Terry College of Business - Fall 2008 - (Page 32) just a short drive from Savannah’s forecaster for Terry’s Selig Center for Economic Growth and the elegant historic district, if you author of a study of the port’s economic impact, states unequivotake Bay Street past the old, ornate Cotton Exchange Building, cally, “It’s the best-managed port in the country.” Which is where Green’s leadership comes into play. the gold-domed city hall, and that cobblestoned St. Patrick’s Day “He’s the kind of guy who comes up with these out-there ideas, standby, River Street. There, the little bars, restaurants, and specialty shops bear witness to a daily parade of container ships from around and you think he’s kidding,” says Hubbard. “And then he does the world chugging up the Savannah River to dock at the Port of them . . . and they’re great.” For example, during Green’s first term as chairman of the Savannah’s Garden City Terminal. These ships are so immense that they loom above the city’s skyline, and seem to barely fit under Savannah Chamber, he launched a discussion among local business the graceful span of the Talmadge Bridge, despite its 185 feet of leaders on repositioning the tourism market, focusing on a visitor demographic interested in art and culture, toward high-end, affluclearance. Savannah’s historic district is renowned for its beauty, charm, ent consumers. As part of that initiative, he arranged a group tour and graciousness — as well as a good bit of guile and the love of of Santa Fe, N.M., where boutique hotels and gourmet restaurants a good party. But just a short trek from the city’s We had to show people in Congress that the Savannah port is local to them. lacy wrought-iron gates, It may not be in their district, or their state, but they’ve got 5,000 workers lushly landscaped squares, and burbling fountains dependent on it. That makes it of vital interest to their constituents. lies Savannah’s port— as powerful, massive, and — Steve Green, chairman of the board, Georgia Ports Authority bustling as its squares are demure, quiet, and leisurely. The Port of Savannah is the fastest- keep traffic manageable and income high. Green pioneered a similar outreach program for the GPA to growing port in the nation. And yet, the city’s ornate homes, its Midnight in the Garden of develop broad-based Congressional support for the Savannah Good and Evil history, and even resident Food Network star Paula Harbor Expansion Program, which proposes deepening the shipDeen are all better known around the country — and in their own ping channel to 48 feet by 2014. This depth will allow the largest state — than the port, which is perhaps the state’s single biggest cargo vessels, called Super Post Panamax ships, to call on the Port of Savannah, keeping it competitive as the shipping industry shifts economic engine. “It’s pretty much taken for granted,” says Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce President Bill Hubbard. “It’s viewed as a Savannah asset rather than a state asset,” seconds Chamber VP Trip Tollison. The Port of Savannah is one of four in the state, all operated by the Georgia Ports Authority, which was established in 1945. The GPA’s 13-person board of directors is appointed by the governor and its task is to establish the vision for Georgia’s maritime trade and chart the long-term course for both the authority and the shipping industry in collaboration with a multitude of stakeholders who are affected by the four ports. At the helm is GPA Chairman Steve Green (BBA ’71), who oversees what, in these tough economic times, is an extraordinary success story. The Port of Savannah’s rapid growth currently ranks it No. 4 in the nation [see sidebar on p. 33], and one major distributor recently told Time magazine that he expects Savannah to overtake No. 3 New York/New Jersey “within the next decade.” Jeff Humphreys (AB ’82, PhD ’88), chief economic The Port of Savannah currently ranks No. 4 in the nation and a major distributor recently told Time magazine that he expects it to overtake No. 3 New York/Newark ”within the next decade.” cOUrteSy: GeOrGia POrtS aUtHOrity 32 • Fall 2008 Terry College oF Business
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