Harlingen port director Walker Smith has been installed as the new president of the Gulf Ports Association.
The GPA is a trade organization dedicated to enhancing economic development and encouraging commerce for deep-water and shallow-draft public ports along the Gulf Coast.
“Ports are critical economic drivers throughout our nation,” Smith said. “I am both honored and humbled to be able to lead the Gulf Ports Association and work with many partners who represent ports large and small.”
GPA was created in 1945 in New Orleans, composed of 13 public port members in the gulf states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Today there are 36 member ports.
“Our organization provides a forum through which our member ports can address mutual concerns; to educate the public and elected officials to the economic impact of gulf ports; and to provide users of ports in the gulf with innovatively managed and environmentally responsible facilities,” said Pat Younger, GPA executive director. “This is the first time in the 33 years I have been associated with the Gulf Ports Association that the membership has elected a port director from a shallow-draft port as its president. That speaks to the confidence that the five-state member ports have in Walker Smith.”
Smith previously served as the first vice-president and second vice-president of the ports association. He replaces Amy Miller of Pensacola.
