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September/October 2012
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The Port of Baltimore
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OUTREACH
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Teachers Learn Firsthand
of Port’s Scope and Importance
T
wo teachers from the Maritime Industries Academy High School in
Baltimore and seven teachers from Baltimore County, which virtually
surrounds the city, participated this summer in the Port of Baltimore’s
first externship program for educators. All in attendance wanted to learn
about the vast Port infrastructure and the coordination needed to get cargo
from one destination to another.
The externship program was organized by the Baltimore Port Alliance
Education and Outreach Committee, which is co-chaired by Katrina Jones of the
Maryland Port Administration and Andy Nixon of Rukert Terminals Corporation.
For this pilot program, 26 maritime agencies volunteered to spend dedicated
time with the teachers between July 30 and August 3, explaining their roles in
the industry, the various types of jobs they hire for, and the education and skills
needed to perform these jobs.
Port consultant and former U.S. Rep. Helen Delich Bentley kicked off the
event with a historical overview of the Port. This was followed by a panel discus-
sion about maritime law, insurance, banking and the role of the shipping agent.
Areas covered by the agencies included terminal and vessel operations,
vessel tracking, freight and logistics, warehousing, security, federal and state
regulations, engineering, and the environment. Teachers were also given ideas
on how to infuse maritime information into their lessons or to otherwise start
conversations with students about the Port.
The teachers thought the experience was eye-opening as they learned about
all of the maritime activities going on right in their backyards. Commented one
teacher, “It’s like such a great jigsaw puzzle how everything works together.”
Michele Baugher, a Dundalk native who teaches at Colgate Elementary
School, expressed her surprise at the level of work being done for the
environment by the Port. “I had no idea where the dredged material went,” she
said. “I go to Hart-Miller Island all the time and I had no idea that it was [built on]
dredged material. I’m so excited that I can go home and tell my kids about it.”
During the wrap-up session, the teachers shared ideas on how to improve
the program so that they can match the experience with their core curriculum.
A survey of industry participants revealed that they thought it was a good
investment of time and look forward to participating again.
AUTOS
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Mercedes-Benz
Welcomes
New VPC Manager
M
ercedes-Benz USA recently
promoted Paul Violante to
Department Manager of the
Baltimore Vehicle Preparation Center
(
VPC). With Mercedes-Benz since 1975,
Violante explained that, in his new
role, he is “responsible for overseeing
all Baltimore VPC staff, whose
responsibilities are administering quality
checks to our vehicles, and meeting
our monthly wholesale targets while
servicing the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and
Central Region Mercedes-Benz/Smart
dealers.”
Ted M. Boudalis, Strategic VPC
Operations Manager, Mercedes-Benz
USA, said, “Paul brings a wealth of expe-
rience with him to this new, challenging
role at this exciting time when we will be
experiencing substantial sales volume
growth in all of our franchises.”
Maryland Port Administration
Executive Director James J. White noted,
“
Mercedes has a 20-year contract here
at the Port. They are a leader in vehicle
processing and routinely set the bar
high. The VPC was managed very well by
Ted Boudalis and now we welcome Paul
and look forward to working with him to
raise that bar even higher.”
Violante started his career in the
Mercedes-Benz USA truck division,
followed by several other operational
positions in the company’s Houston and
Belcamp VPCs prior to his most recent
role as Supervisor of Operations at the
Baltimore VPC.
COURTESY OF MPA
KATHY BERGREN SMITH