Adam Schlicht to oversee Milwaukee’s Foreign Trade Zone as Municipal Port Director

Mayor Tom Barrett recently named Adam Schlicht as Municipal Port Director, to direct operations at Port Milwaukee, oversee a staff of nineteen people, and administer Foreign Trade Zone No. 41.

Schlicht succeeds former port director Paul Vornholt who was appointed Chief of Staff to Mayor Barrett in April. His appointment is subject to Common Council approval.

“The City relies on the port director to promote commerce and support the local economy. At the same time, we count on Port Milwaukee to operate efficiently and continue to return a dividend to the city’s general fund,” Mayor Barrett said. “Adam’s background and energy are ideally suited to this job, and I am confident he will continue the excellent work underway at the port.”

Schlicht brings significant experience in transportation, international marketing, and Great Lakes shipping to his new position. For the past decade, he has been employed by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). Since 2010 he has held positions at the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC), an operating administration of the USDOT. Schlicht most recently led the SLSDC’s Great Lakes Regional Initiative in Cleveland, Ohio, focusing on foreign trade, maritime and economic development activities throughout the United States and Canada, including frequent work directly with Port Milwaukee.

A native of Oak Creek, Schlicht holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He completed graduate work at American University in Washington, D.C., receiving a Master of Public Administration degree with a concentration in International Management.

Port Milwaukee is an economic entity of City government governed by the seven-member Board of Harbor Commissioners, a panel appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Common Council. It administers operations on the 467 acres that make up the Port. It promotes shipping and commerce throughout the region by providing access to domestic and international ships, rail, and over-the-road transportation.