The Detroit Wayne County Port Authority announces businessman Louis James as new chairman

DETROIT -  The Detroit Wayne County Port Authority has a new chairman and is looking to become a key source of job growth in the next decade.

Detroit businessman Louis James was elected chairman recently by the Board of Directors, replacing Art Blackwell who has had a long history with the Port.

“I am honored to have been chosen to serve as the chairman of an entity that is positioned to play a pivotal part in the resurgence of Detroit,” said James. “As the new chairman I plan to facilitate the growth of business at our new dock and to continue reaching out to our port constituent businesses to provide help whenever necessary.”

James served as vice-chairman of the Port Authority for the past four years and on the board for the past eight years.

“We are excited to have Louis James as our new chairman,” said John Jamian, the port’s executive director. “Louis is a prominent Detroit businessman who shares our vision of public service and business growth at Michigan’s International Port of Detroit.”

The Detroit Wayne County Port Authority has jurisdiction along the Detroit River and supports all of its port constituent companies with a myriad of government programs, grants and assistance.

James will lead the efforts to tell the port authority’s message to the region about how important the organization is for Michigan-based businesses and as the region’s emerging transportation authority.
“We think it is time to connect all of our multimodal components together to market our region,” Jamian said. “We know Louis James will lead us in these efforts.”

James brings a plethora of knowledge and experience in transportation and logistics to the position.
His business portfolio includes a diverse range of supply chain management services to the automotive industry, including inventory management, steel manufacturing and fulfillment services. He is the president and chief executive officer of Jasco International, a global logistics company, and Solutions for Energy Efficiency Logistics (SEEL), an energy efficient logistics company that recently won a national award – the coveted Andromeda Star of Energy Efficiency Award.

James won the award for the planning and execution of the largest, most effective energy savings program in the country that focuses on reaching lower and middle income neighborhoods. A Vietnam War Veteran, Mr. James is involved in various civic organizations including serving as vice president of the Wayne County Sheriff Youth and Senior Fund.