New Port Houston Chairman Ric Campo Working Collaboratively to Elevate and Strengthen Nation’s Most Vital Port

In his first weeks as Port Houston Commission Chairman, Ric Campo stressed his firm commitment to finding a solution to the concerns raised regarding one-way vessel traffic to accommodate the larger container ships calling the Houston Ship Channel. Wednesday, Campo provided testimony before the Texas Senate Committee on Ports Hearing and underscored his priority to work collaboratively with Houston Ship Channel stakeholders to find a solution in the best interests of the nation's most vital channel.

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During his first meeting Feb. 26, serving as Chairman of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority, Campo identified his first five critical priorities for the greater Port of Houston and the Houston Channel. Those included 1) Support the Port Commission and the management team’s drive for excellence; 2) Find solutions to address the one-way vessel traffic issue along the Houston Ship Channel while balancing the interests for all stakeholders (Port Houston/Houston Ship Channel industry); 3) Improve communication between stakeholders and elevate the image and profile of the port; 4) Fast-track the need to widen and deepen the Houston Ship Channel; and 5) Harden and strengthen the resiliency of the nation’s most vital port to withstand the impact from major storms and hurricanes.

In that meeting, Campo said that he found the Houston Ship Channel to be an “amazing economic engine” and was impressed to see Port Houston managed by a talented, collaborative, hardworking team. He also found that the organization has a “strong balance sheet with flexibility.” He thanked the Port Commission and former chairman Janiece Longoria (whose chairmanship term expired) for their hard work and diligence bringing the Port Authority to its strength today.

Campo shared that he spent his first weeks as Chairman meeting with various industry members and stakeholders, noting that he met with Port employees first.

Campo remarked that the port and the Houston Ship Channel was a vital economic engine for the city, state, and nation. He concluded that he “appreciates all the support” given him and that “we have a lot of great things to do together.”

Professionally, Campo is Chairman of the Board and CEO of Houston-based Camden Property Trust (NYSE), and it has been listed on the Forbes Top Places to Work list for twelve consecutive years.

A staunch supporter of the community since he first relocated to Houston in the late 1970s, Campo has been involved in many community efforts including serving on the Harris County - Houston Sports Authority, which was responsible for building NRG Stadium, Minute Maid Park, and the Toyota Center.

Campo also served as Chair of the Houston Super Bowl 2017 Host Committee.

During the Port Authority Commission meeting, Executive Director Roger Guenther shared in his staff report that Feb. 20 was the first day in Port Houston’s history to manage more than 10,000 transactions at both of its container terminals and that overall cargo activity in every category showed growth compared to the same time last year.

The next Port of Houston Authority Port Commission meeting is scheduled March 26 at 9:00 a.m. https://porthouston.com/

The Texas Senate Committee on Ports Hearing is available at the following link: https://senate.texas.gov/av-archive.php

About Port Houston

For more than 100 years, Port Houston has owned and operated the public wharves and terminals of the greater Port of Houston – the nation’s largest port for foreign waterborne tonnage and an essential economic engine for the Houston region, the state of Texas and the nation. The Port of Houston supports the creation of nearly 1.175 million jobs in Texas and 2.7 million jobs nationwide, and economic activity totaling almost $265 billion in Texas – 16 percent of Texas’ total gross domestic product – and more than $617 billion in economic impact across the nation. For more information, visit the website at PortHouston.com.

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