SD5 - The Port of Virginia - Organizational Restructuring and Reform Report


Executive Summary:
The Virginia Port Authority (VPA) was established by the General Assembly in 1952 by § 62.1-128 of the Code of Virginia. In 1970, the VPA was charged with affecting the consolidation of the marine terminals owned and operated by the cities of Newport News, Norfolk, and Portsmouth to create a unified Port of Virginia complex owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 1982, Virginia International Terminals (VIT), Inc. was created as a non-stock, non-profit operating company to operate the marine terminals. In 2013, VIT was converted to a Limited Liability Corporation and its administrative functions (Finance, Human Resources, and Operations) were merged with the Virginia Port Authority.

Today, VPA and VIT operate collectively in the marketplace with the trade name and service mark, "The Port of Virginia". This report outlines the reforms and restructuring actions taken by the Virginia Port Authority and its Board of Commissioners beginning April 1, 2013 through January 6, 2014.

As provided in § 62.1-132.3 of the Code of Virginia, "it shall be the duty of the Authority, on behalf of the Commonwealth, to foster and stimulate the commerce of the ports of the Commonwealth and related facilities by serving as the United States Eastern Seaboard gateway for the global import and export of freight throughout the world..." The VPA is governed by the Board of Commissioners consisting of the State Treasurer, the Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, and 11 members appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, who shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Board of Commissioners appoints the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, known also as the Executive Director, who serves at the pleasure of the Board. On May 25, 2013, the Board of Commissioners approved consolidation and restructuring of executive and administrative functions at the VPA to remove redundancies between VPA and VIT.

To provide direction and ensure effectiveness of the restructuring process, the Virginia Port Authority Board of Commissioners approved a Vision Forward Plan that was presented by Chairman Jeffrey D. Wassmer, on September 24, 2013, and subsequently presented to the entire VPA and VIT staff. The new structure realigns, consolidates, and removes redundancies within the Operations, Finance, and Commercial Divisions of the Virginia Port Authority and Virginia International Terminals, Inc. The Plan sets a broad vision that allows the VPA/VIT management team to execute, holds them accountable to the citizens of the Commonwealth (the Port's "shareholders"), and provides oversight by the Board committees. Vision Forward Plan imparts three primary goals, "Excellence in Operations", "Fiscal Responsibility", and "Growth."

The Port of Virginia's restructuring reform and reorganization is proceeding according to its planned timeline with substantial restructure and re-organization of leadership completed within the first six months of FY2014. John F. Reinhart will join The Port of Virginia as Executive Director and CEO effective February 10, 2014.