SAVANNAH, Ga., April 9, 2025 – The Georgia Ports Authority is celebrating seven years of YES+, the program providing mentoring and career opportunities for recent high school graduates seeking to start a port career.

“YES+ has been an important part of our recruiting effort since 2018,” said GPA President and CEO Griff Lynch. “We’ve been thrilled to add so many young people with enthusiasm and a willingness to work to our team here at GPA.”

Since the start of the program, 51 students have been accepted, 43 of whom continue to advance their careers at Georgia Ports, spanning all activities at GPA – from administration and finance to communications and safety, as well as vessel, yard and rail operations.

“YES+ is a win for students who want to start a career soon after graduation, and a win for Georgia Ports, because it has established a new talent pipeline for recruitment,” said GPA Chief Human Resources Officer Lise Altman. “It’s an on-the-job learning opportunity that prepares students to become top-performing employees and the future of GPA.”

Altman said the YES+ program is part of a broader recruitment and workforce development effort at GPA, aimed at helping employees succeed across multiple locations and departments.

“YES+ has proven to be very popular with students who are eager to start a career,” said GPA Director of Workforce Development and Training Tanya Chisholm. “More than 500 applications have already been received for 20 slots in next year’s YES+ class.”

About Georgia Ports

Georgia’s ports and inland terminals support more than 609,000 jobs throughout the state annually, contributing $40 billion in income, $171 billion in revenue and $5.3 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. GPA anticipates investing $4.2 billion in the next ten years as part of its port master plan to expand cargo handling capabilities to support future supply chain requirements. As part of GPA’s community engagement efforts, $6 million will be donated to communities located near the Port of Savannah to support a multi-year, local workforce housing initiative. CNBC ranked Georgia #1 in the U.S. for infrastructure in America’s Top States for Business in 2024. Area Development  – a site selection news outlet for the U.S., has ranked Georgia as the Top State to Do Business for 11 consecutive years.  For further information, visit gaports.com or contact Manager of Media Relations Edward Fulford at [email protected]  912-964-3806.