SC Ports’ Melvin Receives Prestigious ‘Women of Courage’ Award
South Carolina Ports’ incoming president and CEO Barbara Melvin has been honored with the prestigious Women of Courage Award.
The College of Charleston School of Business and Women for Women Summit committee selected Melvin as the 2022 honoree and award recipient.
The Woman of Courage Award recognizes an inspirational, impactful and courageous leader who has made significant contributions to their industry and community.
Melvin, who currently serves as SC Ports’ chief operating officer, will become SC Ports’ CEO on July 1, marking the first woman to lead a top 10 U.S. operating container port.
For more than 20 years, Melvin has served SC Ports in a variety of roles. She oversaw government relations, public relations and community engagement before moving into operations in 2015.
In 2018, Melvin became the port’s first chief operating officer. As COO, Melvin oversees the daily operations of the port, including managing a team of nearly 800 people who consistently handle record-breaking cargo volumes.
Melvin leads major infrastructure projects, such as the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project, which gives Charleston the deepest harbor on the East Coast at 52 feet.
Melvin sees growth at SC Ports as making a generational impact on South Carolina, with port operations creating 1 in 10 jobs throughout the state.
Melvin’s leadership also extends into the community. She helped launch SC Ports’ Community Giving Program, an annual grant program that supports nonprofits around the state. As a Liberty Fellow graduate, she created the Inspirational Pathways program at Sanders Clyde Elementary School in Charleston. She serves on numerous nonprofit boards, including for Trident United Way and the American Heart Association.
Melvin is the second person to receive the Women of Courage Award. Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina and United States Ambassador to the United Nations, was the 2020 recipient.
About South Carolina Ports Authority
South Carolina Ports Authority, established by the state’s General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport and intermodal facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown and Greer. As an economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 225,000 statewide jobs and generate nearly $63.4 billion in annual economic activity. SC Ports is soon to be home to the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast at 52 feet. SC Ports is an industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility. Please visit www.scspa.com to learn more about SC Ports.
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