Rockport Terminals are deep-water port facilities on Tampa Bay used for exporting phosphate from Central Florida’s Bone Valley mining region. These facilities are located on more than 300 acres with over 25 miles of track, warehousing, and state-of-the-art loading systems. The Eastern Associated Terminal equipment includes an automated rotary car dumper, three combination stacker/reclaimer units, a traveling shiploader, more than 11,000 feet of belt conveyors, Merrick Electron belt scales, a dust collection system, fully equipped machine shop, front-end loaders, tractors, air compressors, and welding equipment. CSX says the footprint of the combined terminals allows for quick, scalable expansion, and capacity for one million additional export tons.
As a result of the acquisition, CSX added 12 new positions for terminal operations to Rockport’s current staff of 25. Shantel Johnson-Davis, who has led CSX’s phosphates sales and marketing efforts in Tampa, was appointed Assistant Vice President and General Manager-Phosphates and Fertilizers. She will lead commercial activities and operations at Rockport Terminals.
Johnson-Davis will continue to report to Vice President-Chemicals and Fertilizer Dean Piacente. Johnson-Davis has been with CSX for 14 years and has held commercial positions of increasing responsibilities, most recently as the sales and marketing director for phosphates and fertilizer.
“Rockport Terminals will seek additional commodity export opportunities and add import bulk business over time,” said Johnson-Davis. “Purchasing the Eastern terminal provides strategic long-term value for CSX. We will leverage synergies of the two terminals to better serve our customers and grow this important business.”
Approximately 300 CSX employees work in the Tampa Bay area, including train crews, engineering employees, and mechanical teams. Facilities include a major classification yard and shops, an automobile distribution center, and a TRANSFLO transloading terminal.
In addition to Johnson-Davis’s promotion, CSX announced several other sales and marketing staff changes:
Tim McNulty was promoted to Assistant Vice President-Agricultural, Food, and Consumer Products in Jacksonville, and will continue to report to Vice President-Industrial and Agricultural Products Kyle Hancock. McNulty is a 28-year veteran of CSX with significant commercial experience, and has led the agricultural products team for the past decade. In his new role, McNulty will also oversee the consumer products team. He is a past president and current member of the National Grain Car Council, works with the National Grain and Feed Association, and supports FFA (Future Farmers of America).
Michael Rutherford was promoted to Assistant Vice President-Industrial Products in Jacksonville, and will also report to Hancock. Rutherford joined CSX in 2008 with extensive sales and marketing experience with global consumer products companies. Most recently, he led CSX’s efforts to more closely align commercial activities with customer service and market insights.
Andy Strok, Assistant Vice President-Automotive Service Group in Jacksonville, will now report directly to Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Clarence Gooden. Strok has 34 years of transportation and logistics experience and has been with CSX for 17 years, leading the Automotive Service Group’s growth and strategic development. He previously served in sales and marketing roles at other railroads including Southern Pacific and Conrail. Strok has been a member of the National Freight Transportation Association, the American Marketing Association, and several Detroit area freight transportation groups. He presently chairs the Multi-Level Pooling Executive Committee.