JAXPORT Board Member Spotlight: Chairman Daniel Bean

3 MIN READ

Written By: Marcia Pledger

Daniel Bean, Chairman of JAXPORT’s Board of Directors, is an attorney and U.S. military veteran who has served on the Board since 2019.

Board members serve 4-year terms and may be appointed to one additional term. Bean is one of three board members appointed by the Governor of Florida. The Mayor of Jacksonville appoints the other four members.

All of JAXPORT’s board members have a variety of experiences and strong ties to the Jacksonville community, but none are paid for their valued service.

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Question: Why do you believe the port is important to the Jacksonville community?

Answer: “For over a decade, I have maintained that the port authority is North Florida’s No. 1 economic engine because it positively impacts so many industries and helps to put the city of Jacksonville on the world’s radar.”

Q: Was joining the board an easy transition?

A: “It’s been a huge learning curve for me. I’ve enjoyed learning about the port. There is such a variety of operations at the port. There’s breakbulk (non-containerized) cargo, automobiles, containers, cold storage items, military equipment, cruise lines and more.

JAXPORT is Florida’s largest container port and one of the nation’s largest vehicle-handling ports. Over 90 percent of all goods to Puerto Rico come through us. 

It’s a very diverse port. Before joining the board, I thought diversity in revenue streams might be a problem until COVID hit, and I saw the numbers. We were much better off due to our diverse revenue streams than ports which were heavily focused on one stream.

I give a great deal of credit to Eric and his team for diversifying and growing the port during his tenure. Thanks to their efforts, the city is in a great position for further growth in this industry, which means more jobs and reduced costs for our fellow citizens.”

Q: Why do you serve on this board?

A: “I feel lucky to be part of this board. I don’t do anything to make the organization great. It was already great.

The Board members are there to provide a second set of eyes for the executive team, and we can also help to advocate for additional funding with local, state and federal officials.”

Q: You’re a 25-year Naval veteran who served as a surface warfare officer and a judge advocate. You’re also the co-founder of Abel Bean Law. Tell me something else about your career journey.

A: “I’m a trial lawyer. I’ve been a lawyer for 30 years, but I started my professional journey as a Navy warship driver. I drove too many warships into too many piers before the Navy sent me to law school to save money.

The Florida governor and I were in the same Navy unit and have remained friends. He was kind enough to appoint me to the JAXPORT board.”

Q: You’ve been involved as a volunteer and board member for K9s For Warriors for the last 13 years, and in April, you became the CEO. Why are you so passionate about this organization?

A: “Our mission is to end veteran suicides. We’ve paired 1,052 veterans with service dogs. About 90 percent of veterans come to us with suicidal ideations, and we have proven that pairing a veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with a service dog helps to save the veteran’s life. It’s a great job.”

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add about serving on boards that affect the community?

A: “I’ve learned that life has three phases: learning, earning, and returning. I’m in the third phase now, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to help JAXPORT reach its fullest potential because of its positive impact on the citizens of Jacksonville.”