Wondolowski reappointed to Port Board

2nd tradesmen, Mcafferty, added

Left: Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council Executive Secretary/Business Manager Dave Wondolowski. Right: Pipefitters Local 120 Business Agent Ryan McCafferty

Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council Executive Secretary/Business Manager Dave Wondolowski was reappointed to his seat on the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority Board.

Additionally, Pipefitters Local 120 Business Agent Ryan McCafferty was added to the board.

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority Board of Directors oversees the public agency that provides financing for economic development projects in Cuyahoga County and beyond.

The Port Authority partners with banks, government entities, and economic developers to offer funding options for projects in the public, non-profit, and private sectors. Since 1993, the Port Authority has funded more than 160 projects and issued $4.5 billion in bonds, leveraging $6.1 billion in construction.

Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne reappointed Wondolowski to a new term that will end in September 2028.

In an article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Ronayne’s spokeswoman Kelly Woodard cited Wondolowski’s advocacy for Prevailing Wage, increased economic development opportunities and contractor diversity as reasons to retain him.

“He brings an important perspective as a labor leader and experienced board member and was renominated to continue to bring his unique perspective to the board,” Woodard told The Plain Dealer.

Members of Cuyahoga County Council’s Human Resources, Appointments and Equity Committee praised Wondolowski’s work on the port board, as well as his leadership of the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council.

When meeting with the committee, Wondolowski discussed his fight to save the Port Authority’s Prevailing Wage provision. He said he is now observing how the change is working, especially for small and minority-owned businesses.

“We are trying to hold developers accountable and ensuring that they are meeting their (diversity, equity and inclusion) goals,” he told the committee.

Wondolowski pledged to continue serving the port board the same way he has in other leadership positions during his two decades in public service – “with every ounce of integrity that I can.”

Besides Wondolowski’s reappointment, McCafferty was a new appointed to the Board.

McCafferty was nominated by Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb for a term that will expire in 2027. Cleveland City Council unanimously approved the mayor’s appointment on July 12.

“I am proud to serve on the Board of the Port of Cleveland, which promotes itself as the only local government agency whose sole mission is to spur job creation and economic vitality in Cuyahoga County,” he said.

Wondolowski believes McCafferty will do a great job.

Ryan is a talented and energetic labor leader who represents the future,” said Wondolowski. “He is a welcome addition to the Board.”

For McCafferty, who went to school at St. Ignatius High School and Xavier University, the appointment is an opportunity to promote the use of building trades members on construction projects.

“I will encourage as much and will promote our workforce every chance I have,” McCafferty said. “I believe that we must insist that the Port utilize our great natural resources sustainably, in a way that protects and promotes the health of the Cuyahoga River, Lake Erie and the Great Lakes waterway.”

He stressed the importance of ensuring developers use the building trades for Port Authority-funded projects.

“As a union representative of Pipefitters Local 120, I would love to see the men and women of the Cleveland Building Trades Council involved in every project the Port finances, as I believe wholeheartedly that our tradesmen and tradeswomen are the best trained, highest skilled, most productive, efficient and safest workforce available,” McCafferty said.

His appointment to the Port Authority Board of Directors came roughly eight months after the body, by a 5-2-1 vote, approved an anti-worker policy to repeal Prevailing Wage requirements for construction projects financed by the Port Authority.

McCafferty replaced Margot Copeland, one of the five members who voted to repeal the Prevailing Wage requirements.

“It’s unprecedented for us to have two people on the nine-member body, come from the building trades,” Wondolowski said.