Port Fourchon Begins 50th Year with New Director

(GALLIANO, LA) – Port Fourchon is beginning 2010 with a great deal of “news.” New year. New logo. New director. New era.

The Greater Lafourche Port Commission is ushering in the new year with a new director at the helm for the first time since the position was created. Chett Chiasson, former Director of Economic Development for the port, has been promoted to Executive Director of the Port Commission. Chiasson is taking the reins from Ted Falgout, who retired at the end of 2009 after thirty-one years of port leadership.

“I am honored to be the Executive Director of the Greater Lafourche Port Commission,” says Chiasson. “I look forward to continuing the growth and success that was achieved during Mr. Falgout’s tenure. With the outstanding Board of Commissioners, employees, and tenants we have, the opportunities are limitless.”

Chiasson has served as the port’s economic development director for the last four years. He has a B.A. in Political Science and a Masters in Public Administration. He is also enrolled in the AAPA’s Professional Port Manager certification program. His background has been an advantage to port business; he has brought in large projects and new lessees in Port Fourchon and helped to expand property interests at the South Lafourche Airport. Chiasson has been key in recouping losses from storm damage, working with several local, state, and federal agencies to repair and rebuild the port’s infrastructure and environment.

“I feel the port is poised for future growth,” said Falgout, “and under Chett’s leadership it can even surpass the high level of accomplishment it has experienced in past decades.”

The Port Commission unanimously chose to promote Chiasson from within the port organization because of his knowledge of the port area and the ins and outs of its administration. Chiasson was named as Falgout’s successor in February of 2009 and worked closely with Falgout throughout the rest of the year, gaining invaluable hands-on training.

Larry Griffin, President of the Port’s Board of Commissioners, stands behind the board’s choice to hire Chiasson. He said, “As president of the Port Commission, I’ve seen tremendous growth over the last seventeen years under Mr. Falgout’s leadership, and I’m sure that under Mr. Chiasson, the success of the port will continue to grow. He is more than capable of taking over the reins from Mr. Falgout. I am looking forward to working with Chett on the future development of the port.”

Chiasson will be Port Fourchon’s second Executive Director in port history and begins his new position as the port begins its fiftieth year.

 

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