GPA Elects New Chairman

The board of directors of the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) elected James A. Walters on June 23 to serve as chairman.

Appointed to the GPA board by Gov. Nathan Deal in 2012 Walters previously served as vice chairman. The new vice chairman will be James L. “Jimmy” Allgood while A.J. “Joe” Hopkins III will serve as secretary/ treasurer.

Walters said “The role of our deepwater ports – supporting trade while helping to lure new investment – will only be strengthened as the Savannah Harbor is expanded to better accommodate today’s larger vessels” he said. “These more efficient ships will bring down the cost of exporting American-made goods and bolster Savannah’s power to deliver jobs and development across the Southeast.”

Former chairman Robert Jepson said the primary focus during his two years as chairman was seeing the Savannah Harbor Expansion project through final authorization and Walters should lead the project through construction and completion.