BALTIMORE --- Governor Martin O'Malley today announced five new appointments to the Maryland Port Commission: William Dockser, Donald Fry, Alvin Nichols, Ted Venetoulis, and Charles White, Jr. Each of the new commissioners, who join current member Brenda Dandy, is appointed to serve a three-year term. The Maryland Port Commission establishes policies directed toward improving the competitive position of the Port of Baltimore within the international maritime industry.
"These individuals bring a wealth of government, business, and transportation experience to the Maryland Port Commission," said Governor O'Malley. "Their backgrounds will be beneficial on many challenging issues facing this port, including new business opportunities, dredging, port land acquisition, and environmental compliance."
Since 1974, William Dockser has been chairman of the board and founder of CRI, Inc., one of the largest private owners of multi-family and commercial properties in the nation. From 1989 to 2003, Mr. Dockser founded and chaired the board of CRIIMI MAE, a full-service commercial management company. Mr. Dockser is a past deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He holds a Bachelor of Law degree from Yale University and a Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from Harvard University. He recently was named chairman emeritus of the National Jewish Democratic Council and elected chairman of the Solomon Project, a non-profit dedicated to furthering the political and civic education of the American Jewish Community.
Donald Fry is president and CEO of the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC), an organization of business and civic leaders dedicated to strengthening the Baltimore region's business climate. Mr. Fry has made advocacy for viable regional transportation a top GBC priority. The GBC has been very involved in both the Red and Green Line projects, two key transit initiatives for the Baltimore area. Under Mr. Fry's leadership, the GBC has also emerged as a leading organization supporting Baltimore's bioscience industry. From 1980 through 1999, Mr. Fry was engaged in private law practice in Harford County. He also served as a member of the Maryland Senate and the House of Delegates. Mr. Fry serves on a number of local boards, including St. Joseph's Medical Center and Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake. Mr. Fry is a graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law and has a Bachelor of Science degree from Frostburg University.
Alvin Nichols is chief of staff for the Community Investments Group of Fannie Mae's Housing and Community Development Division. Community Investments provides equity for for-rent and for-sale housing. Mr. Nichols joined Fannie Mae in 1994 as director of the Washington DC Partnership Office. Prior to joining Fannie Mae, Mr. Nichols served as deputy chief administrative officer for business development in Prince George's County. Mr. Nichols holds a Master's Degree from American University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Case Western Reserve University. Mr. Nichols is active in many community organizations and has served on the boards of Victory Housing, the Levine School of Music, and the Higher Achievement Program.
Ted Venetoulis is chairman and CEO of Corridor Media Inc., a regional business and political news magazine serving the Baltimore and Washington region. He is also chairman and CEO of H&V Communications, a global company providing custom marketing and publishing for economic development, transportation, tourism and convention organizations. Mr. Venetoulis served as Baltimore County Executive from 1974 through 1978. He has master's degrees from Johns Hopkins University and American University. Mr. Venetoulis is the author of two books and is a visiting professor at local universities. He is a board member on the Baltimore-Washington Business Partnership.
Charles White, Jr. has more than 30 years of experience in transportation policy at the national level. He currently practices law in Washington DC and is also a visiting professor of logistics and intermodal transportation at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. He is presently working on transportation security issues and their impact on supply chain efficiencies. Mr. White has served as chief of litigation at the former Interstate Commerce Commission where he was responsible for the court defense of the agency's deregulation of the trucking industry. He also served as senior railroad industry policy advisor in the Clinton administration and worked with the President's National Economics Council on matters of national transportation importance. Mr. White is a graduate of Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business, as well as Boston College and Yale law schools. He has recently written two books on transportation and trade in South Asia.
The Maryland Port Administration (MPA) announced recently that business at the Port of Baltimore set new records in 2006. The amount of general cargo topped nine million tons for the first time. Total foreign cargo was valued at an all-time high of $36.7 billion. Total foreign cargo handled exceeded 30 million tons for the third straight year. The Port of Baltimore is ranked number one in the nation for roll on/roll off cargo (farm and construction equipment), number one for forest products, and number two for automobile exports.
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