HOUSTON, Sept. 26, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- By a unanimous vote, Pasadena City Councilmembers re-appointed Steve Phelps to the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority (PHA) for another two years. Initially appointed to the PHA commission in September 1997, Phelps is currently serving as Chairman of the Port of Houston Authority Pension Committee. PHA commissioners serve two-year terms without pay.
"We welcome Commissioner Phelps return," says PHA Chairman Jim Edmonds. "His long history of civic involvement and his zeal for service to the Pasadena community as well as the Port are valued attributes."
"It is an extreme honor to continue to represent the city of Pasadena as a Port Commissioner," Phelps says. "These are exciting times for both the Port Authority and the city, with the opening of Bayport. I believe we have developed a great working relationship between the two entities and I want to continue to help that relationship grow."
Pasadena Mayor John Manlove echoes Phelps' sentiments about the collaborative efforts of the port authority and his city. He credits the commissioner for being a primary link strengthening that chain.
"It has been a great relationship," Manlove says. "He is a great representative for Pasadena on the Port Commission. The relationship has been beneficial for both the Port and the city of Pasadena. With him as the conduit for the city of Pasadena, I think we'll see a considerable amount of working together with the port, in the future, particularly on transportation issues."
Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Sylvia Garcia says of Phelps' reappointment, "Steve Phelps has proven to be an outstanding voice for the people of Harris County in his representation on the PHA board. His knowledge of business and local history make him an ideal board member to help steer the Port as the facility plans for continued growth and prosperity."
Commissioner Phelps has an extensive professional background in both the public and private sectors. Phelps' experience in public policy issues includes more than 20 years as a public official.
Prior to his appointment to the PHA Commission, he held elective office as a Harris County justice of the peace for nearly 13 years. His career in public service began as an administrative aide to long-time Harris County Commissioner Jim Fonteno.
Phelps is an attorney and real estate broker, active in his family's real estate development and insurance business. He is also president of Priority Development Corporation, which builds and leases office warehouses.
He earned a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.
Phelps and his wife, Jana, have three children, Becky, Johnny and Bethany.
The Port of Houston Authority
The Port of Houston Authority owns and operates the public facilities located along the Port of Houston, the 25-mile long complex of diversified public and private facilities designed for handling general cargo, containers, grain and other dry bulk materials, project and heavy lift cargo, and other types of cargo. Each year, more than 7,200 vessels call at the port, which ranks first in the U.S. in foreign waterborne tonnage, second in overall total tonnage, and tenth largest in the world. The Port Authority plays a vital role in ensuring navigational safety along the Houston Ship Channel, which has been instrumental in Houston's development as a center of international trade. The Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Central Maintenance Facility are the first of any U.S. port facilities to develop and implement an innovative Environmental Management System that meets the rigorous standards of ISO 14001. Additionally, the port is an approved delivery point for Coffee "C" futures contracts traded on the New York Board of Trade's Coffee, Sugar & Cocoa Exchange. For more information, please visit www.portofhouston.com
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