Governor Perdue Announces Record Year-End Results for Georgia Ports

Senator Mack Mattingly Elected as New Chairman of Ports Authority Board

SAVANNAH , GA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) had record results in Fiscal Year 2005 (July 2004 – June 2005).  With 1.76 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent container Units) handled, the Port of Savannah, America's fifth largest container port, grew by 12 percent in FY2005. 

A total of 18.3 million tons of cargo was shipped through GPA owned and operated terminals in FY2005, an increase of 1.9 million tons or 11 percent over the previous year.  At the Port of Brunswick , home to one of the nation's largest auto ports, a record 326,051 auto and machinery units were handled.

“ Georgia 's ports contribute thousands of jobs to our economy and are one of the main reasons this state is an attractive place to do business,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.  “I appreciate all the work that you – the men and women of the Georgia Ports Authority – are doing to make our ports so successful.”

The record results were announced by Governor Perdue at GPA's board meeting.  Senator Mack Mattingly was unanimously elected to become GPA's chairman of the board and board members Maxine H. Burton, Clinton M. Day and Rutledge A. “Rusty” Griffin, Jr. were sworn in by Governor Perdue.

When the expansion of the Port of Savannah is complete, it will feature over 9,800 feet in linear berthing space, increasing what is already the largest single terminal container facility on the coast from Maine to Texas .  GPA plans on completing Phase 1 to include the 2,100 ft. dock and 100 yards of terminal space by January 2006.  Phase 2 includes an additional 74 acres of paved storage area and will be completed by May 2007.  As a result of this expansion, 11,000 new direct and indirect jobs will be created, according to an economic impact model created by Georgia 's University System.

“I am proud to report the Georgia Ports Authority showed solid increases in every category,” said GPA's Executive Director Doug J. Marchand.  “For the first time, our ports handled more than 18 million tons of cargo.”

At the close of the fiscal year, total tonnage for all terminals was 18,364,709, a total of 1,936,455 tons or 11 percent more than the previous year.  Container tonnage accounted for more than 16 million tons.  TEUs increased 12 percent, or 188,511, for a total of 1,761,098 TEUs handled for FY05.  Total breakbulk tonnage for all terminals increased 24.4 percent, or 564,299 tons, for a total of 2,872,661 tons.  At Mayor's Point Terminal in Brunswick , 319,383 tons were handled, an 84.6 percent increase over the previous year, or 146,412 additional tons.

“This unparalleled growth is due to the commitment of our many partners across the state,” said Marchand.  “What we are seeing today is a collaborative effort. Thanks to our outstanding leadership team of accomplished employees and strong local, state and federal support, we have experienced more than 17 consecutive years of growth.”

Georgia 's deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 275,968 jobs throughout the state each year and contribute $10.8 billion in income, $35.4 billion in revenue and some $1.4 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia 's bustling economy.

Biographies of the new board members are provided below.

Mack Mattingly was elected to the United States Senate in 1980. While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee, the Legislative Branch Subcommittee and the Congressional Operations and Oversight Subcommittee, as well as a member of the Appropriations Committee, the Banking and Housing Committee, the Governmental Affairs Committee and the Joint Economic Committee. In 1987, President Ronald Reagan appointed him Assistant Secretary General for Defense Support for NATO in Brussels , Belgium ; he served as a U.S. Ambassador from 1992-1993. Mattingly served four years in the United States Air Force during the Korean War and was stationed for a time at Hunter Air Force Base in Savannah . He earned a bachelor of science in marketing from Indiana University in 1957. Afterwards, he worked 20 for the IBM Corporation in Georgia and later operated his own business, M's Inc. He currently resides in St. Simons , Georgia . He is married to the former Leslie Davisson, has two daughters and five grandchildren.

Maxine H. Burton is the founder and president of Flowers, Inc. Balloons, the largest supplier of balloons and related gift items in the United States .  She was honored as Star Group's 2002 Leading Woman Entrepreneur of the World and as Ernst & Young's 2001 Entrepreneur of the Year (Retail Wholesale Category, Southeast Division).  Burton serves as a member of the board of directors for the St. Mary's Hospital Foundation, First American Bank and Trust and the Color Marketing Group.  She is a graduate of Leadership Athens and Leadership Georgia.  Burton earned a bachelor's degree and master's degree in education from the University of Georgia and has completed executive courses at Harvard Business School .  She and her husband, Robert, have two children and one grandchild.

Clinton M. Day is a Norcross businessman, serving as owner and president of Day Retail.  He has worked in the real estate business for over twenty years and has served as a Georgia State Senator.  He is chairman of the board for Integrity Bank and serves on the board of the Cecil B. Day Foundation, the Florida State University Foundation and is a former deacon at Peachtree Corners Baptist Church .  In addition, he is a member of the Gwinnett Rotary Club, the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce and the Council for Quality Growth.  He has also served as a district governor for Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.  Day earned a bachelor's degree in business from Florida State University .  He and his wife, Lori, have four children.

Rutledge A. “Rusty” Griffin is the former chairman and chief executive officer of Griffin L.L.C., a manufacturer of crop protection and specialty chemicals founded in 1935 as a joint venture with DuPont.  He is a past director of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Council on Economic Education, the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and the Chemical Producers and Distributors Association.  He was previously honored as the Outstanding Member of the Valdosta and Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce and as the Man of the Year by Valdosta-Lowndes County Agribusiness.  Griffin is a trustee of the University of Georgia Foundation and a graduate of Leadership Georgia. He earned a bachelor's degree in agriculture from the University of Georgia .  He and his wife, Barbara, have three children, five grandchildren and one on the way.