January/February 2014
■
The Port of Baltimore
[
11
]
IN MEMORIAM
Footner Founder Built Company
to Be ‘Biggest Asset to Shipper’
A
fter his passing in early December, shipping
executive
Roberto I. Gutierrez
was being
remembered as a tireless, devoted business leader.
In 1950, Gutierrez and partner Geoffrey Footner
founded Footner and Company as an international freight forwarder and
customs brokerage. By the 1970s, Gutierrez had become sole owner.
“For 60 out of 63 years, the business has been profitable,” said his son,
Richard Gutierrez
, who is now President of the company. “Each year, every
employee got a bonus. I think he was proudest that he was able to do that.”
The company’s stated philosophy is to be the “biggest asset to a shipper,”
a stance instilled in Footner’s employees thanks in part to Roberto Gutierrez’s
almost constant presence in the office, even after retirement.
“Up until 2013, he was coming in the office everyday, working and leading
the company,” said Richard Gutierrez, who added that he grew to admire and
respect his father even more after experiencing first-hand the challenges
that a business owner faces. “What I miss most about my father is his
perseverance. I now see what an owner and president goes through day in and
day out.” He added that he has “more respect for him because he was able to
[run the business] for such a long period of time.”
A long-time Towson resident, Roberto I. Gutierrez passed away on Dec. 9 at
the age of 93.
EVENTS
Secretary Smith Delivers
State of the Ports Address
M
aryland Transportation Secretary
James T. Smith, Jr
. spoke about
2013 transportation successes
and exciting opportunities for 2014 during
WTC Baltimore’s 24th
anniversary Embassy Wine
Tasting and Maryland
State of the Ports Address.
The event, held in early
December at the World
Trade Center Baltimore,
was co-hosted by the World
Trade Center Institute
and ARINC, a major transportation systems
provider. ARINC CEO
John Belcher
was one of
the keynote speakers.
Signature sponsors included Ports America
Chesapeake and CSX Transportation, while
Northrop Grumman Electronics Systems spon-
sored a breakout session with its Chief System
Architect,
Man-Bae Kim
, who discussed Harbor
Protection and C4ISR Security Technology.
