Executive Director

Curtis Foltz is the Executive Director of the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), a 1,000- person strong state port authority that owns and operates strategic gateways serving the U.S. Southeast.

As Executive Director, Curtis Foltz oversees all port activity involving the deepwater ports of Savannah and Brunswick, as well as inland terminal operations in Bainbridge and Columbus. Directing one of Georgia’s largest economic engines, he administers a $280 million annual budget.

As the GPA’s Chief Operating Officer from 2004 to 2009, Mr. Foltz provided direction for day-to-day operating activities with responsibility to help ensure long-term growth in service performance, revenue, profitability, and market share.

Prior to joining the GPA, Mr. Foltz was the Vice President of Operations for CSX World Terminals in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was responsible for all business unit accountability throughout North & South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Australia and Europe. He previously held the position of Vice President and General Manager of the Americas, as well as General Manager of Terminal Management Resources for CSX World Terminals.

A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, he earned his BSBA from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina with a concentration in Business Management. He also received his Masters of Business Administration from East Carolina University.

Founder and Owner

Since 1995, Andy has provided consulting services nationally and internationally dealing with a range of terrestrial and aquatic environmental issues. He has focused predominately on coastal and marine resources management, with a special emphasis on bridging science with management objectives, and addressing information and knowledge management related to the sustainable development of coastal and marine environments.

He began his professional career as a regulatory biologist for the local government in the Florida Keys from 1981-1987. He moved to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area in 1987, and after several years working as a senior environmental planner for local government within the region, he was requested to provide technical assistance to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation in response to the T/V Exxon Valdez Oil Spill in 1989. From 1989-1995, he worked on all phases (response, damage assessment and restoration) of the spill.

Andy received his MSc in Zoology from the University of Georgia in 1982, with a focus on coral reef ecology.

Sant Chair, Marine Science, Museum of Natural History

Thought-leader and global expert in marine biodiversity and conservation of coral reef organisms. Author, Citizens of the Sea, National Geographic Press.

Combines outstanding scientific expertise with creativity and a passion for bringing “solutions” to the general public as a researcher and senior leader at the Museum of Natural History.

Recognized leader by numerous institutions and associations: Senior scientist emeritus, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; Adjunct professor, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego; Board of Directors, Coral Reef Alliance; Editorial Board, Annual Review of Marine Science; Pew Marine Fellows Advisory Committee; Chair, Editorial Board, Smithsonian Ocean Portal; Founder, Scripps Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation.

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
Since its founding in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution has been the preeminent research, academic, and museum portal for visitors across the globe to become immersed in history, culture, science, and numerous fields that enrich the lives of millions of people annually.

As the world’s largest museum complex, the Institution includes 16 museums, four research centers, the National Zoo, the Smithsonian Institution Libraries (a research library system), the Smithsonian magazine, the Smithsonian Institution Press, a Traveling Exhibition Service, an Office of Education, and a number of other offices and activities.

Vice Admiral Ret., NOAA

Former Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Founder of the international Group on Earth Observation (GEO)
and the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS)
Initiated the Integrated Ocean Observing system (IOOS) for the United States
and the regional Coastal Ocean Observing System

Distinguished career as Surface Warfare Officer in the United States Navy

Commander of the U.S. Third Fleet
Deputy Naval Component Commander in the first Gulf War
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Force Structure and Resources

Owner and operator of Leopold’s Ice Cream

Stratton still produces movies, but his heart is where it was from the beginning – in Leopold’s Ice Cream.

Stratton Leopold, owner and operator of Leopold’s Ice Cream, is the youngest son of original founder Peter Leopold. He was born and raised in Savannah and grew up in the ice cream business under the guidance of his father and uncles, but his sights were set on something else entirely – Hollywood!

In time he rose through the ranks and became a full-on producer and Vice President of Production at Paramount Pictures. His production career has been long and successful; his projects have included The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Mission: Impossible III, and the recent adaptation of The Wolfman starring Benicio del Toro and Anthony Hopkins.

Stratton began his young adult life as a Pre-Med student at Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt Universities, but ultimately chose to follow his dreams and work his way into the film industry. During his early career he filled smaller behind-the-scenes roles like location manager (The Big Chill) and casting director (Wise Blood). You can even catch sight of Stratton acting in a few films – watch out for him pleasantly chatting with a zombie-like alien in John Carpenter’s They Live!

November 24, 2011, the Gusi Peace Prize Award for Statesmanship, at the Philippines International Convention Centre in Manila.

In the year 2010 he was bestowed with the International Jurist Award in New Delhi for his contribution to World Peace.

He was for many years President of the Global Peace Council of the Universal Peace Federation until he latterly assumed the position of co-chairman of the Global Peace Festival Foundation.
A strong believer that dialogue and diplomacy are essentials in maintaining world peace and security, his is active in several important international organizations like the European Centre for Peace Development of Belgrade, the World Future Council of Hamburg, the World Entrepreneurs Forum of Lyon and the World Energy Parliament of Trivandrum, India.

Deputy Assistant Administrator

Craig McLean is the deputy for NOAA’s Oceanic and Atmospheric Research programs and administration. He is responsible for daily operations and administration of NOAA’s research enterprise, and the execution of NOAA programs including the Climate program, the National Sea Grant Program, Ocean Exploration and Research, and Weather and Air Quality research.

He has previously served in NOAA as Executive Officer of the National Ocean Service, and was the founding Director of NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration. McLean served in uniform for nearly 25 years, retiring from NOAA’s Commissioned Corps in the grade of Captain after service at sea, underwater, and in operational, legal, and marine resource management positions. McLean served aboard hydrographic, oceanographic, and fisheries research ships and was the first commanding officer of NOAA’s largest fisheries research vessel, the 224-foot Gordon Gunter. He led NOAA’s innovation and planning for the Smithsonian Institution’s Ocean Hall, and achieved a National Ocean Action Plan goal of securing a permanent, dedicated ship for the national ocean exploration program, the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer.

A life long diver, he began exploring deep shipwrecks through decompression diving while in junior high school. These experiences have taken him to the Amazon River searching for freshwater dolphins, and to the USS MONITOR and RMS TITANIC searching for solutions in historic shipwreck management.

Vice Chairman

J. Cliff McCurry, CPCU serves as Vice-Chairman of Seacrest Partners, Inc., a privately-held insurance brokerage and employee benefits consulting firm based in Savannah, Georgia.

Mr. McCurry has been a vibrant force in the Savannah insurance and business community for more than 40 years. In 2009, Mr. McCurry resigned his position as Chairman of Willis HRH’s Savannah operation to join Seacrest Partners, a new and growing independent agency. Until that point in his career, Mr. McCurry had worked continuously for the same firm and its successors throughout multiple mergers since 1970.

In his role as Vice-Chairman of Seacrest Partners, Mr. McCurry oversees the firm’s business development activities.

Co- Founder & Chair Emeritus

Howard’s banking career spanned nearly 30 years including being the chief financial officer of the NYSE listed Citizens and Southern Realty Investors (Southmark Properties) and in helping to develop the C&S Bank’s (now Bank of America’s) High Technology Banking Group and Atlanta’s high technology business community.

For seven and one-half years from 1999-2007 Howard served on the board and as secretary, and chair of the Innovation and Technology Committee of the Georgia Department of Industry Trade & Tourism [GDITT] (now renamed the Georgia Department of Economic Development [GDEcD]).

After retiring from banking in July 1996, Howard returned to his hometown of Savannah where he was instrumental in establishing the Coastal Business, Education & Technology Alliance (CBETA) [now the Creative Coast Alliance] (TCCa) and initiating and developing the Georgia Tech Savannah Campus.