CEO Self-Evaluation Summary of Milestones FY2022-23
Paul Anderson

The 2022-23 Fiscal Year was another record-breaking year for Port Tampa Bay. Expanding infrastructure and capacity, growing our business, community involvement, and with new staff, the port has continued to build on the success we have built in the post-pandemic world. And to top it off, we were afforded a once-in-a-generation opportunity to host a U.S. Naval Warship commissioning.

Our business development team has been hard at work this year, helping to increase our current lines of business as well as lean forward into emerging trends to set us up for the future. For the first 11 months of the fiscal year (September through August), cargo tonnage moved through PTB facilities was up by 4%. Containers grew by 19% to 197,787 TEUs (container tonnage was up by 28% to 997,092 tons). Juice was up by 471% to 877,716 tons, cement increased by 13% to 1.2 million tons and petroleum was up by 5% to 7.5 million tons. In addition, cruise business is coming back strong post-pandemic as the port welcomed 1,049,607 passengers. The port launched a cruise app and destination page to assist our cruise guests navigate and enjoy Tampa Bay and plan their next vacation from our port. We are also growing new business, adding 24,054 vehicles (or 54,027 tons) entering the US through our port.

Our security team continued to be thought leaders and experts in their field as Port Tampa Bay became the first port in the United States to be accredited by the National Maritime Law Enforcement Academy and this year we maintained our status. This was based on an assessment of our physical and cyber security protocols done by an independent panel.  

Our financials continued to remain strong this year. For FY23, our projected operating income was $30.5 million; however, we exceeded expectations by approx. $7.8 million for a total of $38.5 million, an increase of 26%. Expenses were once again below budget for the year, but most importantly, the operating margin for FY23 was even higher than last year, coming in at 50%.

During the year, I was elected Chairman of the American Association of Port Authorities. It is a great honor to be able to lead the unified voice of the seaport industry in the Americas, representing more than 130 public port authorities in the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Under my leadership, we will continue to promote the common interests of the port community and provide critical industry leadership on security, trade, transportation, infrastructure, environmental, and other issues related to port development and operations. We attended the American Association of Port Authorities annual conference as well as the legislative fly-in held in Washington DC. We also attended the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors (CAGTC) annual meeting, continuing relationships with USDOT and members of Congress on Capitol Hill. I also want to recognize several of our management team: Greg Lovelace was just named the Cruise Committee Chair of the American Association of Port Authorities; Mark Dubina is the Vice Chair of the Security Committee; and Ken Washington is Chair of the IT Committee. I am truly proud that our team is leading our nation’s ports in these important roles.

The port remains committed to being a good neighbor and working with community partners. At Cruise Terminal 2, we worked with Moffitt Cancer Center to open a Community Outreach and Education Center to reach people in Downtown Tampa and surrounding areas, as well as reach those visiting from out of the state and even country. Our partnership will provide education on cancer prevention, discuss the importance of screenings for various ages, risk factors that make some more susceptible to cancer, and more. As visitors make their way to or from their vacation, we hope they take time to visit this center and take advantage of the many resources it offers. It also will be a touchpoint for our cruise passengers while they are visiting our port.

I am particularly proud that Port Tampa Bay was honored with the top environmental honor from Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful during their annual awards breakfast. The port won the Champion of the Forest award, which is the top honor their organization gives to a person or organization who makes a significant impact on the mission of Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful. The port was chosen for our support of environmental clean-ups, events, projects, and programs throughout the year.

Previously, our port and Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, along with the Propeller Club – Port of Tampa, won the American Association of Port Authorities Lighthouse Award in the Environmental Excellence category for the annual Great Port Clean-Up. During the third annual Great Port Clean-Up, 851 volunteers collected 79,698 pounds of trash, preventing it from entering the waters of Tampa Bay, more than double last year's total. The event took place the Friday before Earth Day, April 21, 2023. The annual clean-up is hosted by Port Tampa Bay, the Propeller Club of Tampa Bay and Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful. In addition, 30,000 pounds of invasive plant species were removed.

Port Tampa Bay’s brand is strong and part of our success comes from the projects and associations we make that are larger than ourselves. For the ten years that I have been in this role, I have worked towards being able to commission a Naval warship at Port Tampa Bay and this year it has finally become a reality. On October 7, we will host the commissioning of USS Jack H. Lucas DDG 125, the newest destroyer in the United States Navy Fleet. Our host committee, including Port Tampa Bay staff, has been hard at work for most of the year planning the events and festivities surrounding this event.  This historic occasion will highlight our port, city, region, and state and support the brand we have created, along with our partners, as a city on the rise.

The Port is a dynamic and incredible organization because of its people.  Raul Alfonso, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, was nominated for the Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Chief Business Development Officer Apogee Award. Joeanne Toledo, VP of Human Resources, and Lisa Wolf-Chason, Director of Communications, were chosen as finalists for the Tampa Bay Business Women Award, recognizing distinguished women leaders. Karl Strauch, Vice President of Marketing, was runner-up for the American Advertising Federation District 4 Jack Philipps Gold Medal Award in recognition of outstanding contributions to advertising and furthering the industry’s standards, creative excellence, and public service. 

In addition, I have made some key personnel hires in the executive team this year as well. Ed Washington is our new Vice President of Real Estate, Ryan Fierst joined us as the new Vice President of Legal Affairs, and Thomas Hobbs was brought on as our new Chief of Staff. We promoted Matt Thompson to Vice President of Operations Shawn Brown to Director of Cruise Operations & Emergency Management, as well as Phillip Lawson to Director of Finance.

I am very proud of the accomplishments we have achieved in the past year and am grateful for the Board’s unwavering support. Working together, I am confident our port can continue to build on our robust success and remain a key figure in our developing community. I cannot thank you enough for all you do in service to our organization. It is truly an honor and a privilege to work with you in leading our world-class port!

Sincerely,

A. Paul Anderson