2014 State of the Port Address 

The 2014 State of the Port Address, hosted by the Georgia Ports Authority and the Propeller Club of the United States - Port of Savannah, will be held at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center. GPA's Executive Director Curtis J. Foltz will present the latest developments at the GPA during a networking-lunch reception.

About the Georgia Ports Authority

Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 352,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $18.5 billion in income, $66.9 billion in revenue and $2.5 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. The Port of Savannah handled 8 percent of the U.S. containerized cargo volume and 10.9 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in FY2013. Check out GPA’s Youtube channel here. Find print-quality images of port operations here.

About the Savannah Propeller Club

The Propeller Club United States - Port of Savannah is comprised of more than 260 people from more than 120 organizations in the Savannah maritime community.  The membership comprises a cross section of the marine, maritime, and associated industries throughout the United States and in many cities overseas. "Propeller" in the name refers to the propulsion of ships, and is symbolic of the driving force of the nation's heavily-maritime-reliant economy.

Agenda

10:30 a.m.	Networking Reception | Registration
11:30 a.m.	Doors Open
11:45 a.m.	Program Begins Invocation  Pledge of Allegiance | Lunch
12:20 p.m.	Mark Troughton Welcome | Introduction of GPA Chairman
12:25 p.m.	James A. Walters, GPA Chairman Introduction of GPA Executive Director and Video
12:30 p.m.	Video
12:40 p.m.	Curtis J. Foltz, Executive Director, Georgia Ports Authority State of the Port Address
1:25 p.m.	Announcements
1:30 p.m.	Adjournment

James A. Walters
Chairman : Georgia Ports Authority

James A. Walters was appointed to the Georgia Ports Authority in June 2008.  He was appointed board chair June 2014.

James A. Walters is the President and CEO of Walters Management Company, Gainesville, Georgia, which provides oversight and management for over 110 consumer finance companies located in Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas.  In addition, Walters Management Company owns and manages income producing properties and real estate related entities.

Mr. Walters is a former Director of First National Bank of Gainesville and its holding company, First National Bancorp.  Subsequent to the sale of First National to Regions Bank, Mr. Walters continued to serve as an Advisory Board Member of Regions Bank of Gainesville.  Mr. Walters currently serves as Chairman of the Board of The Georgia Ports Authority. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Chattahoochee Bank of Georgia, a Gainesville, Ga. based bank that he helped found.

Curtis J. Foltz
Executive Director : Georgia Ports Authority

Curtis J. Foltz is the Executive Director of the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), a 1,000-person strong state port authority that owns and operates strategic gateways serving the U.S. Southeast. Following five years as Chief Operating Officer for the Authority, Mr. Foltz took the helm of the GPA on January 1, 2010.

As Executive Director, Mr. Foltz oversees all port activity involving the deepwater ports of Savannah and Brunswick, as well as inland terminal operations in Bainbridge and Columbus.  Directing one of Georgia’s largest economic engines, he administers a $280 million annual budget.

As the GPA’s Chief Operating Officer from 2004 to 2009, Mr. Foltz provided direction for day-to-day operating activities with responsibility to help ensure long-term growth in service performance, revenue, profitability, and market share. 

Prior to joining the GPA, Mr. Foltz was the Vice President of Operations for CSX World Terminals in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was responsible for all business unit accountability throughout North & South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Australia and Europe. He previously held the position of Vice President and General Manager of the Americas, as well as General Manager of Terminal Management Resources for CSX World Terminals.

During his thirteen years at Sea-Land Service, Inc., Mr. Foltz held several different positions, including Manager of Port Operations in Tacoma, Washington, Manager of Port Operations in Charleston, South Carolina, Manager of Port Operations in New Orleans, Louisiana, Manager of Operations and Rolling Stock for the Americas in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and Liberty Corners, New Jersey and held various supervisory positions in New Orleans, Louisiana. Prior to joining Sea-Land, he held various management positions with Overnite Transportation in Charlotte, North Carolina and McLean Trucking in Winston Salem, North Carolina.

Mark Troughton
President : Savannah Propeller Club

Mr. Mark Troughton was named President of the Savannah Propeller Club in May 2014.  He has served in different capacities on the club’s Board of Governors since the early 1980s.

As Global Accounts Executive for the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), Mr. Troughton is responsible for calling on the top accounts in the the following commodity segments: forest products, kaolin clay, iron & steel, wood products, and crude rubber. He also provides direction and makes policy recommendations surrounding GPA initiatives relevant to his sales and operations expertise in the market areas he controls.

Prior to this assignment, Mr. Troughton served as the GPA's General Manager of Cargo Sales. During his 19-year tenure with the Authority, he has held various other sales management positions within the GPA's Trade Development Division, helping to contribute to almost two decades of continued growth by the Georgia Port’s Authority.

With over 34  years of experience in the maritime and transportation sector, Mr. Troughton's previous work experience has included: Vice President of Sales, Peeples Industries; Regional Manager, Gulf & Atlantic Maritime Services; Vice President, Hub Shipping; and Operations, Strachan Shipping Company.

Mr. Troughton's professional affiliations include:  Propeller Club of Savannah-President, Past Member-Georgia Foreign Trade Conference (Executive Board), and was an officer in the Savannah Traffic Club. He is a member of the International Forest Products Transport Association, the International Wood Products Association and the American Cotton Shippers Association. Mr. Troughton, as well as his wife Lynn have two grown children and one grandchild. They attend the Isle of Hope United Methodist Church and are active in numerous civic and charity organizations.

Mr. Troughton attended Armstrong State College in Savannah, Georgia.