What is Black History Month?

Black History Month is annual time to honor the achievements and history of Black people while acknowledging the progress toward equality. As a result, this is the perfect time to demonstrate Port Houston’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion while allowing teams to connect and learn from one another.

Black History Month has been officially recognized by the governments of the United States and Canada for the month of February each year. Additionally, Black History Month has been observed and recognized in October for people in Netherlands, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.¹

How Did Black History Month Get Started?

Before there was ever a Black History Month, there was “Negro History Week” which started in 1926, and held during the second week of February. This week was declared by historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. Celebrating Negro History Week in February was a nod to both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, both born during the same week and great contributors to African American History. Negro History Week became more popular during the following decades sparking the push for Black History Month.²

In 1968, members of the Black United Students at Kent State University participated in sit-ins and protested disorderly conduct charges during Negro History Week. The following year students demanded Kent State University to extend the week into a month-long celebration. This act transformed Black History Month at the university and had ripple effects across the nation.³

In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month, calling upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”³

Celebrating Black Leaders at Port Houston

Curtis Duncan serves as Controller at Port Houston, and he does an excellent job of leading our teams in Payroll, Accounts Payable, Credit, Customer Billing Services and Financial Accounting.

Curtis was born in Detroit, Michigan and graduated from Northwestern University. Before entering the thrilling world of Finance, Curtis was drafted by the Houston Oilers as a wide receiver in 1987. We are thankful that Curtis’s journey brought him to Port Houston in 2013.

“Diversity in the workforce, and especially diversity in leadership, is important because excellent companies should reflect and appreciate people from the wide variety of ethnicities, races, religions, and experiences that make our country great. As a Black man in leadership, I always strive for excellence because I am mindful of the path that I am paving for others who will follow or join me in similar positions of leadership,” states Curtis Duncan, Port Houston Controller.

Jennifer Aksoy is our Customer Service Manager for Bayport and Barbours Cut Container Terminals. She supervises a team of Logistics and Customer Service Coordinators making sure trucks are efficiently moving through our gates. She is in a key position to lead and support a team working in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment.

Originally from Portland, Oregon, Jennifer journeyed from California to join our Vessel Services team in 2012. She took on the position of Gate Manager in 2013, and in September 2022 she was promoted to her current position.

“Diverse representation in leadership allows for a wide range of important perspectives. Having a leadership role not only empowers my peers but also empowers other black professionals to be seen, valued, and heard at their organization,” states Jennifer Aksoy, Customer Service Manager of Port Houston Container Terminals.

Kerrick Henny is our Chief Government & Public Relations Officer. He is proud to carry on a family legacy of hard work instilled by his father, who worked two full-time jobs connected to the Houston Ship Channel (at ARMCO Steel and ILA Local 1351) for over 36 years.

A true port native, Kerrick grew up just two miles from the Houston Ship Channel in Galena Park. Before he found his way back to the port, his career would include joining the executive team at AT&T, working as a key player in early policy decisions around “big data,” and meeting five U.S. presidents!

“I’m so glad that the state and many companies are recognizing the importance of a diverse workforce. As a Black man in leadership, I’m very committed to being a servant leader, focused on the growth and well-being of our people and the communities to which we operate in. My focus as a leader is to always keep my team informed and help in their development so they can perform as highly as possible,” states Kerrick Henny, Port Houston Chief Government & Public Relations Officer.

Johnnie Gillyard serves as a Sergeant in our Police Department. She oversees the day shift personnel, which consists of nine officers between three terminals. She has taken on multiple roles for the department, including being a Certified Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D) Instructor, a Centurion Control Stick Instructor, a BolaWrap Instructor, and a member of the departmental TCOLE Training Advisory Board Committee.

Sergeant Gillyard is a native of Houston Texas with three decades of law enforcement experience. She joined Port Houston in November of 1992, and in September of 1994, she became the first Black woman to be promoted to Sergeant within Port Houston PD.

“I'm always working on gaining the trust of the community (tenants, ILA workers, visitors, etc.). Your ability to communicate clearly can help you earn the trust of the community in which you serve as a law enforcement officer. Interpersonal communication skills are important because they allow officers to develop a good rapport with the community, with fellow officers and those from diverse cultures, ” states Johnnie Gillyard, Port Houston Police Sergeant.

Resources

¹ Grant, Ph.D., B., & McGee, M.Ed., V. (2023, February 2). 10 facts about Black History Month: BestColleges. BestColleges.com. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/black-history-month-facts/  

² History.com Editors, (2009, October 27). Black history facts – black history month & little known facts – history. History.com. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-facts 

³ History.com Editors (2010, January 14). Black history Month 2023: Facts, origins & more | history – history. History.com. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month 

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At Port Houston, we know that in order to meet our vision of becoming America’s distribution hub for the next generation, we need to be a resource to help mentor and train the next generation of workers.

For the past decade, Port Houston has led an alliance of industry stakeholders and governmental entities to address the need for a well-trained talent pool of future maritime leaders. As a major source of job creation for the region, Port Houston has a strategic stake in the development of a robust maritime workforce.

Port Houston has invested more than $5 million in maritime education, and we’re continuing to expand our efforts. For the first time ever, Port Houston has developed its very own Mentorship Program where port employees can help youth in the Houston area learn more about careers in the maritime and supply chain industries. We are helping turn students’ wildest dreams into a reality and guiding them during the process.

As part of the Port’s strategic plan, we started our Regional Workforce Development program mentoring and guest speaking at local Houston high schools. This program will provide students an opportunity to work alongside an industry leader to streamline their areas of maritime interest, prepare them for continued education, and develop the necessary soft skills to be successful in their career path. Additionally, students have the opportunity to learn from some of the best and brightest minds at Port Houston to see how a successful maritime terminal operator works.

For the 2022-2023 academic year, Port Houston selected 29 volunteers who are serving as mentors and guest speakers to the next generation of maritime leaders. In Fall 2022, we officially kicked off at Stephen F. Austin High School and Jack Yates High School, with in-person sessions and one-on-mentor/mentee meetings. In Spring 2023, our volunteers will be busy with monthly speaking engagements and training sessions at all our partnering maritime education schools.

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12 weeks, 12 students, One team. Port Houston’s 2022 Interns have successfully completed their summer program. This Internship program offers a unique setting designed to help high school and college students learn the ins and outs of the maritime industry. With the help of many different departments, students see how a successful maritime business operates while driving the region, state, and nation in economic growth.

Student’s Perspective

“I’ve gained extensive exposure to the maritime and global supply chain industries during my internship. I’ve loved seeing first-hand how my work supports the financial planning department as well as how different divisions work synchronously every day to maintain the largest port on the U.S. Gulf Coast,” states Evan Wu, Financial Planning Intern & University of Michigan student.

“My favorite part of the internship is meeting and talking to various professionals at the port. Being able to see the scale of operations within the port has been enjoyable,” states Brendan McMahan, Facility Planning Intern & Texas A&M Galveston student.

Interns feel like they are part of the team when they work at Port Houston; gaining valuable hands-on experience while making connections in the professional field they want to pursue.

Ricardo Ortiz Jr., M/V Sam Houston Intern and Houston Community College student, states “My favorite part of the internship has been learning about the different departments that make up Port Houston. Everyone made me feel part of the team and I enjoyed working at the port conquering new challenges.”

Victoria Caballero, Environment Affairs Intern and Texas A&M Galveston student, states “I’ve made key connections and learned about the vital work the environmental team does at Port Houston. This team always strives for greener solutions making a big difference to the surrounding port communities.”

Unlike most internships, students are exposed to many different departments at the port to expand their awareness about various career paths. Port Houston also encourages students to apply, evaluate, test, and integrate academic learnings into a real work setting.

“While working with the Emergency Management team, I’ve learned to work with local stakeholders to mitigate hazards, participated in disaster exercises, emergency operations center functions, and work with different departments to develop accurate and efficient emergency response plans,” says Michael Brooks, Emergency Management Intern and University of North Texas student.

Tomas Gonzalez, Project & Construction Management Intern and University of Houston-Downtown student, states “My internship at the port was great thanks to the amazing supervisors providing me with the resources for my projects. The Project & Construction Management department has taught me how to be part of the team and the importance of my role.”

Many interns that come to the port also have opportunities to become full-time employees in the future. Interns get to learn the fundamentals about Port Houston and see why employees have a fulfilling experience working at the port.

Caption: 2022 Interns gather for the last day at Port Houston to share their experiences.

How the Program Works

Like most other programs, Port Houston selects a handful of students to participate in its Summer Internship program every year. The student application process takes place from November – March and the internship takes place from May – August.

To be eligible:

1. Students must be enrolled in and have already completed two semesters in an undergraduate or graduate degree program
2. Students must either attend a Houston area college/university or have residence within a commutable distance to Port Houston
3. Students must be in good academic standing
4. Students may not be related to any current Port Houston employee
5. Students must be able to work throughout the established twelve-week program dates

This year there were 12 students from various schools that helped in Financial Planning, Facility Planning, Emergency Management, Marketing, Branding & External Communications, Project & Construction Management, Environmental Affairs, M/V Sam Houston, Maritime Education, Operations, Channel Development, and GIS/Asset Management departments.

When you take the first step with Port Houston, you’ve taken the first step in the right direction in your new career path. More details about Port Houston’s Internship Program can be found here: https://porthouston.com/careers-2/internship-program/.

Special Thanks to our 2022 Interns!

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Port Houston employees have made everything possible this year even as the supply chain continues to see record high demand. Port Houston knows the value of its people and continues to make investments into their futures with training, succession planning, organizational development and more. In this blog, we highlight some of longest tenured employees to see how they have progressed in their careers and why they enjoy working at Port Houston.

YOLANDA “NESSIE” RAMIREZ-FRANCIS – FINANCIAL ACCOUNTANT

Nessie Ramirez-Francis is celebrating her 44th work anniversary at Port Houston in August 2022. She began her career at Port Houston in August 1978 as a Manifest Clerk before moving to and helping start the Accounting department. She has spent most of her tenure in the Accounting department helping with financial analysis, financial planning, accounts payable, special projects and more. In her current role, she is responsible for collecting, tracking, and reporting finances for the Executive Division and Financial Division.

During her time at the port, Nessie has witnessed many changes in business and technology. She has helped with the installment of three different financial softwares and even witnessed the first desktop computers being installed at the port. What keeps her going is the awesome people she works with everyday.  

TOM HEIDT – CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Tom Heidt celebrated 40 years at Port Houston in early 2022. He began his career at Port Houston on January 13, 1982 and it’s safe to say he’s done a little bit of everything. Heidt spent his first 11 years at Port Houston crunching numbers in the Accounting department.

Eventually, Heidt transferred to the Trade Development Division, now known as the Commercial Division, where he spent more than 12 years as Market Research Manager and Market Development Manager followed by four years overseeing the container terminal development in the Operations Division.

After more than 20 years at Port Houston, Heidt’s career led him to the Chief Financial Officer position, which he held for six years. Currently, he serves as the Chief Operating Officer, and the divisions he oversees include Commercial, Port Operations, Infrastructure, Safety, Security, Environmental, IT, and Finance.

“My main purpose over the past 40 years has always been to try and make Port Houston a better place,” Heidt said. “And my number one goal is to try and pass my knowledge on, as I want Port Houston to be even more successful in the next 40 years.”

CAROLYN ASHLEY – DIRECTOR OF EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT & ENGAGEMENT

Carolyn Ashley is coming up on her 41st work anniversary at Port Houston in August 2022. She began her career as a secretary at Port Houston on August 12, 1981 shortly after moving to Houston. Her hard work and devotion to the company speaks for itself as she was promoted to World Trade Center Supervisor in 1986 where she served for five years.

Ashley has worn plenty of hats during her time at Port Houston. Some of her other titles include Real Estate Coordinator, Manager of Office Services, Employee Relations Manager, Training and Development Manager, Senior Manager of Learning and Organizational Development and Talent/Organizational Development Senior Business Partner.

After recognizing her true passion was the development of Port Houston employees in 2014, Ashley moved into the role of Manager of Organizational Training and Development. In November 2019 she was promoted to Director of Employee Development and Engagement where she currently serves.

“I had a one-year plan that worked out to be 40 one-year plans so far,” Ashley said. “Working at Port Houston has been challenging but rewarding. I wouldn’t want to have spent my career anywhere else.”

KENT STILLWELL – PORT POLICE OFFICER

Kent Stillwell celebrated 40 years at Port Houston in March 2022. Officer Stillwell started working at the Port in January of 1982, but his journey in Public Service began in 1979, when he first served as a Texas Commissioned Security Officer after graduating from the University of Houston-Downtown Law Enforcement Academy (Class # 72). When he joined Port Houston, Officer Stillwell earned several awards, including the Port Houston Police Department Life Saving Award, the Safe Driver Award and Officer of the Quarter. He played a key role in moving the department forward in using technology for Police and Dispatch services, when they received new computers to replace older surplus equipment.

Officer Stillwell retired in March 2022 and is enjoying using his time to practice hobbies like photography, astronomy, reading and music.

DOUG MIMS – SENIOR CAPTAIN OF THE M/V SAM HOUSTON

Doug Mims celebrated 35 years at Port Houston in May 2022. His career at Port Houston began in the Fire Department in 1987. He was promoted to Pilot on the M/V Sam Houston tour boat and has been a key leader on this team ever since. As Senior Captain of the Sam Houston crew, Doug leads his team in providing free tours to the public. The past few years have been unique with the boat tour closed during the pandemic, but Doug has continued to support the growth of his crew as they prepare to lead tours without him in the future.

Although Doug is retiring this year, he will be missed at the Sam Houston boat tour pavilion. In retirement, Doug plans to do a lot of surfing, building computers for gaming, watching zombie movies and spending time with family.

PATRICIA RAMSEY – PSEO PROGRAM MANAGER

Patricia Ramsey celebrated 18 years at Port Houston in May 2022. Trish started at Port Houston in 2004 as a secretary in the Planning & Environment Department but moved to PSEO division shortly thereafter. She has served as a “super admin” since joining the PSEO group, taking on increasing levels of responsibility over the years. Patricia has led the ISO 28000 (Supply Chain Security) Program from its inception at Port Houston and is still asked to speak globally on the topic. She is also certified as a PMP (Project Management Professional) and has used this expertise to assist several departments with project management. In 2020, Patricia was redesignated as PSEO Program Manager, overseeing all budgeting, projects, and contracts for the division.

Patricia retired in May 2022 and plans to build a house in Canada, which will serve as her summer home.

OTHER PORT HOUSTON RETIREES IN 2021 & 2022

• Donald W. Miller – 1st Class Electrician – 44 years
• Robert D. Waller – Foreman RTG Wharf Electrical – 43 years
• Kathleen M. Swift – Customer Billing Services Analyst – 41 years
• Randall K. Pugh – Tradesman II – 39 years
• Rudolph J. Lechuga – RTG Wharf Mechanic – 34 years
• Maria A. Lewis-Miller – Inventory Specialist – 32 years
• Douglas E. Johnson – 1st Class RTG Wharf Mechanic – 31 years
• Edward W. Fouts – RTG Wharf Mechanic – 29 years
• Charles B. McCary – Police Sergeant – 28 years
• Carol A. Neidert – Logistics Lead Yard Planner – 26 years
• Eric P. LeBeaux – Tradesman IV – 26 years
• Jeffrey B. Best – Tradesman IV – 26 years 
• Diana K. Robbins – Gate Operations Supervisor – 25 years
• Jerry L. Matheson – 1st Class RTG Wharf Mechanic – 25 years
• Kevin T. Keena – Equipment Shop Mechanic – 25 years
• Milton P. Mifflin – RTG Wharf Mechanic – 25 years
• Ricky C. Murray – Foreman RTG Wharf Electrical – 25 years

Although these are just some of the many port employee stories, the Port Houston team is grateful for all current and retired employees who have served diligently and evolved in their career with us. To learn more about careers at Port Houston, visit www.porthouston/careers-2/.

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