About the speaker: **Note Speaker Change**
Jim Edmonds has been
Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Port of Houston Authority
since 2000. Edmonds was first appointed to the Port Commission in
October 1996, representing Harris County.
Under Edmonds’ stewardship
as chairman, the Port of Houston Authority has implemented some of the
most innovative environmental, security and operations initiatives ever,
while experiencing the most aggressive growth, capital expansion and
profitability in its history.
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
the green coffee port status in early 2003.
The port authority made
history in 2002, when it became the first U.S. port facility to
implement an Environmental Management System (EMS) that meets the
rigorous parameters of the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) 14001 standards. Under Edmond’s leadership, the
port authority continues to set standards in environmental stewardship
and security measures. Another bookmark in ISO history was recorded in
2008 when PHA became the world’s first port authority to initiate a
Security Management System worthy of certification for ISO 28000:2007.
In addition, Edmonds’
leadership helped the port authority become a major player in the
conception and creation of the Gulf Coast Freight Rail District – the
state’s first of its kind – and of the nation’s first Ship Channel
Security District that will set the standards of how public and private
partnerships can co-exist to keep our community safe.
The highly anticipated
Bayport Container Terminal opened in February 2007, adding to PHA’s
capability to post another operating revenue record for 2008 of an
estimated $196 million gross revenue and processing 1.8 million in
container TEUs. For the ninth consecutive year, PHA set operating
revenue and container traffic records under Edmonds’ chairmanship.
One of the highest forms of
acknowledgements of PHA’s success was receiving the 2007 President’s "E
Star" Award for export service in 2008, in recognition of its continuing
support of export growth in the U.S. business community for the last
five years and more.
Harris County stakeholders
obviously agree with the course PHA has chosen while under Edmonds’
watch. In November 2007, when county voters went to the polls to decide
on the largest and most diverse collection of bond proposals offered at
one time in the county’s history, voters approved a $250 million PHA
bond proposal to fund further expansion at Bayport as well as additional
security and environmental initiatives.
The awarding of nearly
$38.6 million in federal security grants to the Port of Houston
Authority is credited to the port’s proactive stance to broaden public
awareness of security issues along one of the world’s largest ports. In
August 2004, the port authority, the U.S. Coast Guard and other law
enforcement partners opened the Port Coordination Center, a centralized
facility that serves as a communication center during crisis situations.
Under Edmonds’ leadership,
the Port Authority continues to set standards for environmental
management, initiatives, and compliance making Houston one of the
greenest Ports in the U. S. and the world.
Additionally, 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.
The PHA’s business
opportunities with small businesses also were elevated under Edmonds’
leadership. In 2002, PHA created and implemented its Small Business
Development program with 35 percent participation goal and – since its
inception – the program has awarded nearly $281 million in PHA eligible
contracts to registered small businesses.
In addition to his civic
service with the Port of Houston, Edmonds also serves as the Chairman of
the Memorial Hermann Hospital System, I-69 TxDOT Advisory Committee, the
Alliance for I-69 Texas and the Gulf Coast Freight Rail District.
Edmonds is president of Edmonds & Company, a business consulting firm.
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