ROI Influencers: Women In Business 2025
Beth Rooney
Port Director
Port Authority NY/NJ
Beth Rooney, Port Director for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, oversees the largest and busiest seaport on the East Coast. She manages a nearly $400 million annual budget, spearheads major capital programs, and drives initiatives to expand cargo and passenger volumes. Rooney has spent more than three decades with the Port Authority. She was named deputy port director in April 2019 after serving as assistant director, where she oversaw policy, planning, legislative and regulatory affairs, and environmental sustainability. She played a key role in launching the Port’s Council on Port Performance, the nation’s first forum dedicated to improving efficiency and service reliability. In recognition of her contributions to global trade, logistics and transportation, Rooney was named the 2025 Person of the Year by the New York/New Jersey Foreign Freight Forwarders and Brokers Association. Rooney’s leadership underscores her influence in the maritime sector and her dedication to improving port operations.
