Ellenberg to Join South Carolina Ports as VP, Cargo Development
November 20, 2010
CHARLESTON,SC – November 19, 2010 – The South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA) has hired an accomplished industry recruiter to increase port-related business and development in the state.
Jack Ellenberg will join the SCSPA in January as Vice President, Cargo Development. He will be responsible for all cargo and new business development activities, including the location of new and expanded port-user businesses in the state, as well as the cargo sales group.
Ellenberg currently serves as Deputy Secretary for New Investment at the South Carolina Department of Commerce. He has worked on a number of major projects at the agency since 1997, including investments by BMW, Boeing, Robert Bosch, Honda, Michelin, Daimler, FujiFilm and General Electric. In all, Ellenberg has worked projects bringing $24 billion in new investment and 70,000 jobs to South Carolina.
“Increasing port volume is directly tied to attracting distribution centers and other hard assets to South Carolina,” said Jim Newsome, President & CEO of the SCSPA. “And Jack has a proven track record of business development and project management. We are delighted that he will join our team.”
Ellenberg was named Southern Business & Development’s “Person of the Year” for his work on Boeing’s new $750-million 787 Dreamliner assembly operation in the Charleston area, a project that was named Business Facilities’ “Deal of the Year.”
“I am happy that Jack has this opportunity, but even happier to know that his expertise will continue to be an asset for the state,” said Joe Taylor, South Carolina Secretary of Commerce. “This is the next logical step in Jack’s career of growing the South Carolina economy, and he will make a fine addition to the Ports Authority management and sales team. Jack’s dynamic sales approach will dovetail very nicely with Jim Newsome’s aggressive approach to grow the Port’s business. Until January, Jack remains fully committed to helping Commerce complete another banner year of investment and job recruitment for the state.”
In his new position, Ellenberg will focus on bringing port-dependent projects and cargo to the state and developing the area’s distribution center capacity. South Carolina has identified the distribution cluster as strategic to the state’s economic success. Already, more than 20 million square feet of distribution center space has been announced near Charleston’s deepwater port facilities.
He will report to Senior Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer Paul McClintock and oversee the cargo sales department, which includes sales managers in Charleston, Atlanta and Charlotte. “This new role for Jack will continue to leverage his talents in bringing business to South Carolina and our ports,” said McClintock. “He’ll sell our ports’ major advantages – including deep water, high performance, low cost and low risk – to site selectors, executives and other decision-makers.”
Ellenberg holds bachelors and masters degrees in history from Clemson University.
About the South Carolina State Ports Authority
The South Carolina State Ports Authority, established by the state’s General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston and Georgetown, handling international commerce valued at nearly $45 billion annually while receiving no direct taxpayer subsidy. An economic development engine for the state, port operations facilitate 260,800 jobs across South Carolina and $44.8 billion in economic activity each year. For more information, visit www.scspa.com.
