Propulsion program as a Naval Officer and a nuclear equipment program manager. He is a graduate of the University of Washington where he earned a Mechanical Engineering degree and his US Navy Commission. David also graduated from the University of Texas with a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Manufacturing Engineering. David is a licensed Professional Engineer (Mechanical) in the State of Washington and is a graduate of the American Association of Port Authorities Port Professional Manager (PPM) program.

Dana Henderson serves as General Counsel for The Northwest Seaport Alliance, guiding the organization through legal, regulatory, and governance matters in the maritime industry.

From 2013 to 2019, Dana was General Counsel at Pierce Transit, where she advised the CEO and Board on federal compliance, employment law, contracting, and business disputes. Before entering the public-sector, she was in private practice at Cozen O’Connor and was a partner at Betts Patterson & Mines, handling complex litigation in products liability, employment disputes, and insurance coverage.  Dana earned her B.A. from the University of Washington and her J.D. cum laude from Tulane University School of Law, with a Certificate of Specialization in Admiralty.

Active in the community, she has held leadership roles on the Boards of the Girl Scouts of Western Washington and Compass Housing Alliance.  Dana is a past Chair of the Judicial Evaluations Committee for Washington Women Lawyers – Pierce County, is active in the American Association of Port Authorities’ Legal Affairs Committee, and is a proctor member of the Maritime Law Association.

When she’s not in the office, Dana can be found on the golf course, testing new recipes in the kitchen, or mapping out her next international travel.

Thais Howard brings over 30 years of hands-on engineering and project leadership to her role as Sr. Director of Engineering at The Northwest Seaport Alliance, where she oversees the design, construction, and maintenance of marine terminals and intermodal facilities.

From 2007 to 2016, Thais served in progressively senior roles at the Port of Tacoma, culminating as Director of Engineering. She later spent four years as Senior Electrical Engineer and Project Manager with LaBella Associates in Buffalo, NY, leading electrical design for industrial, transportation, and public-sector projects nationwide before returning to the Northwest in 2020.

Thais holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Clemson University and is a registered Professional Engineer in Washington and Tennessee.

Outside of work, Thais’s favorite place to be is with her family.

Jason Jordan directs environmental and planning initiatives at The Northwest Seaport Alliance, ensuring the strategic growth of port infrastructure and environmental protections and stewardship in cargo operations.

With more than 20 years in the port industry, Jason’s work guides permitting, sustainability programs, habitat development, emission reductions and long-range land use, transportation and facility planning across the Seattle-Tacoma harbor.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in public administration.

Active in the community and the industry, Jason serves on the Gig Harbor Planning Commission, is a member of the American Leadership Forum, and is a former chair of the currently chairs the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) Environmental Committee.

When he’s not at work, you’ll find Jason outside—hiking, boating, or out for a run.

Steve Balaski spearheads international container growth at The Northwest Seaport Alliance, working closely with global importers, exporters, and ocean carriers to expand services and bring more cargo through the Seattle-Tacoma gateway.

With 30 years in maritime transportation and logistics, Steve previously held leadership roles in operations, project management, marketing, and sales at Crowley Maritime, Horizon Lines, and APL.

He holds an MBA from Seattle University, a BA from the University of Washington, and a Supply Chain Management Professional certification from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP).

Steve serves on the Advisory Committee of the Washington State Center of Excellence for Global Trade and Supply Chain Management and is a Past President of the Transportation Club of Seattle, where he was named Member of the Year in 2023.

When he’s not chasing new business, you’ll find Steve hitting the trails for a hike or logging miles as an avid runner.

Mark Storslee serves as the Director of Operations at The Northwest Seaport Alliance, bringing more than 20 years of terminal and supply-chain experience to the Seattle-Tacoma gateway.

Most recently, Mark served as Senior Director of Operations for Albertsons Companies, running the Auburn and Kent distribution centers and all transportation supporting over 200 stores across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska. Prior to that, he spent nearly a decade as Senior Director of Operations at Husky Terminal and Stevedoring, directing yard, gate, rail, and vessel operations while helping deliver the terminal’s major expansion—including eight new super post-Panamax cranes and expanded berth and yard capacity.

Mark started on the waterfront with APM Terminals and then moved to vessel operations with Horizon Lines, coordinating weekly sailings to Alaska and Hawaii.

He holds a BA in Economics from Western Washington University.

Outside work, Mark stays active with his wife and two kids and never misses a chance for a round of golf when the weather is nice!

Ryan is Director of Government Affairs at The Northwest Seaport Alliance.  He is responsible for managing the NWSA’s government relations and policy issues at the local, state and federal levels. He is a subject matter expert on federal transportation, maritime, and trade policy issues facing ports.

Ryan previously served as Chair of the American Association of Port Authorities’ Harbors and Navigation Committee and serves on the Executive Committee of the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

Before joining the port in 2006, Ryan worked in the export promotion division of the Washington State Department of Commerce and was a project manager at The Eisenhower Institute in Washington DC. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington.

Outside of work, Ryan enjoys hiking, biking, basketball and other sports, and spending time with his wife, Carrie and son, Duncan.

Jim Vo serves as Senior Director of Real Estate for The Northwest Seaport Alliance, where he oversees the strategic management and optimization of the Alliance’s real estate portfolio.

Prior to joining the Alliance, Jim spent nine and a half years at Port Houston as their Real Estate Manager. In that role he led a team responsible for complex commercial and industrial leasing, acquisitions, dispositions, and comprehensive real property asset management.

Jim holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston.

When he’s not managing maritime and industrial properties, Jim is most likely planning his next trip—travel is his passion!