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Known as America’s energy gateway, the Sabine-Neches Waterway is home to Southeast Texas’ four local ports – Port of Beaumont, Port of Orange, Port of Port Arthur, and Port of Sabine Pass – all of which are led by Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) alumni: Chris Fisher, port director/CEO for Port of Beaumont; Lorrie Taylor, executive port director/CEO for Port of Orange; Larry Kelley, port director/CEO for Port of Port Arthur; Mark Viator, port manager for Port of Sabine Pass. 

This reality exemplifies Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s substantial impact both regionally and throughout the world. In addition to a deep commitment to economic development, the university fosters innovation to develop a skilled workforce and enhance career opportunities in Hardin, Jefferson and Orange Counties.

With the creation of the Center of Advances in Port Management (CAPM) at Â鶹ÊÓƵ in 2015 and the recent addition of a Master of Science in Port and Terminal Management and graduate certificate programs, partnerships between Â鶹ÊÓƵ and the port and maritime industry have grown exponentially in the last decade.

This strong emphasis on advanced education and industry relevant research opportunities has positioned the CAPM at Â鶹ÊÓƵ as a driving force in meaningful collaboration among the four Southeast Texas port directors and proud Â鶹ÊÓƵ alumni.

 

Chris Fisher, Port of Beaumont (‘88, ‘93)

Chris Fisher is the port director/CEO of the Port of Beaumont. Working the graveyard shift as a security guard at the Port of Beaumont in his younger years, Fisher became a graduate of Â鶹ÊÓƵ in 1988.
“I received my general business degree from Â鶹ÊÓƵ in 1988 and thought I was going to use that to go to law school,” Fisher said. “I was accepted to St. Mary’s in San Antonio, but then the Port of Beaumont offered me an opportunity for advancement. I accepted the port’s offer, and I’m so glad that I did.”

The Port of Beaumont afforded Fisher the opportunity to go back to Â鶹ÊÓƵ to pursue an MBA, which he received in 1993. 

“My degrees from Â鶹ÊÓƵ have been extremely helpful in managing the port’s operations,” he said. “We’re a governmental entity, but we really operate day-to-day much more like a business. We try to maximize our revenues as we can from port operations: ships, barges, trains and trucks moving cargo through the port to and from points all over the world, generating economic impact and creating jobs.”

Fisher credits his business education from Â鶹ÊÓƵ for his success in the maritime industry, stating that the background he received helped lay the groundwork for his journey from security guard, police officer, sales rep, administrative assistant, manager of administration, director of finance and administration, to his current role as port director.

“We strive to create jobs and generate economic development and growth in Southeast Texas,” Fisher said. “We want to provide an extreme value to the community. I think that is one major thing that we have in common with Â鶹ÊÓƵ. Having a university here in our community creates undeniable value for our area. I appreciate the education that I received at Â鶹ÊÓƵ as well. I know that I have benefitted greatly from it.”

Having served 44 years at the Port of Beaumont – 23 of those as port director – Fisher is currently the longest tenured port director in Texas. With his dedicated leadership, the Port of Beaumont is well-situated to continue meeting the needs of Southeast Texas and beyond, as the seventh busiest port in the nation.

“In recent years, we have expanded our educational programs as well,” he said. “We start from elementary all the way up to the college level. We want to encourage as many people as possible to think about the maritime industry and port-related jobs when they are thinking about a career. We appreciate the partnership with Â鶹ÊÓƵ in helping us make that happen.”

Lorrie Taylor, Port of Orange (‘94)

Lorrie Taylor is the executive port director and CEO for the Orange County Navigation and Port District. A 1994 graduate with a BBA in accounting from Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Taylor credits the university for her technical skills in accounting, marketing and economics, and soft skills in public speaking, interviewing, and organization skills. 

“I was a senior at Â鶹ÊÓƵ when I got my first adult job,” Taylor said. “It was from a job posting that I saw on the bulletin board at the Galloway Business School. It was a temporary job at ExxonMobil that helped me gain the experience that led me into my current career path.”

Taylor went on to receive a certificate as a certified public accountant, which set her apart from her peers and allowed her to transition from career beginnings in public accounting, to governmental accounting, to city management, and ultimately to her current role as port leader.

“The interesting thing about all of the local port leaders is that none of us set out to work at a port when we were starting our career,” she said. “I got here through accounting. Larry was a logistics manager at a warehouse. Chris started off in security. Mark was in marketing. We all had different paths that got us here, but that’s the best part about ports. They’re made up of accounting, human resources, marketing, engineering, logistics, warehouse operations, management, and so much more.”

With the addition of the new Master of Science in Port and Terminal Management at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Taylor stresses the importance of the critical skills that the program can provide for the local economy.

“There are terminals all up and down the waterway,” she said. “There are refineries. We’re a huge producer of oil and gas. This is the industry for that here in Southeast Texas. The new master’s program at Â鶹ÊÓƵ can open up so many doors because it teaches you about logistics, transportation on the waterway, etc. I do encourage people to consider this program. The curriculum is very robust, and it’s an excellent program in state-of-the-art facilities.”

One major project of note for the Port of Orange – the North Sabine Lake Island Project – is working to restore almost 2,400 acres on the north area of Pleasure Island in Port Arthur. This project includes a collaboration with Â鶹ÊÓƵ which will provide research on local fisheries and sociological impact. This region-wide project involving both Orange and Jefferson Counties will create barrier islands of about 600 acres in the Sabine-Neches Waterway which benefits Orange County by providing a critical placement area.

Taylor says that Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s role in this partnership and others has been invaluable to the Port of Orange, especially biology professor Dr. Matthew Hoch’s work collecting technical data on erosion, fish habitat, wind and wave action, and other crucial information that will benefit the port. She looks forward to seeing the educational, sociological and recreational impacts of the project, and continuing to build on the Â鶹ÊÓƵ collaboration for future projects.

“I believe in Â鶹ÊÓƵ so much,” she said. “My two girls both attended Â鶹ÊÓƵ as well. My oldest daughter received a nursing degree in 2021, and she has a successful career at St. Elizabeth Hospital as an RN, and my youngest daughter graduated in 2024 and has her civil engineering degree working for the Army Corps of Engineers in Port Arthur. I believe that Lamar sets you up for success.”

 
 

Larry Kelley, Port of Port Arthur (’89, ’94, ’19)

Larry Kelley is the port director and CEO for the Port of Port Arthur. A three-time alumnus of Â鶹ÊÓƵ, he earned an undergraduate degree in business in 1989, a master’s in public administration in 1994, and a master’s in port and terminal management from Â鶹ÊÓƵ in 2019. 

Kelley attributes his qualifications and skills attained from Â鶹ÊÓƵ as key factors in aligning the needs of a modern port entity to directly engage in domestic and foreign commerce.

“Balancing education with a career in transportation and logistics management appears to fit well at a port,” he said. “Ports hire in all disciplines – business development, administration, accounting, engineering, and construction management. To that point, most of our professional staff and our legal counsel have at least one degree from Â鶹ÊÓƵ.”                         

The first-ever graduate of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ CAPM’s Master of Science in Port and Terminal Management program, Kelley credits the program for making him a better manager, broadening his perspective, and encouraging him to utilize more analytical thinking.

“I served on the advisory committee, and the curriculum piqued my interest. The rest is history,” he said. “My compliments to the professors and professionals running the program. I was the first to graduate from the program, and the timing was interesting, pretty much starting right as Hurricane Harvey hit the area. We flooded, as many did, and I recall doing the first two semesters either from a gutted room in the house or a trailer in the front yard.”

Kelley emphasizes the importance of college students understanding the enormity of the maritime industry and the significance of job roles in the field, especially in Southeast Texas.

“It makes sense that a program like the M.S. in Port and Terminal Management would have global appeal,” he said. “Some students are already working in the maritime industry and use the program for professional development, while others are looking to enter the field. For potential students, it’s important to understand the magnitude of the maritime industry. One in four dollars of the Texas economy is tied to the maritime industry. This constitutes about $715 billion in annual economic activity, and thousands of Texas jobs.”

Despite a highly mobile and remote workforce in today’s job landscape, he notes that most port careers involve onsite positions that require the physical movement of goods by marine, rail, truck, and pipeline assets.

“Real work happens in Southeast Texas,” Kelley said. “Ports need people to be onsite to deliver successful results, and that means living in our area. With Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Lamar State College Port Arthur, Lamar State College Orange, and Lamar Institute of Technology right here, we are able to recruit locally. I certainly didn’t come up with the phrase, but I am often heard talking about ships. I speak in terms of friendships, relationships and partnerships. The area ports work well together and collaborate, and I am pleased that we all work with Â鶹ÊÓƵ.”

 
 

Mark Viator, Port of Sabine Pass (’91)

Mark Viator is the port director for the Sabine Pass Port Authority. Graduating from high school in 1977, he immediately began working in the petrochemical industry the same year and eventually ended up enrolling at Â鶹ÊÓƵ. 

Viator’s employer at the time, Unocal, made it possible for him to obtain his bachelor’s degree in speech communications from Â鶹ÊÓƵ in 1991 while working and starting a family.

“I received practical skills and experience while earning my education and degree,” he said. “My employer at the time, Unocal, reimbursed me for my education, which made it nice. I was going to school during the day and working shift work at night. It wasn’t easy, but eventually it all worked out.”

Viator recalls his time working in public and government affairs for Jefferson Energy, where he served as a key player in the launch of the Jefferson Energy Terminal at the Port of Beaumont.

“We started with a nine-acre lease and 243 acres,” he said. “Now it has millions of barrels of storage. They bring in crude by rail, and they actually export ExxonMobil gasoline and diesel to Mexico from that terminal now.”

When speaking on the importance of Sabine Pass, Viator noted that the area is at the mouth of the ship channel. With three LNG facilities in the ship channel, there are significant amounts of liquid natural gas being exported to Europe and the rest of the world. 

“Being at the mouth of the ship channel, there are no bridges for large ships to have to go under,” Viator said. “We are seeking to see how we can better support the three LNG facilities in our ship channel: Cheniere, Golden Pass LNG, and Port Arthur LNG.”

With its proximity to the Gulf of America and Sabine Lake, Viator expressed a desire for Sabine Pass to become a national fishing destination.

“We have the Gulf, Sabine Lake, the ship channel, and the river, but we have a marina that has a lot of fishermen who stage their boats here and leave out of here to go fishing,” he said. “We are also a staging area for many shrimp boats. We seek to support the shrimpers, recreational fishermen, and a tentative plan for next door would be having a tugboat company come in as a staging area next to the port.”

Viator says that the Southeast Texas ports continue to collaborate in forming alliances and partnerships.

“The four port directors and ports work very well together and will continue to do so for the benefit of our region,” he said. “Collaboration allows us all to win together.”

 
 

According to a 2024 report by the Texas Ports Association, the port industry supports more than 153,000 direct jobs in Texas, generating $12.6 billion in personal income, and contributes $17.1 billion annually in state and local tax revenues.

Handling 55% of the nation’s strategic petroleum reserves, the Southeast Texas ports are a significant contributor to local commerce. Through strategic partnerships with area industry, such as ExxonMobil and Motiva – two of the largest refineries in North America – the area ports are poised to meet current transportation and trade needs.

Looking to the future, the Sabine-Neches Waterway is being deepened from 40 to 48 feet to enhance capacity, with dredge materials being used to enhance coastal resiliency and allow for the continuation of job creation, generating billions of dollars in economic activity and keeping the channel competitive in the global marketplace.

With leaders like Fisher, Taylor, Kelley and Viator at the helm, the Golden Triangle is well-positioned to continue supporting the local and national maritime industry.