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James J. White was appointed executive
director of the Maryland Port Administration (MPA) by Governor Martin O’Malley,
effective August 1, 2007. In this role, Mr. White oversees the six public
marine terminals at the Port of Baltimore. Some key milestones achieved since
Mr. White’s return as executive director:
·
MPA announced a 10-year contract with international
container shipping giant Evergreen Marine Corporation.
·
An agreement is signed with Carnival Cruise Lines
that will begin the Port of Baltimore’s first year-round cruising program in
2009.
·
Port of Baltimore more than
tripled its amount of federal port security grant funding from 2007 to 2008.
·
Baltimore’s public terminals handled a record-high
amount of cargo in 2007. The total dollar value of cargo also set a record.
Exports reached their highest levels since 1996.
·
A groundbreaking was held for the Masonville Cove
Environmental Education Center. This project will transform one of Baltimore
Harbor’s most contaminated sites into an area that will benefit wildlife, local
residents, and the port industry.
·
Royal Caribbean International awarded the Port of
Baltimore with their “Best First Turn” award for customer satisfaction. The
award recognizes a passenger’s pre-board experience at all international cruise
ports served by Royal Caribbean.
·
MPA opened a new, 215,000 square foot warehouse for
international paper manufacturer M-real.
As executive director, Mr. White returned
to a position he previously held from 1999 through 2005. During that time, Mr.
White led the MPA and the Port of Baltimore to tremendous heights, establishing
records in cargo volume and value. He was also successful in securing several
long-term contracts that kept many good-paying jobs at the Port. Following the
events of September 11, 2001, Mr. White oversaw the development of a security
program that transitioned from a focus on preventing port-related crimes to
preventing acts of terrorism.
“When Jim entered the private sector (in
2005), he left the Port of Baltimore in the best shape of its 300-year history,”
said Governor O’Malley. “He compiled an impressive list of newly signed
long-term contracts, a solid strategic business plan, and a great working
relationship with every side of the maritime industry, from labor to shipping
interests around the globe. Jim has a proven track record.”
After leaving the MPA in 2005, Mr. White
served as senior vice president and chief operating officer for New Jersey-based
Ceres Terminals, a stevedoring and terminal operations company with major port
operations in North America.
Mr. White joined the MPA in 1993 as director
of operations and executive vice president of Maryland International Terminals
(MIT), the MPA’s private operating company that offers cargo-handling services
to ocean carriers. From 1995 until his appointment as executive director in
1999, Mr. White served as MPA’s deputy executive director, director of
operations and president of MIT. In his role as deputy executive director and
director of operations, he was accountable for all day-to-day operations at the
Port of Baltimore and directed lease negotiations with all Port customers.
He acted as a liaison with ILA labor leadership and port customers to promote a
cooperative partnership with all the Port’s clients.
Mr. White’s extensive maritime experience
began with Puerto Rico Marine Management, Inc. (PRMMI) in 1975 and included
subsequent work with Sea Train (1977 to 1982), where he was North Atlantic
operations manager; and Concorde Nopal (1982 to 1985), where he served as vice
president of operations. Before joining the MPA in 1993, Mr. White re-joined
PRMMI and became that company’s general manager for North America. In that
capacity, he was responsible for a budget of $123 million. He negotiated all
stevedoring, terminal and port authority contracts and determined operating
standards and procedures for North America.
Mr. White is a past president of the North
Atlantic Ports Association. He is a graduate of Wagner College in Staten Island,
New York, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business
Administration and Economics. He resides with his family in
Bel Air, Maryland. |
