PALMETTO, Florida – Sheila Ballesteros McLean has joined SeaPort Manatee as chief financial officer, bringing with her 27 years of public-sector finance experience with Manatee County.
McLean, who has served since 2022 as chief financial officer and director of financial management for the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners, began her career with Manatee County government in 1999 as an accountant in the finance department of the Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court.
“A strategic, results-driven CFO, Sheila brings deep expertise in local government finance, budgeting, capital planning, debt management and statutory compliance to her new role on the port’s executive leadership team,” said Mike Rahn, chairman of the Manatee County Port Authority.
Carlos Buqueras, SeaPort Manatee’s executive director, added, “Sheila’s familiarity with Manatee County combines with her vast financial know-how to make her a highly valuable asset to our fast-growing gateway for global commerce.”
McLean holds a master’s in business administration from the University of Sarasota and earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from the University of Puerto Rico.
At the entrance to Tampa Bay, SeaPort Manatee is the vibrant ships-to-shelves gateway for burgeoning Southwest and Central Florida markets, with direct connections to the Interstate 4 distribution corridor. With 10 deep-draft berths, the port accommodates the full spectrum of containerized, breakbulk, bulk and project cargos. SeaPort Manatee annually generates $7.3 billion in economic impacts while providing for more than 42,000 direct and indirect jobs – all without local property tax support.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Virginia Zimmermann
Director of Communications and Public Relations
Office 941-721-2323
Cell 941-932-1006
VZimmermann@SeaPortManatee.com
