HOUSTON, June 29, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- By unanimous votes, the Harris County Commissioners Court and Houston City Council have reappointed Jim Edmonds as chairman of the Port of Houston Authority Commission. Initially appointed to the port commission in October 1996 representing Harris County, Edmonds was first appointed chairman in 2000 by the city and the county. He also is a member of the board of commissioners for the Houston Pilots Association.
PHA commissioners serve two-year terms without pay. In addition to Edmonds, the other PHA commission members include Vice Chairman Kase Lawal, Commissioner Steve Phelps, Commissioner Jim Fonteno, Commissioner Jimmy Burke, Commissioner Cheryl Thompson-Draper, and Commissioner Janiece Longoria.
"For eight years, Jim has been a real asset for the Port of Houston," Harris County Judge Robert Eckels stated. "He is a visionary leader who has greatly increased the port's role as one of this region's most powerful economic engine."
Houston Mayor Bill White stated, "We welcome Chairman Edmonds's return. His leadership and tenure have been exemplary. Jim works diligently, and his dedication has been instrumental in helping maintain the port's economic vitality. We look forward to continuing our work with him."
Under Edmonds's leadership, the PHA has been able to expand its business opportunities to better serve existing customers and to create opportunities for future customers. After PHA received a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' permit in January, Edmonds presided over the official groundbreaking ceremony for the Bayport Container and Cruise Terminal on June 21. Built out in phases over 15 to 20 years to meet market demand, Bayport will have enough space for seven ships and a 378-acre container storage yard. It will have a maximum capacity of about 2.3 million TEUs -- a 200 percent increase over PHA's current container handling capacity. The facility is expected to create approximately 39,000 jobs and contribute approximately $1.6 billion to the Texas economy through wages and tax revenues. Completion of the first phase -- including 1,660 feet of the ultimate 7,000 ft. wharf and approximately 65 acres of the ultimate 1,043 acre facility -- is targeted for mid-2006. As many as 16 contracts totaling more than $180 million will be awarded during the first part of the project. More than half of that amount is expected to be packaged in contracts eligible for the Small Business Development Program, resulting in as much as 35 percent participation by qualified small businesses.
In 2001, Edmonds led the efforts to seek Texas voters' approval on a state constitutional amendment exempting all green coffee and raw cocoa imports stored in Harris County from ad valorem taxes. The New York Board of Trade granted green coffee exchange port status to PHA in early 2003.
The awarding of nearly $14 million in federal security grants to PHA is credited to the port's proactive stance to broaden public awareness of security issues along the world's sixth largest port. Edmonds, along with his commission colleagues, has directed the port staff to strengthen relationships with local, state and federal elected officials and to develop constructive affiliations with members of the Houston-area media. During Edmonds's tenure, PHA has also implemented its Small Business Development Program, become the first port in the U.S. to achieve ISO 14001 compliance, welcomed the return of Norwegian Cruise Line.
Edmonds is president of Edmonds & Company, a business consulting firm. In addition to his responsibilities with PHA, Edmonds also serves on the board of the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System. He is a member of the board and executive committee of the Greater Houston Partnership and serves as chairman of its world trade division. He also serves on the board of visitors of the Texas A&M University at Galveston and the board of Space Center Houston.
"I have had a life-long interest in global trade, economic development and community service," Edmonds said. "It is gratifying to serve in a leadership capacity on the commission of the sixth largest port in the world and a pleasure working with fellow commissioners to develop and capture new opportunities for this world class organization."
The Port of Houston Authority owns and operates the public facilities located along the Port of Houston, the 25-mile long complex of diversified public and private facilities designed for handling general cargo, containers, grain and other dry bulk materials, project and heavy lift cargo, and other types of cargo. Each year, more than 6,600 vessels call at the port, which ranks first in the U.S. in foreign waterborne tonnage, second in overall total tonnage, and sixth largest in the world. The Port Authority plays a vital role in ensuring navigational safety along the Houston Ship Channel, which has been instrumental in Houston's development as a center of international trade. The Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Central Maintenance Facility are the first of any U.S. port facilities to develop and implement an innovative Environmental Management System that meets the rigorous standards of ISO 14001. Additionally, the port is an approved delivery point for Coffee "C" futures contracts traded on the New York Board of Trade's Coffee, Sugar & Cocoa Exchange. For more information, please visit www.portofhouston.com