PDF of a press release, a corporate magazine article, a corporate newsletter and a newspaper op-ed by F. Renee Griffin.

1. Port of Houston Authority I Public Affairs I Newsroom Page 1 of2
l HL PO RT Of- IWUSlO N AUT II ORIT Y liD USTON. T!:XAS
GenerallnformatiDn I Business DevelDpment I Public Relations I Maritime Operations
Cruise Information I Sam .Iouston Boat Tour I Employment I Related Unks
NEWSROOM
IIA Sea of Opportunity"
Celebration Marks Official Debut of Houston's Only Maritime Transportation
Management and Security Degree Program
HOUSTON, Sept. 29, 2010 -- Texas Southern University, in partnership with the Port of Houston Authority,
has officially instituted its new degree program in Maritime Transportation Management and Security. Nearly
200 guests, including elected officials and leaders in the private and public maritime industry, convened to
learn about and celebrate the new program during a luncheon themed "A Sea of Opportunity" on Monday,
September 27, at TSU's new Science Building.
This is the first university degree program related to Maritime Transportation and Security in the Houston
area and the first such at any Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the nation . Accredited by
the state coordinating board, the TSU maritime degree program curriculum addresses three nationally
recognized priorities -logistics, security and environment. The first 33 students enrolled in the program this
fall semester.
Port of Houston Authority Commissioner Kase Lawai, a TSU alumnus and recently appointed member of the
White House Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, was the keynote speaker at Monday's
event. "The Port of Houston Authority and Texas Southern University share a strong interest in nurturing
educational opportunities in the maritime field, which offers a broad array of careers," said LawaI. "This is
just one more example of TSU's willingness to lead with innovative ideas and programs."
In his remarks, Texas Southern University President Dr. John Rudley stated, "This partnership with the Port
of Houston and the members of the maritime industry is tremendous . We couldn't have done this by
ourselves. This program will provide numerous opportunities and jobs for our students in the future."
The premier luncheon sponsor, the U.S. Coast Guard, was represented by Sector Houston-Galveston's
Commanding Officer Captain Marcus Woodring. "The U.S. Coast Guard is extremely proud to be a partner
with Texas Southern University in their new Maritime Transportation, Management and Security degree
program," Woodring said. "1 cannot think of a university better positioned to offer such a degree. The natural
linkage to the Port of Houston's rich maritime heritage and the budding maritime academies at local high
schools offer a talented pool of applicants and unparalleled opportunities for post-graduation careers."
Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Sylvia Garcia remarked, "This partnership with the port and TSU is
about jobs. And in these challenging times, we are serving notice to everyone who will listen. We are not
sitting still. We are planning for new growth, new jobs and a bright future."
According to Port Commission Chairman James T. Edmonds, the Maritime Transportation Management and
Security degree program at Texas Southern University "represents a wise investment that is already
providing a return of tremendous benefits for Houston's port and maritime industry and paves the way for
future generations to continue relying on the port as an economic engine of prosperity."
The Port of Houston Authority is also collaborating with Houston ISO and several maritime industry partners
on the Port of Houston Maritime Academy. The initiative debuted in fall 2009 at Stephen F. Austin and Jack
Yates high schools, and about 250 students have completed the first year of the program. The program
continues to help students learn about the many opportunities in the maritime industry and the educational
paths toward a range of fulfilling, well-paying careers, such as:
• freight logistics specialist
• shipping manager
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2. Port of Houston Authority I Public Affairs I Newsroom Page 2 of2
• port manager/operator
• port security officer
• maritime policy maker
• maritime transportation planner
• environmental compliance coordinator
• emergency response speCialist
The need for a specialized and sophisticated workforce is critical throughout the global maritime industry
and at the Port of Houston in particular. According to recent studies, Houston's port generates more than
785,000 jobs and nearly $118 billion in economic activity in the region annually. More than 7,700 vessel and
150,000 barge calls occur at the port every year. Overall, the port is a large and vibrant component of the
regional and national economy.
The Port of Houston Authority owns and operates the public facilities located along the Port of Houston, the
25-mile-long complex of diversified public and private facilities designed for handling general cargo,
containers, grain and other dry bulk materials, project and heavy lift cargo, and other types of cargo. Each
year, there are more than 7,700 vessel calls at the port, which ranks first in the U. S. in foreign waterborne
tonnage and second in overall total tonnage. The port authority plays a vital role in ensuring navigational
safety along the Houston Ship Channel, which has been instrumental in Houston's development as a center
of international trade. The Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Central Maintenance Facility are the first of
any U.S. port facilities to develop and implement an innovative Environmental Management System that
meets the rigorous standards of ISO 14001. The second recertification of those facilities in 2009 included an
extension for the state-of-the-art Bayport Container Terminal. The port authority is the first port authority in
the world to receive ISO 28000:2007 certification for its port police and the perimeter security operations at
both the Barbours Cut and Bayport Terminals. Additionally, the port is an approved delivery point for Coffee
"C" futures contracts traded on the New York Board of Trade's Coffee, Sugar & Cocoa Exchange. For more
information, please visit www.portofhouston.com
To access the port's Web site photo gallery, please visit
http://www.portofhouston.com/pubJicrelations/publicrelations.htmland click the link for Port Authority Photo
Gallery
The Port of Houston Authority logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroorn!prsl?pkgid=720
CONTACT: Port of Houston Authority
Lisa Ashley-Whitlock, Director, Corporate Communications
(713) 670-2644
Cell: (832) 247-8179
lwhitlock@poha.com
Felicia Griffin, Manager, Corporate Communications
(713) 670-2893
Cell: (713) 294 7185
fgriffin@poha.com
Back
Port of Houston Authority
111 East Loop North· Houston, Texas 77029
P.O. Box 2562 • Houston. Texas 77252·2562
Phone: 713-670-2400
Copyright 2009 Port of Houston Authority· All Rights Reserved
For questions and comments, send an e-mail.
Please include company name and phone number, when appropriate,
so we may better respond to your inquiry.
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3. The Houston Fie ld Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) oversees the entrance
and exit of all international passengers, carriers and cargo within Houston, Dallas, San Antonio,
Austin, Lubbock, Port Arthur, Corpus Christi, Amarillo Freeport, Midland, Oklahoma City and Tulsa,
Oklahoma In 2009, CBP processed more than 359,000 cargo containers CBP's guidance to the Port
of Houston involves pol iCY Implementation and qua lity management
" It was important for me to reach o ut to a ll of them and
make sure o ur security and risk manageme nt philosophies
were in line," he says. "We meet regularly and we under­
stand th at we are in the 'can't fail' business. One failure
can have catastrophic consequences for a ll. "
Baldwin says Houston port security must be an ini ­
ti ative of inclusiveness among local, state, federal and
internatio na l partners .
"We have to understand that we have a shared risk and
The mo tto "Semper Fi," or "Always Faithful," seems to we have a shared acco untability for managing that risk,"
underscore the passion that Jeffrey O. Baldwin, Sr. embod, he says. "Eac h agency has its own unique o rganizational
ies as Ho uston's top executive le ade r in U.S. Customs and miss io n . But we each ho ld pieces of the puzz le that we
Border Protectio n , or CBP. have to put o n the table and see where they all fit."
"It's a bout having the opportunit y to make a difference Co llabo ration is so important to Baldwin that he is
every day in the pro tec tio n of this nation," says Baldwin, prov iding a ve nue fo r law enforcement pa rtners to inte ­
who's a lso a distin guished Marine Corps ve teran . gra te the ir maritime security efforts. The Houston A rea
Indeed, CBP is o ne of th e larges t and most complex Maritime Opera tions Center focuses on mitigCl ting a ll
components of the U.S. Depa rtm ent of Homeland maritime threa ts by capitalizing on the intelligence,
Security, with a priority miss ion o f keeping terrorists operationa l and response capabilities of local, state and
and their weapons out of the U.S . The crucial roles CBP feder a l law enforcement agencies.
plays in facilitating trade to and from the Port of Houston Baldwin has more than 31 years of federal government
involve securing cargo from ac ts of terrorism, assuring service . He has served as field operations director for
that goods arriving at Houston's docks are legitimate and CBP's Tampa fie ld office, area port director o f S',vannah,
monitoring that appropr ia te duties and fees are paid. Georgia, port director of the Miami Seaport and port
When Baldwin was appointed CBP's director of director for Miami Intern atio nal Airport. He has a lso rep­
Houston field ope rations in 2006, he immediately resented the U .S. on custo ms,related matters in Europe,
recognized the unique cha llenges in protecting this Centra l America, South America and Afr ica.
geographica lly dispersed port and the mass ive vo lumes of Baldwin was recognized by the U ,S . Secretary of the
ca rgo - particula rl y petrochemica ls- that are transpo rted Department o f Ho meland Securit y for his emergency
th rough its di verse complex of public and priva te facilities. respo n.~ e ro le during Hurricane Ike. He's also received
He has been turning those cha llenges into opportunities a commendation fro m th e CBP Commissioner for hi~
as he continuously str ives to facilitate and strengthen innov ativeness in esta blishing Houston as a model pll[r
partnerships between CBP and various law enforcement - proving that this former Marine continues to serve
and regulatory agencies as well as industry groups. faithfully with pride and ingenulry. _

4. THE PORT REPORT
BREAKBULK AMERICAS CONFERENCE
Port of HOllS on Authority
The 21 st Annual Journal of Commerce Breakbulk
Americas Transportation Conference & Exhibition
Houston makes history as liThe Path Forward" captures momentum
More th an 3,000 sh ippe rs, supply chain p roviders and leading industry experts set record
attendan ce during the Oct. 12 -14 Breakb ulk Amer icas Transportation Conference and Exhibition .
It was the first time in 21 years that th is leading g lobal indust ry gathering was held in Houston - the
The open lnq ce lemony was l11 ~ rked result of col laborat ive efforts by the Port of Houston Authority, the Greater Houston Partnersh ip, the
WI h ., ,y".,bnlic; flbbcHI cutung by City of Houston , the Greater Houston Convention & Visi tors Burea u and the Journal of Commerce.
Hams Co unly Prec;ir1Cl 2 Comnll,SIO nel
Sylvia Garcl". Port ot Houston A"th" Ity As the la rgest breakbulk port in the U.S. and a leader in
CEO Alec G Dreyer and Alii McEntyre steel and project cargo fo r more than 90 yea rs, the Port
of thl? J(,,,rn,,1 '')/ COIl1n1Rf(' Au thority hosted the opening day expo at its Sam Houston
Pavil ion. Hundreds of conference-goers viewe d Turning Basin breakbu lk fac ilities during tours
aboard the MN Sam Houston. Nu me rous exhibits highlighted the Port Aut hority's strateg ic
initiatives in g lobal trade, economic development, en vironmental stewardship, sma ll business
development and comm unity outreach. The Port Authority's emergency response capabilities
we re also highlighted in displays of its emergency mobile command cen ter, a fire t ruck from its A boa 'our f t he HrJu,aon St>ip Chann~ 1
Ma rine Department and a re scu e boat from t he U.S Coast Guard . was a highl lgh o f the can !!r;.. nc~
Houston is Breakbulk and a Lot More!
The Breakbulk Americas confere nce provided a platform fo r Port of Houston Authority Chai rman
James T Edmonds and Chief Executive Office r A lec G. Dreyer to tout t he dynamic host city, wh ich
is the largest on the U.S. Gulf Coast and fo urth largest in the nation.
"It is terri fic to finall y be able to show off Houston to yo u," Edmonds said du ring we lcoming rema rks.
"Ho uston offers a world -class infrastructure that connects our city to the nati onal and global
co mmunity. An excel lent airway system, major and multiple roads, inte rmo dal facili ties, and a deep The PorI Author ity's C h a.,.m~n Jam,-,s T.
sea port are the reason s why Houston is an efficient global gateway and a major co rporate center." Ed rnonds and CEO Al ec G Dro yer tou ted
HOUS1on as he larg e't ( ~3kb u ! k pOl l in the
Dreyerfocused on the " big " business picture in his re marks, stating, " The biggest dyn am ic, we
U.5. and il leader in steel and p roject ca rgo
believe, is thi s city. Houston is big on hospitality and its 'make-yourself-at-ho me' sp irit is contagious." f o r more than 90 yeMs
Breakbulk Goes to School
Sessions for college students offered for the first time in conference history
A wide-ranging curriculum was presented by a distinguished "faculty" of indust ry leaders during the
conference's first Breakbulk Education Day. Mo re than 100 students from the maritime, tran sportation
and logistics progra ms at Houston Comm unity College, Lone Star College, San Jacinto College,
Texas A&M Galveston , Texas Southern University, University of Houston and other schools throughou t
the U.S. were able to attend the educational sessions with generous sponsorships from more t han
A care r h'f for ccllege sturif- n tll W !i 100 brea kbulk industry companies and associations.
also pa t or 6,eakbu lk Educa tion D"y.
Steve Garifalos of Rickmers- Lin ie America d iscussed the art, scien ce and global economic importance
of transpo rt ing cargo. John Hark fro m Bertling Logist ics covered the basics on chartering with insight into the relation ship among carriers,
charterers, forwa rde rs and brokers. The complexities of manag ing a series of sta keho lders, activities and regulatory requ irements were the
focus of the breakbulk supply chain presentation by Grant Wattman of CH2MHill. Greg Gowans from CB&I presented a case study that
highlighted the techni ca l lifts, method statements and root surveys invo lved in a major heavylift lIJG project in Peru.

5. Keynote Speakers Focus on Global Infrastructure
Infrastructure develop ments around the world are the ke y to boosting th e breakbu lk and project cargo
sectors, according to three industry leaders who delivered keynote presentations d uring the conference.
The outlook for engineering , procurement and construction (better known as EPC) is strong, according
to Da vid Ha mmerl e, principal vice president and corporate ma nager at Bechte l. He outlined many
posit ive indications of growth in the capital projects business and provid ed perspective on sectors
and geographical locat ions that show the most promis e.
Robert Drew, a top logistics executive with Tata Steel, Inc., shared his co mprehensive
perspective on the state of the steel industry, including the impact of supply and demand
swings on shipping. Drew also had keen insight on China's rol e in steel market fluctuations.
Despite projections that the general cargo market is slowly recov ering from a decline in
2009 and fore cas t to remain flat unti l at least 2011, Susan Oatway, a sen ior consultant with
Drewry Shipping Consul ta nts, exam ined the outlook for global trade for m ultipurpose
vesse ls as well as th e factors impa cting recovery.
Susan O atway
Closing Night Reception Scores Home Run
A great va riety of foo d, music and optimism filled the
atmosph ere as the Port of Houston Authority hosted th e
Breakbulk Americas closing night customer reception at
Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros.
Guests were greeted by Port Comrn,:.>sIOller
Jan'es Fonteno p()rt Comm,s>loncr Steve Phelps.
POlt Cor.,,~issio"f!r Jimmy [3 Hk Houston Mayo'
Annlse "lrker, Port of Ho"sto~ Authoflly Vice From the Houston Astro;, catcher l1ul'IlD!?·tc
Presi :lent Qf Origll1ati(,n Ricky KlInz ilr1d Gteg QWl"tE'm and 1"9 nrl~IY tern1er outf "Irld ,nr:l first
Cliak, Preslden & CEO 0 the (jredter !-Iou,ton Bre;lKbulk conference goe.s Houston Astros owner base coach Jose CrUl flank POrt Author y V;;;e
CO'1Iention and VisitlJl 's Bu(",)u 'II M.nute Milld I'~,k Dray tOil Md.,,')'> Pres,def1 of Cart-II,,,r T.. rml[1ilis Roger Guenther
See You Back Here in 2012!
Tal ks are alread y under way to secure hotel arrang ements and reception venues in Houston now
that the Journal o f Commerce has agreed to bring Brea kbulk Ame ri cas back here in 2012.
Hosted annually in N ew Orleans for two decades, th is major maritime indust ry conference will
now alternate between the Crescen t City (2011 and future odd-numbered years) and the Bayou
City (2012 and future even-numbered years), according to Alii McEntyre, JOe's vice president
of events and publisher of Breakbulk magazine .
"Both ports are home to pow erful trading communities, closely tied to the global breakbulk and
POI L01 Hou~ton A'Jlhortty repreSef1t~tlveS
project cargo markets," McEntyre says. " The rotation b etween New Orleans and Houston will greet v';;10'5 In the George R Brown
keep the conference program, the exhibits and the after-hours networking fresh and interesting." Convent" C.. ntBr ..;xh.b,l hall
Port of Houston Authority Market Development Manager Brian Reeves described the development as a trifecta success for Houston.
"You've got a good mar itime conference provider coup led with the nat ion's largest breakbulklproject cargo port and the po rt's location
in the heartland of t he breakbu lk marketplace of t he United States," Reeves says.
Find us on Follow Alec Dreyer on @AlecDreyer
Questions?
Please direc t all inquiries and comments to:
James T. Edmonds, Chairman
The Port of Houston Authority Steve Phelps Jimmy A. Burke
Public Affairs Division Phone: 713-670-2893 James W. Fonteno, Jr. Janiece Longoria
111 East Loop North Fax: 713-670-2425 Kase l. lawai Elyse Lanier
P.O. Box 2562 E-mail: fgriffin@poha.com
Houston, Texas 77252-2562 Web site: www.portofhouston.com Chief Executive Officer Alec G . Dreyer

6. (An op-ed by F. Renee Griffin, MBA, APR)
Transforming Human Capital Management to Yield Greater Dividends from Houston's Public Schools
Our public school educators deserve to be among the most revered professionals in Houston. That elite status
has been hindered, however, by long-standing policies that have treated teachers like interchangeable, one­
size-tits-all mechanical parts. As a result ofthis degradation, there's been little or no distinction between the
highest and lowest performers.
Excellent work in the classroom has not always accelerated teachers' career tracks. Often, they have received
the same "satisfactory" evaluations and pay raises as their lower-performing peers. Conversely, many teachers
who have struggled in their performance also have received "satisfactory" marks on their evaluations, but no
constructive feedback to help them improve.
Under its declaration of beliefs and values, the Houston Independent School District has committed to ensure
effective teachers and principals in every classroom and school. HISD partnered with The New Teacher Project,
a national nonprofit, to analyze the district's policies and practices in teacher hiring, firing, compensation and
performance. TNTP also administered online surveys to all Houston teachers, principals, and unhired teacher
applicants to examine appraisal, professional development, compensation and working conditions.
The findings of these studies form the foundation of the four-part strategic plan for human capital management
transformation in the nation's seventh-largest school system.
Establish a rigorous and fair teacher appraisal system to inform key decisions. Only 43 percent of teachers in
TNTP's survey said that performance evaluations help them improve. And even though teachers and principals
agree there are significant numbers of low-performing teachers at their schools, principals rarely identify
improvement areas in appraisals.
Clear process timelines, expectations, and performance standards will heighten confidence in the system.
Additionally, value-added measures such as students' engagement levels and work products should augment
test-based assessments of teachers' impacts on student learning.
Provide effective individualized support and professional development for teachers. Most teachers in TNTP's
study said they do not feel that they receive support that helps them improve or address their students' needs.
And instead of doing paperwork or attending meetings, principals said they are eager to spend more time
visiting classrooms, observing teachers and providing feedback on instruction.
Offer meaningful career pathways and differentiated compensation to retain and leverage the most effective
teachers. Data show high-performing teachers leave HISD at similar rates as their lower performing peers.
According to TNTP's study, 61 percent of teachers support accelerated salary schedule increases for high rates
of student growth. They also favor additional rewards for strong classroom performance, including school
leadership opportunities.
Strengthen recruiting and staffing policies and practices to attract top talent. TNTP's studies show late hiring
timelines cause applicants to withdraw. This has been especially hurtful to schools in Houston's high poverty
communities, which have the fewest high-performing teachers. To recruit the strongest teacher candidates,
HISD must hire earlier and make hiring process communications more responsive, timely and clear.
We must elevate the status of teaching so the most talented people will enter and stay in the profession to
deliver on the promise of an excellent education for all. HISD's human capital management transformation
strategies promise to eradicate what has become a culture of indifference to excellence and failure.

7. ADDITIONAL WRITING SAMPLES
F. ("Felicia") Renee Griffin, APR
Downloadable Writing Samples
(magazine articles, press releases, editorials)
http://www.slideshare.netiFeliciaGriffin/felicia-griffin-writing-samples
The Port Report monthly newsletter
October 2010 edition - http://portofhouston.com/pdf/pubaffairs/PortReport-Oct1 O.pdf
Breakbulk special edition - http://portofhouston.com/pdf/pubaffairs/PortReport-BBAC-201 O.pdf
Professional 810g
http://MyPRgative.wordpress.com
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