Pensacola hires new port director

Pensacola hires new port director The City of Pensacola yesterday hired ports industry veteran Clyde Mathis, a marketing and business development executive from the Port of New Orleans, as the new director for the Port of Pensacola.

Mathis.

   Mathis held the title executive assistant for marketing and business development at the Port of New Orleans, where he worked with port staff and customers to develop short- and long-term plans for the port and negotiated leases and other port service arrangements.
   Mathis was one of five finalists selected in cooperation with a nationwide search conducted by Slavin Management Consultants of Norcross, Ga. An advisory panel that included two city staffers and two local businessmen also made recommendations to City Manager Tom Bonfield, who made the final decision.
   'This was an excellent group of candidates, however Mathis' background and experience were outstanding.' said Bonfield. 'I am very excited about the appointment of Mathis. He brings a wealth of unprecedented knowledge and skills to the Port of Pensacola.'
   Mathis commented 'I appreciate the confidence the City of Pensacola has in selecting me and I am looking forward to getting to Pensacola and getting to work.'
   Mathis started his management career as a ship superintendent for Ryan Walsh Stevedoring, since acquired by Stevedoring Services of America, overseeing ship and barge loading and unloading. He went on to executive level positions that included president of the Liberty Stevedoring Company, Inc. and president of international logistics at Cooper/T. Smith Corporation.
   Mathis' start date at Pensacola has not been firmed up, pending the finalization of work at the Port of New Orleans, but he is expected to be on the job in the near future.