October 6, 2016
Waveland, MS - October 3, 2016. The Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission is announcing the hiring of Bo Ethridge as director of Port Bienville Industrial Park and Ronnie Wade Robertson as chief administrative officer.
“Bo brings extensive port knowledge to Hancock County that will also complement his real estate development experience. This unique blend of expertise will fill a vital leadership role as we reorganize the Port and Harbor Commission,” said Chief Executive Officer Bill Cork.
Ethridge is a Certified Port Executive with a master’s degree in International Transportation Management from the Maritime College State University of New York. He also has U.S. Merchant Marine Credentials as a 50-Ton Master and an undergraduate degree in marketing from Southeastern Louisiana University.
For the last four years, Ethridge worked at the Port of New Orleans as the real estate and business development manager as well as director of Foreign Trade Zone No. 2. He was responsible for directing the port’s 1,400 acre industrial park consisting of 72 properties and 49 active leases. As FTZ manager, he was responsible for grantee operations with $16 billion in merchandise received through 47 active sites.
“I am thrilled to be asked to lead Port Bienville and contribute to the economic development of Hancock County. The potential here is immense and in many ways untapped. Working with the entire Port and Harbor team, I am confident we can achieve success.” said Ethridge.
Ethridge lives in Biloxi with his wife, Leah, and their three boys: Kai, Nate and Christian.
Cork said Robertson will lead the Commission’s administrative team as the new chief administrative officer.
“Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission has an extremely diverse mission, dealing with maritime port activity, railroad and aviation operations and all the related regulatory and contracting functions this requires,” said Cork. “Ronnie’s administrative and legal skills will help us navigate through a significant and complex growth period for the Commission.”
Robertson earned a bachelor’s degree in biological engineering from Mississippi State University and a law degree from the University of Mississippi, where he received the Dean Robert J. Farley Award for the highest GPA in his graduating class. He spent six years as an associate with Balch and Bingham before being named as senior staff attorney at South Mississippi Electric Power Association since 2013.
“I am looking forward to the challenges of the day-to-day work at the Commission,” said Robertson. “The diversity of work, the complexity and volume of deal flow will make for an intellectually rich experience. I am excited to contribute to the team that is being built here and helping to make the organization successful.”
Robertson lives in Gulfport with his wife, Aimee, and their sons, Wade and Woods.
The Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission was founded in 1963 to serve as the primary economic development agency for Hancock County, Miss. The Commission owns and operates Port Bienville Industrial Park, the Port Bienville Short-line Railroad and Stennis International Airport (KHSA).
About Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission
As the county economic development authority, the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission is committed to fostering business investment and job creation. Their focus lies in attracting manufacturing, defense, aviation, and aerospace-related projects to the county. The organization manages the Stennis International Airport and Port Bienville Industrial Park while also providing support to the Stennis Space Center, NASA’s leading facility for rocket engine testing.