brazos river harbor navigation district - Port Freeport

PORT FREEPORT NEWSCommissioner BrownTexas Gulf Bank presidentcontributes to Port’s boardC-TPAT Operations Certification InternPort’s first Texas A&M internacquires hands-on experienceJames F. “Jimmy” Brown, Jr. may be bestknown in the community as presidentof Texas Gulf Bank, but, since 1993, theFreeport native has played an equallyvital role on the Brazos River HarborNavigation District commission, thesix-member elected board which governsPort Freeport.Brown, who currently serves as thecommission’s secretary, lends the boardhis extensive banking and businessexpertise.Brown joined what was then known asChemical National Bank in 1981, twoyears after graduating from Sam HoustonState University with a degree in finance, and was named president of that bankin 1987. Following a 1990 merger, he became president of Texas Gulf Bank.He lives in Lake Jackson with his wife of 22 years, Jo Ann, and their son, James,a senior at Brazoswood High School, his father’s alma mater. Daughter Jessicais entering her sophomore year at Texas A&M University.“It has been a pleasure to watch the Port grow,” said Brown, who cited developmentsuch as Port Freeport’s increasing importance as a fruit import hub, the building ofa new berth, and the building of the Freeport LNG terminal.MilestonesErnie Liest hopes a job will be available for him at Port Freeport in May 2008,when he graduates from the Maritime Academy at Texas A&M Universityat Galveston. Port Freeport Director of Operations Al Durel, under whomLiest recently completed a summer internship, hopes so, too.Liest, the first Texas A&M Maritime Academy student to hold such aninternship at Port Freeport, returned to school in the fall for his junior yearwith significantly enhanced practical knowledge and a great appreciationfor Port Freeport.“It’s been an experience I won’t ever forget,” said Liest, a Brazoria residentwho graduated from West Columbia High School in 2004. “Port Freeporthas got a lot of room for growth, so this internship could open a lot ofdoors in the future.”Liest handled a full range of port operations duties during the three-monthpaid internship. His tasks involved such functions as vessel scheduling,facility maintenance, cargo handling and port safety and security – whatDurel described as “well-rounded training.”“He’s been a big help for the operations department,” said Durel, who citedplans for the internship program to continue in future summers. “It’s beenextremely successful on our part.”Ken Bailey, director of career placement for Texas A&M at Galveston, saidthe school’s maritime studies program encourages students to complete atleast one professional-grade internship.Port Freeport employees celebrated milestones at the Port Freeport Employee Awards Luncheon. Pictured from left to right:Christie McDermott, projects coordinator (5 years); Rodney Blackstock, mechanic (5 years).“The students get a real-world professional experience,” Bailey said. “Theyget to try on a job and see if it fits. It also gives an employer an ability tosize up a student, with, if all goes well, a good chance they may hire thestudent after graduation.”13 P O R T F R E E P O R T • BRAZOS RIVER HARBOR NAVIGATION DISTRICT P O R T F R E E P O R T • BRAZOS RIVER HARBOR NAVIGATION DISTRICT 14