The Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council (FSTED) announced it has elected a new slate of officers for the 2022-2024 cycle. Paul Anderson, President and CEO of Port Tampa Bay, was elected Chair, Alex King, Executive Director of Port Panama City, was elected Vice Chair, and Clark Merritt, Port of Pensacola Port Director, was elected Secretary.
Merritt was named the Port of Pensacola Port Director in June, 2021 after having served as the Deputy Port Director. A graduate of the University of Florida, he was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy. Before retiring from the military, he served on active duty with tours in tactical aviation squadrons, including combat operations during the first Gulf War, and as a maintenance officer for the Blue Angels.
FSTED is charged with carrying out Florida’s economic development mission through implementation of seaport capital improvement projects at the local level. Its members consist of port directors from Florida’s 15 seaports, and representatives from the Florida Department of Transportation and Department of Economic Opportunity.