WASHINGTON: The Port of Galveston is promoting Deputy Port Director Peter Simons to interim port director effective Jan. 1, the Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves decided earlier this week. Simons is replacing Michael Mierzwa who retires at the end of this year. I’m excited,” Simons said Thursday. “It’s a great time for the port.” One of his initiatives will be reorganizing port staff to better executive the Wharves Board of Trustees’ goals and objectives.
These include growing and diversifying the port’s cargo base, using soil to fill in an unused ship slip to store cargo, and planning on at strategic and tactical level. He also seeks to build upon the port’s growing cruise business and its other business opportunities, such as the new vehicle distribution center. Simons will be evaluated on a month-by-month basis as the board determines how it will proceed with naming a permanent port director. Simons’ annual contract is $200,000 as long as he remains in the interim position.
