Page 11 - Port of Baltimore Magazine July August 2011

To subscribe or renew, visitwww.marylandports.com July/August 2011 ■ The Port of Baltimore [9]
the Port SOUNDINGS
NEWSMAKERS
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Former Commander of Coast Guard
Sector Baltimore Retires
Capt. Brian Kelley, the former commander of
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, is retiring
after 29 years. Although his retirement is
technically effective Oct. 1, Kelley had enough time
accrued to begin his retirement this summer; he
enjoyed a sendoff on May 20.
Kelley served in Baltimore from 2006 to 2009 and was responsible for
maritime safety and security during the 2009 presidential inauguration.
“I always looked forward to going to Baltimore and traveling throughout
the Sector because I enjoyed being with everyone there,” recalled Kelley, who
commuted 70 miles from his home in Centreville, Va. “I got energy from it — the
community was so fantastic. It’s a great port, and I enjoyed my tour up there.
We were working for the common good, which was to ensure a safe, secure
port that moved commerce.”
After leaving Baltimore, he served as the Deputy Commander of the Coast
Guard Personnel Service Center in Arlington, Va., and was deployed to the Gulf
of Mexico to respond to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
He and his family, which includes daughter Brandy and son Sean, plan on
eventually moving to Nashville, Tenn., “so my wife, Lori, who is a performing
songwriter, gets her shot,” Kelley said.
Kelley is now celebrating his “many blessings,” relaxing and enjoying some
time off. He admits that his golf game needs considerable help, and that he also
plans to do some traveling; he and his mother, sister and daughter are heading
to Ireland to explore their roots.
IN MEMORIAM
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MPA Cruise Marketing Manager‚ 65‚ Made Year-round Impact
NEWSMAKERS
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Allen Brown Replaces
Father as Belt’s President
S. Allen Brown IV, has been elected
President of The Belt’s Corporation,
replacing his father, S. A. “Skip”
Brown III. Belt’s is the oldest and one of
the largest warehousing and distribution
companies in Maryland.
Employed at Belt’s for more than 22
years, Allen Brown formerly held the
position of Vice President and Director
of Operations. He has been responsible
for the company’s activities in multiple
distribution facilities, and
is also President of Belt’s
Transportation Services,
Inc., and Belt’s Intermodal
Corporation.
Skip Brown has been with
the company for 50 years and
will continue to serve as busi-
ness advisor and Chairman of
the Board of Directors.
John D. Meister, a
Maryland Port
Administration (MPA)
cruise marketing manager who
played a key role in the rise of
Baltimore’s cruise business,
died June 18 after battling
cancer. He was 65.
Meister worked with the
MPA for seven years, helping
to develop a year-round sailing
calendar at the Cruise Maryland
terminal while also building
close relationships with local
travel agents, tourism agencies
and cruise lines that serve
Baltimore today. His marketing
efforts laid the groundwork for
the Port’s huge increase from
27 cruises in 2008 to a record
91 cruises in 2010.
“John was a key reason
for the recent success of the
cruise business at the Port of
Baltimore,” remarked MPA
Executive Director James J.
White. “In just a brief period
of time, he developed close
and personal relationships
with many high-ranking cruise
executives. One of the reasons
why the Port has successfully
transitioned from a seasonal
cruise port to offering cruises
year-round is because of
John’s tireless efforts and
steadfast determination to
promote our port, city and
state as a viable home for
cruise ships. He will be
greatly missed.”
Meister is survived by wife
Barbara and son Jeffrey.
COURTESY OF MPA
COURTESY OF BELT'S CORPORATION
COURTESY OF U.S. COAST GUARD