SC Ports Authority CEO Jim Newsome reflects on 13-year run ahead of June retirement

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) – From 2009 to 2022, the South Carolina Ports Authority went from a struggling port to one of many main ports in the USA. Popping out of the recession, state leaders tasked Jim Newsome — a long-time delivery trade govt — with reinvigorating the state’s ports.

The final 13 years of Newsome’s 45-year profession have been spent increase proficiency at South Carolina’s ports.

He discovered a love for delivery at an early age, working together with his dad on the Port of Savannah. Newsome says his profession was extra like an journey than a 9 to 5.

“We labored each Saturday, and I went with him from, Gosh, the age of 5 – 6 till, , I used to be a teen after I didn’t need to do it anymore,” says Newsome.

A love for delivery took Newsome to Knoxville to review on the College of Tennessee. Then he labored in Houston, New York Metropolis, and Atlanta earlier than lastly touchdown in Charleston in 2009.

On the time, South Carolina’s Ports had been experiencing a downturn, struggling to maintain prospects. Newsome signed up for the turnaround.

“You solely develop in life when duty is thrust into your lap,” says Newsome. “You understand possibly generally we’re not even prepared for it so I consider I used to be properly ready.”

The U.S. economic system was recovering from the recession. The Port, which was experiencing dropping numbers, wasn’t constructed for an increasing trade and with ships set to triple in measurement within the coming years, Newsome knew they needed to get forward of the development.

“We needed to make up our minds that we had been going to spend the money we needed to construct infrastructure and do it moderately shortly as a result of we had been behind,” says Newsome.

The Ports Authority has poured 5 hundred million into the Wando Terminal, 2 billion {dollars} into constructing Hugh Leatherman Terminal, and constructed inland ports all since 2009. In 2016, officers secured the Harbor Deepening challenge, all had been steps seen as wanted to welcome a few of the world’s largest ships.

“It kind of bought us pointed again in the fitting path and proved that we may deal with the large ships,” says Newsome.

The expansion and success introduced leaders collectively and promoted trade development across the Lowcountry. It was a problem that by no means intimidated Newsome, he says excessive expectations are one thing he’s constructed an award-winning profession on.

“So it’s been a, I’d say a fast 13 years however time clearly flies and we’ve had rather a lot to do however I’m happy with what we’ve completed thus far and I feel that the port is in a superb place going ahead,” says Newsome.

Newsome is able to discover his subsequent journey, leaving the ports after what might be 15 straight months of report development. Newsome will flip the keys over to Barbara Melvin, somebody he’s labored with intently over the past ten years.

And whereas Newsome believes Melvin will hold containers and ships transferring at a report tempo, he says she’ll have her personal obstacles proper out of the gate.

“The port is properly positioned however the challenges stay,” says Newsome. “I imply you’re by no means assured of your success in enterprise and also you all the time must be on guard. We’d like land for distribution facilities, however the trucking problem remains to be a problem. We have now to proceed to develop our workforce.”

From a as soon as struggling port to an trade chief nationwide, Newsome presents robust recommendation and a depth of information. Combined in are jokes and a mushy smile for Newsome who remains to be remembering his days on the ports as a child.

“I’m glad I took the job,” says Newsome. “I feel it’s been, I’ve the great fortune of claiming that I’ve actually by no means had a boring day in my profession. All the time had challenges so what extra are you able to ask for? I don’t reside in a world of regrets.”

Newsome will formally retire on the finish of June. As for what’s subsequent, he says he’s flown greater than 5 million miles for work this 12 months, he has no plans to hit six million. As an alternative, he’ll spend extra time together with his two kids and their households who not too long ago moved inside driving distance of Newsome and his spouse.