12:30am | In a move that could shake up hierarchy at the Port of Long Beach, managing director of trade relations and port operations Alex Cherin will leave his position to launch his own private law firm. Cherin’s position is one of the highest-ranking at the Port.

“This is really a family decision and it’s the right time for me to transition back to the private sector,” Cherin told the staging-live.lbpost.com on Thursday afternoon. “I’ve enjoyed my time [at the Port] tremendously.”

Cherin has worked at the Port since 2007, when he was hired as Executive Officer to the Board of Commissioners. He was appointed to his current post in April 2009. Cherin served as the Assistant City Auditor before coming to the Port, and ran against Tonia Reyes Uranga for the 7th District City Council seat in 2006.

Cherin played an instrumental role in several key assignments at the Port in recent years, including the development of the Clean Trucks Program and the creation of incentive programs for trade partners.

“Alex Cherin will be sorely missed at the Port,” said Nick Sramek, president of the Board of Harbor Commissioners, in an e-mail on Thursday. “In his current position he has enhanced the Port’s outreach to our customers and the community which has enhanced the Port’s position. He has also been instrumental in policy direction, by advising on the Clean Truck’s Program, the Middle Harbor Project and the Gerald Desmond Bridge, as well as other major projects.”

Cherin says he is not sure yet what type of law his new firm will practice – possibly maritime law with his experience at the Port – but he hopes to have it up and running about 60-90 days from now. He isn’t sure who will replace him, but added that the Port will likely conduct a search. “There are a lot of great candidates out there,” he said.

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