BND Commission

John Reed

Secretary of the Board

1000 Foust Road
Brownsville, TX 78521
Office phone: (956) 761-8589
Mobile (956) 343-6415
Email: jreed37762@aol.com

With 35 years of banking experience, John Reed brings financial, managerial and leadership knowledge for the betterment of the Port of Brownsville. His combined experience in banking, civic involvement and business background has proven effective since he was elected to the Board of Commissioners in May 2008. Commissioner Reed has been instrumental in marketing the Port of Brownsville effectively and ensuring that it has the proper infrastructure in place to provide a pro-business environment for the port stakeholders and the community as well as for new businesses considering relocation or expansion in the area overall. This Brownsville native has been politically and socially active in this area for many years, serving on numerous committees and boards of trustees, including the Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railroad, Southmost Regional Water Authority, Brownsville Chamber of Commerce, Brownsville Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), Valley Regional Medical Center, Brownsville Boys and Girls Club and the Dean Porter Park Renovation Committee, to name a few. Commissioner Reed lives in Rancho Viejo.

Longtime civic and community leader John Wood was elected to the Brownsville Navigation District Board of Commissioners in May 2014. A licensed real estate broker, entrepreneur and former city of Brownsville and Cameron County commissioner, Mr. Wood brings a unique perspective to the board of commissioners. Mr. Wood currently serves as co-chair of the Gulf Task Force of the U.S.-Mexico Border 2020 Environmental Program, a partnership of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Mexico’s SEMARNAT (the counterpart to EPA).

Additionally, he is past vice-chair of the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority. Mr. Wood has served as an officer for various nonprofit and professional organizations including the United Way, Brownsville Chapter of the American Red Cross, Rio Grande Valley Girls Scouts Council, Brownsville Boys and Girls Club, Brownsville Metropolitan Planning Organization, Brownsville/South Padre Island Board of Realtors, Cameron County Mental Health Task Force, Brownsville Chamber of Commerce, Brownsville/South Padre Island Shrimp Producers Association, and the National Fisheries Institute. He has also served on the boards of the Brownsville Economic Development Council, Rotary Club of Brownsville, Amigos Del Valle, and Endowment for Teaching Excellence, among many others.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Texas Pan American (now UTRGV).

Ernesto Gutierrez was elected as Commissioner, Place 1, on the Brownsville Navigation District Board of Commissioners following his successful election in the May 4, 2024, general election.

Gutierrez graduated from Saint Joseph Academy high school before pursuing higher education at Southern Methodist University, where he earned a degree in Political Science.

With a focus on fostering economic growth and job creation, Gutierrez prioritizes the expansion of existing businesses and attracting new enterprises to the port.

Gutierrez brings a wealth of professional experience to his role, spanning sectors crucial to the port’s development. His professional background includes proficiency in international business, property development, warehousing, material handling, in addition to construction in the residential, industrial, and infrastructure sectors.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Gutierrez finds strength and inspiration in his family. He is happily married to his wife Paulina and is a devoted father to three daughters: Paulina, Cordelia and Clara.