The Port of Pittsburgh Commission (PPC) announced today that Mr. Stephen Martinko will be the Commission's new executive director.
Since January, 2013, Martinko has been the deputy staff director of the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and previously served as chief of staff for U.S. Congressman Bill Shuster (R-PA). Martinko was instrumental in the development of the Water Resources and Reform Development Act (WRRDA) that was signed into law by President Obama earlier this year.
"Steve Martinko understands the value of the Inland Waterways system to Southwestern Pennsylvania and the importance of maintaining and improving the vital waterways infrastructure of this region. He will serve the PPC well as the need for appropriations and operation & maintenance funding will continue for years to come," said Susan Baker Shipley, the Port of Pittsburgh's chairman. Shipley is president for Huntington Bank in Western Pennsylvania and the Ohio Valley.
"Steve's demonstrated ability to successfully build coalitions will position the Commission well in bringing together the many beneficiaries of the Inland Waterways system in Southwestern Pennsylvania and to execute the other functions of the Port," Shipley continued.
The Port of Pittsburgh is the second busiest port in the country and the 17th busiest port overall, handling over 35 million tons of cargo every year. The port's 200 miles of waterways are served by numerous privately owned and operated river terminal facilities and barge lines, as well as a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers district and a US Coast Guard marine safety unit. The port district spans twelve counties, nine of which encompasses navigable rivers. The Port of Pittsburgh Commission was created in 1992 to promote the commercial use and development of the inland waterway-intermodal transportation system and to integrate that system into the economic, recreational, environmental and intermodal future of the residents and industries of southwestern Pennsylvania.