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Logistics leaders of tomorrow meet with Georgia Ports executives, visit Port of Savannah

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SAVANNAH, Ga. Feb. 03, 2025 – How do you manage multi-million-dollar infrastructure projects to move cargo from massive ships, trains and trucks? And what does it take to keep it all operating in harmony day in, day out?

Those were some of the questions answered by Georgia Ports leadership as the logistics leaders of tomorrow from Georgia Southern University got an inside look at port operations.

The Port of Savannah welcomed over 30 students from GSU’s Department of Logistics and Supply Chain Management, who met with top Georgia Ports Authority executives.

The group visited Garden City Terminal, the largest container port in the western hemisphere, and Mason Mega Rail, the largest on-terminal intermodal facility in North America.

Students later participated in a panel discussion with Georgia Ports executives to ask how they make it all work seamlessly.

“Visits like these help our Logistics and Supply Chain Management students deepen their understanding of career paths in the industry and get real-world insights into how it all works,” shared Dr. Scott Ellis, Professor and Chair of the Department of Logistics and Supply Chain.

The group met with Georgia Ports executives: Chris Novack, Vice President of Engineering & Facilities Maintenance, who discussed infrastructure projects; Pat Rogero, Controller, Department of Finance, who shared how the port reinvests its own profits into projects and uses no tax dollars; Stephen Crawford, Senior Director of Container Operations, who shared the systems and processes that make the port operate; and David Porter, Regional Sales Manager and GSU graduate, who discussed how the port attracts global customers to Savannah.

Novack discussed building port capacity for future growth and added “when Georgia Ports hires, it looks for good thinkers who will help bring the port to the next level.”

Georgia Ports Director of Workforce Development & Training, Tanya Chisholm, spoke about the port’s Summer Internship Program which continues to accept applications for the summer program.

For students interested in participating in the Georgia Ports Internship Program, visit www.gaports.com/jobs and search “College Intern.”

Chris Novack, Georgia Ports Vice President of Engineering & Facilities Maintenance, discusses building port capacity for future growth with GSU students during a panel discussion at the Georgia Ports.

 

About Georgia Ports Authority:

Georgia’s ports and inland terminals support more than 561,000 jobs throughout the Peach state annually, contributing $33 billion in income, $140 billion in revenue and $3.8 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 Tom Boyd, Chief Communications Officer[email protected] 912-964-3884.