Port Tampa Bay Chairman Stephen W. Swindal to Receive Esteemed Captain James McKay Port Achievement Award

- Port Tampa Bay Chairman Stephen W. Swindal has been named the recipient of the 2020 Captain James McKay Port Achievement Award, an award presented each year to a highly involved and committed port industry leader. Chairman Swindal received the award at the Port Tampa Bay Board meeting on Dec. 15. He occupies Tampa Port Authority Board of Commissioners Seat #4, one of two seats appointed by the Governor of the State of Florida from a list of persons who have maritime industry backgrounds nominated for that purpose by a nominating committee.

Chairman Swindal’s maritime career began working for American Ship Building Co., which specializes in shipbuilding, major conversion and repair work, and barge construction. Additionally, he operated bulk freighters transporting grain on the Great Lakes.

He is also the former CEO of Bay Transportation, which has operations on both U.S. coasts, the Caribbean, Brazil, and Mexico. He is now the owner and founder of Pan American Sports Group LLC (PASG), which developed and constructed a baseball academy in the Dominican Republic that provides housing, education, and training for prospective baseball talent that, upon completion, have the opportunity to sign with Major League Baseball clubs. He is also the Chairman of Marine Towing of Tampa, LLC, which does ship work in the Ports of Tampa and Manatee, and was elected to a four-year term to the Board of Directors of the Wildlife Foundation of Florida.

The James McKay Award is named in honor of the father of the Port who began running ships between Tampa, Mobile, and New Orleans in the mid-1800s. The annual Anchor Ball, where this award is typically given, will not be taking place this year due to COVID-19.

Chairman Swindal is a lifetime resident of the Tampa community. He graduated from Berkley Preparatory School, served as a gubernatorial appointee to the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council from 1986-1993, and is currently a member of the Propeller Club of Tampa and a Board Member of the Salvation Army for the Tampa chapter.