WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE

1100 STRO

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who WE AREwhat WE DO

AND HOW

WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE

1100 STRO

NG

who WE AREwhat WE DO

AND HOW

Each day, Georgia Ports Authority’s 1,100 workers demonstrate their commitment to building healthy communities, leading healthy lives and going the extra mile

to ensure GPA customers receive world-class service.

In this publication, we share just a few of their stories of ongoing community engagement, triumph over health challenges, and the personal leadership that sets this organization apart.

It is with great pleasure I introduce “1,100 Strong,” our new publication highlighting how GPA’s employees are making a difference.

There are many great stories to be told, and these 12 are just beginning to scratch the surface of the incredible contributions our employees make on the job, in our community and, yes, even in the gym. However, it is fair to say that here, in these pages, are words, actions and photos that can be an inspiration to us all.

Running North America’s single largest and fastest growing container terminal, and the country’s second busiest auto port requires your leadership, teamwork and discipline.

Our customer-centered philosophy has made it convenient, simple and cost-effective to move cargo through Georgia’s ports. Port users are continually impressed with the level of service they receive from GPA’s employees.

As you will read in this publication, that can-do spirit extends beyond the workplace to include issues of personal health, wellness, safety and community.

We are pleased to highlight the excellent work from individuals across our organization.

Curtis J. FoltzExecutive Director

a COMMUNITYOF

LEADERS

The Georgia Ports Authority employs an amazing group of people who enjoy being part of such a successful company and knowing they make it happen each day. This is why we were voted one of Savannah’s best places to work in 2015.

GPA’s Waterfront Wellness Program is a huge part of our culture. We have highlighted just a few of our wellness superstars. Our employees take pride in staying healthy, and we want to make it easy for them. We have a state-of-the-art gym at Garden City Terminal open 24/7. Our engineering team is currently designing gyms for Ocean Terminal and the Port of Brunswick. Our two walking trails are another way to show our support for wellness. In 2016, we will introduce our new employee cafeteria, offering a variety of healthy meal options.

Another important component is our Employee Health Services Clinic. Our health professionals make it easy for our employees to walk over for whatever they may need. The on-site generic prescription clinic makes it convenient for employees to pick up prescriptions right at work. We have four health kiosks placed in locations that allow employees to check their blood pressure, weight and other health indicators.

This publication showcases just a few of the wonderful employees reaching out to those in need. They make a difference in people’s lives. Collectively, the Georgia Ports Authority community contributes more than $250,000 a year to the United Way of the Coastal Empire and its many charitable foundations. Generous support for those who are less fortunate is an important part of the culture at the Georgia Ports Authority.

Join me in congratulating this exemplary group of individuals. Thank you to all GPA employees for what you do for us each and every day.

Lise AltmanSenior Director of Human Resources

GPA cares

“If you don’t have a goal, beyond making a paycheck, you aren’t going to make it,” said Allen Cook.

Cook is an operations foreman at GPA’s Colonel’s Island facility. He has been with GPA for 18 years and also oversees the dust control systems at Colonel’s Island.

Cook, who started as a temporary employee, has used a series of attainable goals as the guideposts for his career at GPA — forming a new goal each time he was able to tick one off the list.

“When I was a temp, my goal was to go full time. When I was full time, my goal was to learn everything I could about this business and become a clerk. When I became a clerk my goal was to keep moving up,” Cook said.

His goals related to where he wanted his career to go, but also to the quality of his work.

“Once I took over dust systems, I made a goal to make every system here run better than they ever have and to do my best to maintain them,” he said.

Cook’s goal setting has never stopped.

“My goal now is to help oversee the growth of this facility — to do a little more business and add a few more jobs to help the local economy.”

GPA’s success in Brunswick for Cook is personal. He grew up in Brunswick and wants to do whatever he can to help create more prosperity and jobs for the area.

“By doing more business, we can hire more people and have an even greater impact on the local economy,” he said.

ALLEN COOKWORKPLACE ACHIEVEMENT

ALWAYS

TOWARD A GOALWORKING

A positive attitude is one thing David Cross credits for his successful career at GPA. Cross is a foreman of the automotive and small forklift team.

In Cross’ experience, a positive attitude motivates people, and leading by example is one way to get a team moving in the right direction.

“I wouldn’t send anyone to do something I wouldn’t do myself,” he said.

Cross leads a team of five responsible for the maintenance of more than 200 trucks and 35 forklifts.

“I like what I do,” Cross said. “It’s a different thing every day.”

Cross has seen an amazing amount of change at GPA in his 31-year career.

When he started, employees traveled from one end of Garden City Terminal to the other on bicycles. The scope of his responsibilities has steadily increased over the years and now includes forklifts and the recent addition of two motorized ramps at Ocean Terminal for rail unloading.

“It’s not a boring job,” he said with a grin.

One thing that has never changed is Cross’ commitment to excellence.

“If we mess up, we could put someone’s life in danger,” Cross said. “I’m not going to put anyone’s life in danger.”

ALWAYS

TOWARDS A GOALWORKING

ATTITUDEeverything

IS

DAVID CROSSWORKPLACE ACHIEVEMENT

You wouldn’t know it now, but Corporal Felicia Daniels didn’t set out to become a police officer. She started her career in public safety as a 911 dispatcher.

After serving as a police officer for more than 15 years, (11 as a member of GPA’s Port Police), Corporal Daniels commands the respect of a born cop.

“I like being a police officer,” Daniels said. “People say I don’t take any foolishness, and I don’t!” she added with a laugh.

That was apparent on a recent drive as each person she passed on terminal waved, then pointed to their seat belt so she could see they were in compliance.

Although Daniels takes her job and its responsibilities very seriously, she also enjoys interacting with a diverse range of people every day. From GPA staff to truck drivers and longshoremen, Daniels says, “I just like interacting with people. It’s a good job. I’m meeting different types of people every day.”

KEEPINGthe terminal

SAFE

FELICIA DANIELSWORKPLACE ACHIEVEMENT

Adam Deleanides wants to be in the best shape of his life when he retires in a few years.

For Deleanides, a ship-to-shore crane maintenance and repair manager, working out and eating a balanced diet isn’t about dramatic weight loss or how he looks in the mirror, it’s about being able to enjoy his life to the fullest.

“I’m not on the fast track. I’m on the long term, lose it easy plan,” Deleanides said.

“I’m not going to die early. I want to be able to travel and see my grandkids graduate from high school.”

When the Waterfront Wellness program kicked off about five years ago, something clicked for Deleanides and he’s been involved in every fitness program offered at GPA since. He works out four-days a week at the GPA gym and you’ll often find him doing Zumba or at a Weight Watchers meeting.

Deleanides is 30 pounds lighter than he was when he started his fitness journey, and, more importantly, he feels better.

“I don’t get winded when I walk to the car,” he said. “I’m more flexible, my golf game is better.”

Getting in shape was a complete lifestyle change, Deleanides said.

“For the last 20 years I gained five pounds a year, so for the next 10 years I want to reverse the trend,” he said. “It’s been a long road and I’m not done yet.”

long-term

RESULTS

ADAM DELEANIDESWELLNESS

Gerald Frazier is working to better his community one run-down house at a time.

A background in real estate has shown him how home ownership improves a person’s financial situation, provides stability, and raises property value in the surrounding area.

His church, Followers of Christ Baptist Church, is putting that theory into action. They have already purchased two homes in the surrounding neighborhood. One of the homes was burned out and boarded up and is now being renovated to be used in the future as temporary housing for families in crisis.

The process of renovating the houses also allows young people to be involved and work side by side with adults, including master carpenters. Frazier’s theory on community improvement is to value and promote education and work.

“It’s good to give, but better when people can provide for themselves” Frazier said.

Frazier focuses on education and mentorship with the young people he knows, helping to prepare them for graduation and then employment or college.

He is practicing what he preaches by working at GPA and finishing his degree at Seminary Revelation Bible College by the end of the year.

“We can be a light to someone else,” Frazier said. “GPA provides us with a good job, and we are able to make a difference in the community. The port is part of that community.”

ALWAYS

TOWARDS A GOALWORKING

IMPROVING THE

WITH EDUCATIONCOMMUNITY

& WORK

GERALD FRAZIERCOMMUNITY SERVICE

According to Lee Jenkins, everyone can do something to make their community better.

“You can’t do everything,” Jenkins said. “But everyone can do something.”

Jenkins, an equipment operator at GPA, helps to coordinate a monthly community food pantry that fills two major roles.

It feeds people — mainly seniors and disabled on a fixed income, who are often caring for small children. It also gives young people in the neighborhood an opportunity to be involved in a worthy cause.

Jenkins works with a dedicated team of volunteers to run the pantry each month.

“We see people hungry, so we try to help the local community,” he said.

As people streamed in on a recent Saturday morning to collect their bags of food, they were greeted with hugs and handshakes. The bags were filled with meat and dry goods and the people who collected them were helped out by two smiling young men.

Each month, the Fresh Fire Food Pantry serves about 90 households that support more than 250 individuals.

“We try to make a difference,” Jenkins said. “We have to start right here, where we are.”

THE

FEEDINGCOMMUNITY

LEE JENKINSCOMMUNITY SERVICE

Mill Lawson, a GPA systems engineer, began his fitness journey three years ago when his doctor recommended that he begin taking medications for both high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

He got the doctor to agree to give him six months to get in shape before starting the daily meds, and immediately began using the P90x workout and diet plan.

When Lawson finished with the 90-day program in 2012, the GPA gym opened, making it easier for him to fit his workouts in over lunch.

“I don’t think I would be as dedicated to a program if I had to go to an offsite gym and compete with crowds,” he said. “Going somewhere else day in and day out is such a hassle compared to having this right down the street.”

When Lawson went back to his doctor six months later, he was down 40 pounds and feeling great.

“My numbers were spectacular,” he said. Lawson said his first thought was, “Why didn’t I do it sooner?”

One key to Lawson’s success was choosing a plan and sticking to it. “It’s more mental than physical. You have to set a goal and set a structure in place that you can follow,” he said. “You have to know what you will eat tomorrow and what your workout will be and you have to do it automatically.”

Another was sticking with it, even when he didn’t see results for more than six weeks.

“No matter what is happening, give it six to eight weeks before you judge,” Lawson said. After eight weeks he began to see changes in his body and it motivated him to continue.

Although Lawson’s closet is full of new clothes that accommodate his 60-pound weight loss, he keeps a few pairs of pants and a belt that he wore before getting into shape.

“Every once in awhile, I pull them out to emphasize how far I’ve come,” he said. “And it makes my son laugh when I put them on.”

BETTER

NUMBERSBETTER

HEALTH

MILL LAWSONWELLNESS

Kids are the future of families, neighborhoods, faith communities and the world. Reese McCorkle believes this and believes it’s worth his time to invest in that future.

“Kids in the world we live in today need to be grounded in their spirituality and know how to keep their faith solid,” McCorkle said.

McCorkle, assistant manager of crane operations at GPA, is chairman of a board of directors responsible for the upkeep and operation of the Georgia Primitive Baptist Youth Camp outside of Metter.

All three of McCorkle’s children attended the camp.

The camp, located on a pristine hillside off a two-lane road, plays host to three weeks worth of camps for Primitive Baptist organizations in Georgia.

It is leased for much of the rest of the year to other faith groups for meetings and retreats.

The historic grounds are beautifully landscaped and maintained. The main feature is a majestic live oak tree under whose branches you will find youth gathered at all times during the camp. The shade and cross breezes make it feel at least 10 degrees cooler under its leaves where swings and benches fill the space.

The main structure is an old schoolhouse built in the 1940s. The camp also has a full kitchen and dining hall, dorms, a pool, playground, and ball field. It accommodates up to 300 people.

McCorkle looks at his investment of time and resources into the camp as an investment into future generations.

GROUNDED KIDSGROWING

REESE McCORKLECOMMUNITY SERVICE

Kwamie Rhodes is a different person than he was two years ago. He is stronger, more active and more than 100 pounds lighter. Rhodes, who has been an equipment operator at GPA for nine years, has taken advantage of fitness programs provided by GPA to not only lose excess weight, but to drastically improve his health.

Rhodes started Weight Watchers in December 2012 here at GPA in a group that meets every Tuesday during lunch.

Mark Bowen, Waterfront Wellness nurse practitioner, said Rhodes’ determination is illustrated by a story he told during a Weight Watchers meeting around the time he had lost 50 pounds. Rhodes said he and his family were on the way home when he checked his active link, a Weight Watchers tool designed to track one’s daily physical activity. The active link showed that he had not met his minimal activity requirements, so he asked his wife to let him out of the car and walked the final two miles home.

Before joining Weight Watchers, Rhodes said he had settled for being a big guy; but once he started, he realized that if he put in the effort, he could be lean and healthy.

Benefits Rhodes experienced from his weight loss include increased energy, lower blood sugar and blood pressure. In addition, he said he isn’t as prone to common colds.

His advice to others trying to improve their health is to keep on keeping on, and to use the GPA fitness center 3-4 times per week.

“Sometimes you fall off, but when you do, you just have to get back on,” Rhodes said.

ALWAYS

TOWARDS A GOALWORKING GAINING

health

KWAMIE RHODESWELLNESS

Roeshone Scott, a GPA risk management technician, is doing her part to help troubled youth by investing her time in children at the Youth Detention Center in Savannah.

Working with the Center’s Advisory Council, Scott encourages members of the community and family to work together to develop a relationship that provides future direction for the residents of the YDC.

“All of these children have hit a bump in the road,” Scott said. “We come in as mentors and motivators to help them regroup. To make them see that they are valuable — we don’t discard them.”

Scott gives the staff at the Youth Detention Center credit for being on the front lines of some of society’s most difficult issues.

The council seeks to support residents of the Youth Detention Center in successful reentry into society.

One way Scott’s group facilitates successful reentry is by connecting the residents to a diverse community of mentors.

The council’s largest event is a Father’s Day banquet where more than 200 members of the community volunteer their time to interact one-on-one with residents.

Successful volunteers from all walks of life are paired with residents during the event. They are seated next to each other and talk about interests and life in general.

The banquet requires residents to work together to create decorations, escort guests, and showcase their talents during the event.

On the surface, the banquet looks like just good fun, but the council makes sure it has a much larger impact than simple entertainment.

“We show them how they can become better citizens and make better choices,” Scott said. “That’s what’s important.”

MOTIVATINGTHE FUTURE OF

SAVANNAH

ROESHONE SCOTTCOMMUNITY SERVICE

Paul Wood has been a crane operator for 21 years, and he attributes a strong willingness to learn to his success.

“You think you’ve seen it all, and I just about have, but there are still things to learn,” Wood said.

Wood was part of the team that created a software program for running the ship-to-shore cranes when GPA switched to a new technology. Wood worked alongside vendors and others from GPA to customize the new program.

Another thing that has made Wood successful is his willingness to innovate and work with other departments at GPA. If he sees something that can increase productivity or make a crane operator’s job easier, he works closely with the crane maintenance teams to implement his ideas. Now, when training other operators Wood tries to pass that ingenuity on to new recruits, as well as the incredible patience it takes to become an efficient operator.

“It looks simple,” Wood said, “but it’s not.”

Beyond the competitive pay and benefits of working for GPA, Wood says the view from the cab of a crane over the Savannah River of the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge and Talmadge Bridge is another reason he’s stuck around for more than 20 years.

“Not very many people in the world get to do my job,” Wood said. “And it’s a great view during your shift.”

PAUL WOODWORKPLACE ACHIEVEMENT

INNOVATIONFOR

success

The day DeLisa Wright-Kelley went shopping and had to search the petite plus section for a size 18 to fit her 4’10” frame was the day she decided it was time to improve her health and appearance.

“Divine intervention” is what she calls it when GPA began to offer an on-site Weight Watchers program.

Wright-Kelley, an operations administrative supervisor/planner, said she learned about GPA’s Weight Watchers plan, that it was convenient and reimbursable, right after her ah-ha moment in the clothing store.

She joined Weight Watchers in 2010 and is now a lifetime member. “I’m a walking billboard for Weight Watchers,” Wright-Kelley said. “I went from a size 16 to a size four. It really works!”

Wright-Kelley also walks three miles three times a week and does workout videos at home.

“It was a struggle, at first, to learn how to count points, read labels and measure food,” Wright-Kelley said. “But it comes naturally now. It’s not hard; I just eat less. It’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle change.”

After following the program, not only does she now sport size four jeans, but she has more energy. Thanks to Weight Watchers, her new cooking strategies have not only improved her health, but her entire family’s.

“High blood pressure runs in my family, and I refuse to get it,” Wright-Kelley said.

ALWAYS

TOWARDS A GOALWORKING WALKING

weight watchersBILLBOARD FOR

DELISA WRIGHT-KELLEYWELLNESS

40 YEAR

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GEORGIA PORTS AUTHORITY

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JOE BRANNEN

CHRIS CARTER

ED BAZEMORE

STEVE COLLUM

BARRY CONAWAY

EDDIE HARPER

JOHN JACOBS

40 YEAR

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GEORGIA PORTS AUTHORITY

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BETTY ANN RAPPE

RANDY JONES

FRANK KIMBLE

JAMES MATHISLARRY SMITH

KENNY SLATER

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GEORGIA PORTS AUTHORITY