Port Houston Blog

For many years, small, minority-owned, and woman-owned businesses (S/MWBEs) around the U.S. have helped us grow as a nation. Just look at some of your favorite stores like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Walmart. All four of these large corporations started as small businesses and worked their way to the top. Today small businesses face unique challenges, but continue to play a vital role in building our nation’s economy. The Port Houston Business Equity team knows this, and their program is designed to help S/MWBEs thrive in this country. Port Houston is honored to recognize and work with more than 1,400 S/MWBEs across the Greater Houston region.

Port Houston truly cares about the community surrounding the Houston Ship Channel. We believe in contributing to the quality of life in our local area and our outreach strategies help us manage the balance between our business efforts and our role as a neighbor to these communities. Part of our long-term strategic goals involves developing and strengthening partnerships that bring a positive impact to our region. Recently the community relations team had the privilege of establishing the Little Library initiative in Galena Park and join the Houston Yacht Club Boat Parade.

Unprecedented demand for cargo has impacted the entire supply chain causing record amounts of cargo. Port Houston is moving historic cargo volumes, but it is not without growing pains. That is why Port Houston is investing a total of $1.1 billion in capital enhancements over the next eight years to better serve our customers.

Did You Know? A twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU), a container, a box - no matter what you call it, it is the most efficient way to move cargo overseas. As Marc Levinson notes in his book The Box, it has “made the world smaller and the world economy bigger,” allowing cargo to flow freely and economies to become international players. The standard TEU is 20 feet long by eight feet high, made of heavy duty, weather and corrosion-resistant steel running vertically, with two doors on its side. When empty, it can weigh 2.24 metric tons and loaded up to 26 metric tons.

“In recent years, we have seen record growth at Port Houston and throughout the Houston Ship Channel complex. The maritime workforce remains essential to the ongoing success and stability of our region. Port Houston is committed to supporting the development of a robust maritime workforce, and our Maritime Education Program exists for this purpose,” states Roger Guenther, Executive Director of Port Houston.

More than half of the region’s maritime workers are age 50 or older and quickly approaching retirement. There is a growing need for talent in all areas of maritime and industry-related occupations, including transportation, logistics and supply chain management, environmental, security, emergency management and various positions with ocean-going carriers.

The global supply chain is in a time of evolution. With ships getting larger and cargo increasing, the constant focus on growth is undeniable. More equipment and upgrades to infrastructure will be necessary, but so is a properly trained workforce. Who will be the next generation of maritime workers supplying that manpower to sustain the supply chain? Whether truckers, equipment operators, logistics specialists, longshoremen or crane technicians, these are all key roles that keep operations running efficiently; and the industry needs more of them. A lot more.

Maersk’s rainbow container made its way around the world to Port Houston’s Barbours Cut Container Terminal. This colorful container has served as a symbol of equity, inclusion and diversity where all employees, partners, and customers feel welcomed and can be themselves without judgment or fear.

For 20 years Diana Candelaria Reyes, Owner of Candelaria Reyes Consulting LLC (CRC), has worked hard to transform her dream into a thriving business. She brings her passion for developing people and helping organizations to her business every day.