SC Ports’ Melvin receives prestigious ‘Women of Courage’ Award
June 27, 2022
South Carolina Ports’ incoming president and CEO Barbara Melvin has been honored with the prestigious Women of Courage Award.
The College of Charleston School of Business and Women for Women Summit committee selected Melvin as the 2022 honoree and award recipient.
The Woman of Courage Award recognizes an inspirational, impactful and courageous leader who has made significant contributions to their industry and community.
Melvin, who currently serves as SC Ports’ chief operating officer, will become SC Ports’ CEO on July 1, marking the first woman to lead a top 10 U.S. operating container port.
“Barbara is the epitome of courage, resilience and grit,” said Katarina Fjording, co-chair of the Women for Women Committee and head of Volvo Car University and Sustainability Americas. “She has excelled in a male-dominated industry and evened the playing field for others, while staying true to herself. She tackles every project put before her, never shying away from a challenge. Her commitment to excellence inspires us all to elevate.”
For more than 20 years, Melvin has served SC Ports in a variety of roles. She oversaw government relations, public relations and community engagement before moving into operations in 2015.
In 2018, Melvin became the port’s first chief operating officer. As COO, Melvin oversees the daily operations of the port, including managing a team of nearly 800 people who consistently handle record-breaking cargo volumes.
Melvin leads major infrastructure projects, such as the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project, which gives Charleston the deepest harbor on the East Coast at 52 feet.
Melvin sees growth at SC Ports as making a generational impact on South Carolina, with port operations creating 1 in 10 jobs throughout the state.
Melvin’s leadership also extends into the community. She helped launch SC Ports’ Community Giving Program, an annual grant program that supports nonprofits around the state. As a Liberty Fellow graduate, she created the Inspirational Pathways program at Sanders Clyde Elementary School in Charleston. She serves on numerous nonprofit boards, including for Trident United Way and the American Heart Association.
Melvin is the second person to receive the Women of Courage Award. Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina and United States Ambassador to the United Nations, was the 2020 recipient.
