- AMPA, Fla.—Port Tampa Bay announces that one of its staff members, Christyna Doege, has been awarded the honor of 2016 International Business Person of the Year, by the Tampa Bay Organization for Women in International Trade (TB OWIT). This annual award is presented to a local business person who exemplifies high ideals in business professionalism within the realm of international trade. The mission of OWIT is to promote international trade and affairs in the Tampa Bay area and to provide a forum for networking, education, and related activities with a global focus and an emphasis on women.

Ms. Doege is the Program Coordinator for Customer Service at Port Tampa Bay, a position she has held since January 2013.  Prior to this, she worked in the port’s finance department.  Before joining the port, she was a senior billing analyst at Ports America Group, the largest stevedoring and terminal operating company in the U.S.   She began her career as an English teacher in Zhuhai, China, before becoming the office administrator for American Finance Adjusters, and then she joined CP Ships as a customer service representative.  She is a graduate of Stetson University, with a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business, and also holds a DELF premiere degree in French form Université d ’Avignon.   An active member of Toastmasters International, she has been the VP of Public Relations for the new Urban Center Toastmasters and recently received the Distinguished Toastmasters Award, an accomplishment that only 4% of members ever achieve.  Earlier this year, she won first place in the Division Toastmasters contest.

Doege’s work at the port has her play an active role in all aspects of business development, including organizing and coordinating customer events, promotional materials, port statistics, cargo projections, budget coordination and managing the day to day activities of the marketing department.  Recognized as the “Queen of Port Tours”, she has an encyclopedic knowledge of not just Port Tampa Bay, but all aspects of international trade and transportation.   In addition to being a great ambassador for Port Tampa Bay, she is an important part of Tampa Bay’s international business outreach efforts.

“It is great to see Port Tampa Bay staff recognized for their leadership in the community, and Christyna Doege is a shining example of this,” Paul Anderson, port president and CEO, said. “The definition of a team player, Christyna plays a key role in our international business development efforts, and no task is too big or too small for her in support of our objectives,” he said.