Mississippi state port director Jonathan Daniels resigns Gulfport job for Florida move
Jonathan Daniels has resigned as executive director of the Mississippi State Port of Gulfport after accepting the chief executive officer and executive director’s job at Port Everglades in Broward County, Florida.
Daniels stepped into the job in June 2013, when the port was in the middle of a $570 million West Pier restoration and expansion funded by the federal government for economic development after Hurricane Katrina.
“It has been a privilege to witness the significant progress the Port of Gulfport has made in recent years with the completion of the restoration project and establishment of a diversification strategy that will pay dividends well into the future,” Daniels said in a port news release. “I will always be grateful for the opportunity to lead this organization and for the support I have received from MSPA commissioners and staff throughout my time in Gulfport.”
Daniels’ resignation is effective June 30, the news release says. The port’s Board of Commissioners plans a national search for a new director.
Daniels told the Sun Herald he was conflicted over leaving.
“I love this area, I love the people, but I have the opportunity to be close to three of my four children,” he said. “That means a lot.
“It’s a wonderful career opportunity for me. It’s a great operation. This was both a personal and professional decision, probably in that order.”
Under Daniels, the state port has completed its ambitious expansion and satisfied the federal goverment’s requirement that the project create 1,300 jobs.
Daniels has also secured long-term leases with the port’s mainstay cargo lines, Chiquita, Dole and Crowley, and with Chemours Co.
The port has diversified business with the Roger F. Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise operated by the University of Southern Mississippi. The center is engaged in research and development in the Gulf of Mexico, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association is basing an unmanned maritime systems program there.
Island View Casino Resort has also invested $130 million on port property with a South Beach Tower hotel and casino expansion.
“We’ve transitioned from being just purely a shipping port to an economic development agency that has transportation at its core,” Daniels said.
He said the port’s annual revenue base has doubled and diversified.
In 2013, 57% of port revenue came from gambling. Today, gambling revenue is at 32%, with maritime and other business activity constituting 68% of revenue.
The port also was named the nation’s 17th strategic port for handling military cargo.
“Certainly, I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished,” Daniels said. “We’ve had great support.” He said not only has the Board of Commissioners and staff worked hard on improvements, but the business community and state have also offered “significant” contributions at the state-owned port.
This story was originally published May 20, 2020 at 9:16 AM.
