iF October DIGITAL September-October 2020 | Page 18

Do you serve on other boards, committees,
and organizations in Houston
that deal directly with Global trade?
I have served on a variety of numerous
boards over the years that have
ranged from non-profit, for-profit,
and a gubernatorial appointment
with the Texas Public Finance Authority.
As the newest Port Houston
Commissioner, this is my introduction
to global trade.
What are your plans and goals for
your service with the Port Commission?
18 iF Magazine |September-October 2020
This is a very exciting time to serve
as a Port Commissioner. I am very
excited about our new strategic plan,
which focuses on the widening and
deepening of the Houston Ship
Channel to improve its capacity to
safely serve the region and facilitate
economic recovery and continued
growth. I am equally excited about
our additional strategic goals and accountability
measures to ensure that
the Port Houston’s public facilities
for which we are directly responsible
are the best place to work by fostering
a culture of inclusion, diversity,
innovation, and open communication.
Additionally, I look forward to the
Port’s very important goal of developing
and strengthening external
partnerships. Within a couple of
weeks, we will have the results of a
disparity study, which I believe will
be a “report card” of how Port Houston
has done in the past in terms of
the diversity of our partnerships. We
serve a very diverse city, state, region,
and nation for that matter, and our
partnerships need to reflect such.
Finally, it is a strategic goal of Port
Houston to improve our stewardship.
We believe that we can obtain
the growth we need in an innovative
and environmentally safe way. I am
encouraged by the re-engagement
of the Community Relations Committee,
comprising a diverse group
of Port neighbors and stakeholders
that will ensure open and transparent
dialogue, collaboration, and accountability.
Our magazine goes to consulates and
businesses all over Houston. Do you
have any advice for entrepreneurs who
would like to know more about the
Port of Houston and how they could
work with the Port?
Port Houston believes very strongly
in community engagement and
small business development. Our
small business development program
created over a decade ago provides
broad resources to small businesses in
addition to how to do business with
the Port’s public terminals. Please go
to https://porthouston.com/smallbusiness/
to learn more information
about this great resource.