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August 12, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Port of Beaumont Executive Director Chris Fisher today announced a reorganization of the port’s management staff, effective September 1.

Bill Carpenter, the port’s director of operations, will become deputy port director; and will be directly responsible to the executive director for port operations, capital improvement and construction projects, maintenance, security and general administration. Ernest Bezdek, currently the port’s manager of trade development, will become director of trade development and will be responsible for the port’s strategic marketing approach. John Roby, transportation manager, is being named director of logistics and public affairs. Roby will be responsible for transportation and logistics issues to support the port’s overall marketing effort and will also serve as the port’s public and legislative affairs officer. Also, the current dock superintendent, Kirby Dartez, is being named director of operations and will direct day-to-day port operations and customer service issues. Lavelle Lemonier, human resources manager, will become manager of finance and human resources, and will assume responsibility for port finance functions in addition to human resources functions.

Fisher said the changes are being made to streamline the port’s management staff and to improve efficiencies in operations, administration, and customer service.

The executive director said he was particularly pleased that all of these positions were filled from within the port’s existing staff.

"It is a real tribute to our organization that we already had an experienced and dedicated group of people on staff to take over these key positions," Fisher said.

 

Carpenter, 50, joined the port in 1978 as office manager in the operations department. He became dock superintendent in 1980, operations manager in 1985, and director of port operations in 1993. A native of Beaumont, Carpenter graduated from Lamar University with a BBA degree in general business in 1974. He worked for American National Bank while attending college, and was employed by a local steamship agency prior to joining the port. He and his wife, Janice, have three children, aged 19, 16 and 10.

 

Bezdek, 46, began his career in the shipping industry in 1976. He served as vice president of national sales for Delmas Line, Nordana Line and E.S. Binnings Inc., in Houston before joining the port in 1999 as manager of trade development. A native Texan, Bezdek studied business administration and marketing at McLennan Community College, Baylor University and the University of Houston. He and his wife, Renee, have two daughters.

 

Roby, 48, worked in the media and advertising in southeast Texas before joining the port in 1979 as public information representative. In 1982, Roby was named manager of sales and public affairs; in 1987, he was promoted to manager of sales and traffic; and he has served since 1989 as transportation manager. He is serving his second term as a member of the five-person Port Authority Advisory Committee of the Texas Department of Transportation, and is a candidate for certification by the American Association of Port Authorities Professional Port Manager program. Roby and his wife, Lynn, have three sons.

 

Dartez, 48, began his shipping career in Lake Charles, LA, with a steamship line in 1977. He joined the port as assistant operations manager in 1985 after working as a traffic manager, operations manager and terminal superintendent for steamship lines and a stevedoring company. In 1987, Dartez was named dock superintendent. He attended McNeese State University and Lamar University, and is a candidate for certification in the American Association of Port Authorities Professional Port Manager program. Dartez is married to Sandra and is the father of three children.

 

Lemonier, 32, joined the port in 2000 as assistant dock superintendent. He was appointed human resources manager in 2001. A native of Port Arthur, Lemonier graduated from Lamar University with a BBA degree in economics. He is a candidate for certification in the American Association of Port Authorities Professional Port Manager program. Lemonier and his wife, Angela, have two children.

For more information, contact Port of Beaumont, 409/835-5367

For more information, contact:
Chris Fisher, Port of Beaumont, 409/835-5367