November 2024 Commerce Club Luncheon

Join us at the Commerce Club luncheon on Thursday, November 14, 2024, guest speaker Phyllis Saathoff, Executive Director/CEO, Port Freeport. 

Phyllis began her maritime career at Port Freeport in 1992 serving as Managing Director and Interim Executive Port Director/CEO before joining the Port of Houston Authority executive team in October 2012. Phyllis returned to Port Freeport in April 2016 as the Chief Executive Officer.

Under her leadership, Port Freeport successfully secured federal funding and a 2020 “new start” designation from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for commencement of construction to deepen the Freeport Harbor Channel to 56 feet and commenced dredging of the first reach in 2021.  Phyllis was also instrumental in initiating the development and financing of the Port’s container terminal and bringing new business and investment to the Port.

Phyllis currently serves on the executive committee for the National Waterways Conference and is a member and past chair of the Port Authority Advisory Committee to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and is the Immediate Past President of Texas Ports Association.  Locally, is a member of the Brazoria County Petrochemical Council.  Phyllis was presented the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award by the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL), received the 2019 Stephen F. Austin Leadership Award from the Brazoria County Historical Museum and was presented the 2023 Russell H. Perry Award by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

Port Freeport is a leading port in the export of crude oil and natural gas liquids and ranks nationally as 6th in chemicals, 17th in total foreign waterborne tonnage, and 26th in containers.  A 2022 Economic Impact Study by Texas A&M Transportation Institute revealed that, nationally, the Freeport Harbor Channel generates 266,300 jobs and has a total economic output of $157.3 billion.  Port Freeport serves Alliera, Atlantic Container Lines, AMPORTS, BASF, Chiquita Fresh N.A., Dole Fresh Fruit, The Dow Chemical Company, Enterprise Products Partners, ExxonMobil, Freeport LNG, Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Glovis, Grimaldi Lines, Hoegh Autoliners, Kirby Marine, Liberty Global Logistics, Linde, MEGlobal, NYK RORO, Phillips 66, Riviana Foods, Inc., Sallaum Lines, Tenaris, U.S Department of Energy, Volkswagen Group of America, and Vulcan Materials Company.

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