Port of Charleston Maritime Person of the Year 2013-2014
Barbara L. Melvin
The Propeller Club of the Port of Charleston’s Maritime Person of the Year is Barbara Melvin. An
exceptional leader in the maritime industry, Barbara is presently the Senior Vice President of External
Affairs at the South Carolina Ports Authority.
Working hand-in-hand with local, state and federal officials and lawmakers, Barbara's achievements
impact international trade by advancing trade policy, securing port-related project funding, establishing
tax-incentives for international shippers, ensuring new legislation protects the interests of businesses
involved in international trade, expanding overweight permits, and spearheading the Port's efforts to
deepen Charleston Harbor.
Importantly, her efforts at the national level in coordination with U.S. House, Senate and executive
leadership – specifically relating to harbor project funding mechanisms and the need for an enhanced
permitting process – benefit all U.S. port interests.
All of these projects create additional economic investments or, more clearly stated, they create new portrelated jobs opportunities.
Barbara has also coordinated support for expansion at the SC Inland Port that opened in October 2013, led
a new statewide television awareness campaign on the importance of port activities, and directed
nationally-recognized environmental initiatives.
Barbara is a seasoned leader with over 16 years of service to the South Carolina Ports Authority, where
she is one of five senior vice presidents. Barbara oversees all government relations activities, public
relations, community and environmental affairs for the organization.
Barbara is a member of the South Carolina Advisory Council of the United States Global Leadership
Coalition and serves on the Public Policy Committee of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce.
She formerly served on the board for Communities in Schools and the South Carolina Maritime
Foundation and is a Liberty Fellow.
Prior joining the Port in 1998, Barbara was Director of Government Relations for the Charleston Metro
Chamber of Commerce, where she also lobbied on the port's behalf to the state legislature. She
previously served as a policy analyst for the Georgia Governor's Office of Planning and Budget.