MEET THE PROFESSIONAL
November 2018
Bassam Joumblat
Mr. Bassam Joumblat is the Managing Director of Finance and Administration, Risk Management and Real Estate Divisions for the Port of Long Beach, California. The Port of Long Beach is the second largest container port in the U.S. with an annual budget of approximately $1 billion.
Bassam returned to the Port of Long Beach after a stint as Chief Financial Officer at Total Transportation Services, Inc. and and Interim Chief Executive Officer of Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) in Los Angeles. From 2006 to 2014, Bassam served as the Port’s Chief Financial Officer.
We are very excited to feature him this month in our “Meet the Professional” series.
Below are a few questions to help facilitate this interactive connection. At the end of the page you will have an opportunity to post your own questions for Mr. Joumblat.
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Describe your current Occupation & Degree/s and Universities.
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- Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California (USC)
- Master of Science, Mechanical Engineering from USC
- Master of Science, Engineering Management from USCC
- Bachelor of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering from the American University of Beirut
A list of any awards/recognitions:
- Certified Public Accountant license in the State of California
- Named CFO of the Year by L.A. Business Journal in 2012
Discuss a moment or turning point in your life that led you to your career path:
I was working at Rockwell International as an engineer creating mainframe computer models that simulated the cryogenic fluid flow of the fuel system on the Space Shuttle program. I came to the conclusion that government contracts, like the Space Shuttle, cannot be relied on for employment longevity. This is when I decided to get an MBA and changed my career completely.
Discuss a role model or mentor who influenced your career choice:
I had many mangers, peers and subordinates along the way that each had their strengths and weaknesses. Observing them over a long period of time and learning from their strengths and avoiding their weakness was the best real-life learning that I benefited the most from in my career.
Do you recall any specific challenges you encountered and overcame?
One of the memorable challenges was when I opened an office in London. My closest manager was in the U.S., several time zones away with a very small window to communicate and coordinate. I was charged with hiring five British employees to staff the office. The salary guidance I was given was a couple of years old and compensation had moved significantly away from that level. Initially, I had no success. I was able to convince my management, in spite of the logistical challenges, to increase the compensation to market level. Following which, I was able to attract top-notch talent and the office was very successful. I stayed there for five years even though my initial assignment was two years. I only came back because I had to buy a primary residence to avoid paying capital gain tax, which was in effect at the time, but that experiences still resonates with me.
Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?
It is hard to predict what opportunities will present themselves, but my goal is to be in a top leadership role. I was in that position at Metrolink where I was interim CEO for a four-month period and I hope that my career path is heading in a similar direction in the years to come.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in your field?
Always strive to do what you enjoy. If you are happy with the work you do, generally you do a much better job.
Another piece of advice is always do the best job you can. Rewards will eventually come, even if you do not realize instant gratification.
Lastly, for the business I am in, certification is important. It opens doors and generates opportunities that otherwise may not exist. Of course, one will need to demonstrate capabilities and worth once in the job, but continued education will allow you to not only stay informed, but remain competitive.
Tell us a little bit about your hobbies outside of your field:
I enjoy playing tennis. I play about five hours each weekend. It is a good, relaxing sport with fewer injuries. Although, I did manage to break my wrist about five years ago, falling on the tennis court, but it didn’t stop me as I still play tennis every weekend.
For mental activities, I enjoy playing chess and following the financial and real estate markets for personal investing.
Most of all, I enjoy spending time with my family, although being empty nesters, it is a rare occurrence these days and because of that, it is even more enjoyable.
A Q&A form will be uploaded shortly. In the meantime feel free to send any questions you would like to ask Mr. Bassam Joumblat to admin@network1017.com
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