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Bernard Named Commission President –
Port Expansion, AGMAC Preparations to Highlight 2012
Raymond Bernard Jr. was elected president for 2012 at the January meeting of the Port of Iberia Board of Commissioners.
Bernard, 52, is the vice president and general manager for Aviation Exteriors (AVEX), Inc. He was appointed to the commission in 2005 by the Iberia Parish Council, and this will be his second term as president.
Bernard said several projects, including advance work for the Acadiana Gulf of Mexico Access Channel (AGMAC) and completion of the port’s Millennium Expansion Phase II, will be priorities for 2012.
And if history is any indication, the $8.1 million dollar, 108-acre expansion project slated for completion in December will mean more jobs at the Port.
“The last expansion that the Port did was completed six years ago, and 60 percent of the leased property for expansion came from existing tenants,” Bernard said. “That original expansion now employs more than 560 people.”
Preparation work also continues at the Port relating to the AGMAC project. All bulkheads will be retrofitted, and existing pipelines deepened, in anticipation of the future 20-foot channel depth.
“The commission has been very active at keeping the AGMAC channel at the forefront,” Bernard said. “We continue to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as well as our local, state and federal delegation to keep the project moving forward and to secure the appropriate funding necessary. We plan on continuing to get our ducks lined up in anticipation of a 20-foot channel.”
Roy Pontiff, executive director at the Port of Iberia, said he is confident Bernard will be an effective leader for the commission in the coming year.
“Having served seven years on the commission, Raymond has been an energetic leader as past president and chair of several committees,” Pontiff said. “He brings that energy and experience to the table at a time when the Port is taking on $20 million in capital projects in 2012, including the 108-acre port expansion.
“As a true working president, Raymond is involved in the community and has developed key relationships which will greatly benefit our work here,” he said. “Under his leadership, I look forward to a challenging and exciting year ahead.”
Bernard is married to the former Susan Valls and has two children: Dustin 24 and Lori, 20.
Message from the Executive Director
Welcome to the Port of Iberia’s web site. We hope you find it informative and helpful. The Port of Iberia is located in the heart of Cajun country, a great place to live, work and play. Our area has abundant natural resources and our people have a strong work ethic. The Port of Iberia is home to over one hundred companies involved in a diversity of industries. Our port has water, rail, and four-lane access and a fully instrumented, 8,000 foot runway general aviation airport within three miles. We’d love to discuss with you the opportunity of bringing your business to the Port of Iberia.
Roy Pontiff
Executive Director
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Port Update
The proposed 108-acre Millennium Expansion Phase II project at the Port of Iberia is ramping up and on schedule to be completed by the end of 2012....
