Chang, Bray To Receive 1999 Connie Awards

The 1999 Containerization & Intermodal Institute's Connie Awards will be presented to Evergreen Group Chairman Dr. Yung-fa Chang and J. Robert Bray, Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority. The awards will be presented at an industry-wide luncheon Dec. 14, 1999 at the Marriott World Trade Center in New York. Both recipients were selected through an industry ballot. Group Chairman Chang is being honored for his leadership in founding and developing Evergreen into one of the world's largest container carriers with innovative round-the-world services serving every continent. Mr. Bray, recently installed chairman of the America Association of Port Authorities, is a lawyer who has spent more than an unprecedented 32 years in the port business, including service as VPA's Executive Director since 1978. Dr. Chang founded Evergreen in his native Taiwan in 1968 with a single chartered vessel. Today he heads a business empire that includes Evergreen worldwide ocean services, an industrial division that markets and builds shipping containers, terminals, depots, and inland transportation facilities; a computer company, and a leisure industries company. Evergreen also owns and operates international passenger and cargo airline, EVA Airways. Evergreen began its full container regular liner service in 1975 between the North American continent and the Far East via Atlantic Coast ports. In the following year, expanded this service to include the U.S. Gulf and separate services to the U.S. Pacific Coast. And in 1979, under hardship conditions, Evergreen opened the Far East/Europe trade‹a precursor to what would come next. In 1984, Evergreen inaugurated its weekly Eastbound and Westbound Round-the-World full container service--a two-way commitment not available at that time. Today, the Evergreen Group employs more than 6,000 people worldwide in offices and agents in more than 70 locations around the world. The ocean fleet is made up of more than 100 vessels representing more than two million deadweight tons. Michael Berzon, A member of the CII Executive Committee, notes: "Evergreen's years of continuous development and of maintaining a leadership position as one of the world's major container shipping line is credited to the vision and innovative spirit of Group Chairman Chang. It is appropriate that he be honored this year‹the 25th year after he commenced the carrier's container services." Bobby Bray has overseen the unification of the Port of Virginia, inaugurating strategic marketing and development plans, creating an innovative and aggressive marketing program, and installing the latest state-of-the-art equipment at it facilities. His initiatives have been largely responsible for the significant increase in annual tonnage from two million tons in 1982 to more than 11 million last year. In terms of general cargo, the port has moved from 6th to 2nd place on the U. S. East Coast. In terms of total oceanborne cargo, it consistently ranks among the largest. A native of Portsmouth, VA, Mr. Bray joined the VPA as its General Counsel in 1968. His more than 30 years in port leadership ranks him as having the longest tenure in this industry in the United States. Mr. Bray serves on numerous boards and committees, including Virginia International Terminals, Inc.; Virginia Coal Research Development Advisory Board, the South Atlantic and Caribbean Ports Association, and the Hampton Roads Partnership, among others. "Bobby Bray has devoted his entire career to port management, ensuring that Virginia's ports adapted, changed and upgraded over the years to meet the challenges of containerization and intermodalism," said Mr. Berzon. "In addition, Bobby Bray's involvement in port activities on national and international levels has allowed others to thrive based on his leadership." The event will also feature CII scholarships that will be announced later. They will be given to deserving midshipmen at the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY. C&II is the oldest trade association serving all modes involved in international transportation utilizing containerization and intermodalism. The luncheon is $90 per person or $850 per table of ten. Tickets and sponsorships are available from CII's office. Contact Barbara Yeninas, Executive Director, at (973) 226-0160 or fax to (973) 364-1212, e-mail: [email protected].