Houston City and County Leaders Appoint Chairs to Port Commission and Pilot Board

Harris County Commissioners Court and the Houston City Council met in a joint session Monday and unanimously reappointed Houston businessman Ric Campo as Chairman of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority of Harris County, Texas.

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Unanimously reappointed as Chairman of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority of Harris County, Texas, Ric Campo provides remarks to the Harris County Commissioners Court and the Houston City Council meeting in a joint session Monday held at Port Houston. The two governing bodies also unanimously appointed Ms. Frances Castañeda Dyess as Chair of the Board of Pilot Commissioners for Harris County Ports. Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo presided over the meeting. (Photo: Business Wire)

During the meeting, the two governing bodies also unanimously appointed Ms. Frances Castañeda Dyess as Chair of the Board of Pilot Commissioners for Harris County Ports.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo presided over the joint session. Both leaders, along with members of the Houston City Council and Harris County Commissioners, praised both Campo and Dyess for their leadership and dedication to the community.

“I have confidence in Ric Campos’ leadership to continue to move the Port forward and represent all our communities. As chairman, he will foster collaboration between the city and the county. He understands the importance of collaboration, economic development, and having everyone at the table, especially the communities bordering the Port,” said Mayor Whitmire. “I also want to congratulate Frances Castañeda Dyess. She possesses the right combination of leadership, experience, and dedication as a public servant. I know she will do a great job on the Pilots Commission.

“The Port of Houston just closed out one of its most successful years to date, and that’s a huge testament to the hard work of everyone on the Port Commission and the Pilot Commissions, but especially Ric Campo and Frances Castañeda Dyess. Ric has overseen some of the Port’s greatest success during his time as Chairman, and Frances has been instrumental in getting the Pilots Commission board up and running ever since it was first created. I’m grateful for our partnership with the City of Houston and my colleagues to make this possible. Congratulations to both Ric and Frances. I look forward to continuing to work with them during their term,” said Judge Hidalgo.

During the meeting, many leaders continued to praise Mr. Campo and Ms. Dyess, and Mr. Campo’s spirit of collaboration, care for the community, and outstanding operational and business achievements leading Port Houston were highlighted.

In expressing his appreciation for the unanimous vote of confidence, Mr. Campo said, “Our team is the best in the country because everyone is at the table and has a role in our growth and progress. The momentum of Port Houston’s ongoing success has been the result of collaboration with so many, and we appreciate all the work that has been done for our region.”

“When I think about our job at Port Houston and the job of all of us on the Port Commission, it’s to ensure our port keeps thriving and growing, helping secure jobs for the future,” he said. “It’s about adding jobs, creating value and opportunities for people, and lifting up communities.”

As he concluded his remarks, Mr. Campo also said, “We are committed to continuing to work in solid partnership with industry, the Coast Guard, the Pilots, our ILA labor, and so many others to ensure that Houston’s port remains resilient, responsible, and ready for the future. It’s been a remarkable journey, and we are excited for the future and what’s to come.”

Among the many notable achievements during his tenure has been his leadership of the Houston Ship Channel Expansion – Project 11, which will add capacity for the larger vessels crucial to continued cargo volume growth and, equally important, improve navigational safety along our channel.

A native Houstonian, Ms. Dyess is the first woman and the first woman of color to serve as Pilot Board Chair. She is also President of the East End Chamber of Commerce.

“I am deeply honored to serve as the second-ever Houston Pilot Board Chair and first woman of color in this role, she said, expressing her appreciation. “Together, with my fellow Pilot Commissioners, the Houston Pilots Association, Port Houston, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston, and industry leaders, we will continue building a strong foundation for progress, opportunity, and inclusion in the maritime industry, and I wholeheartedly embrace the responsibility to continue to work hard to maintain the safest and most efficient Houston Ship Channel possible.”

Port Houston is an advocate of the Houston Ship Channel, which continues to be the nation's number one waterway in terms of cargo volume and ship calls. In fact, the Houston Ship Channel handles 67 million tons more cargo than the number two port in the country - a gap of more cargo volume than 94% of all U.S. ports.

Mr. Campo was first appointed to the position in 2019. He is also Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Camden Property Trust and has served in that capacity since May 1993.

About Port Houston

For more than 100 years, Port Houston has owned and operated the public wharves and terminals along the Houston Ship Channel – the nation’s largest port for waterborne tonnage and an essential economic engine for the Houston region, the state of Texas, and the U.S. nation. The more than 200 private and eight public terminals along the federal waterway supports the creation of nearly 1.35 million jobs in Texas and 3.2 million jobs nationwide, and economic activity totaling $339 billion in Texas – 20.6% of Texas’ total gross domestic product (GDP) – and a total of $801.9 billion in economic impact across the nation. For more information, visit the website at https://porthouston.com/

Lisa Ashley-Daniels, Director, Public Relations, Port Houston Office: 713-670-2644; Mobile: 832-247-8179 E-mail: lashley@porthouston.com