Press Releases

Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson Announces PortMiami Director and CEO Juan M. Kuryla as Her Official Guest for the State of the Union Address

Today, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson, (FL-24) announced that PortMiami Director and CEO, Juan M. Kuryla will be her official guest for this evening's State of the Union address by President Obama.

"It is a privilege to be joined by PortMiami Director and CEO Juan M. Kuryla tonight as President Obama addresses our nation," said Congresswoman Wilson. "As the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Florida Ports Caucus and the Congressional Full Employment Caucus, ports and jobs are my top priorities in Congress. PortMiami has an economic impact of $27 billion, generates more than 207,000 jobs, and it is projected to keep growing. It is honor to represent PortMiami and I look forward to continuing to work with Director Kuryla on issues important to South Florida."

On April 1, 2014, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez appointed Mr. Kuryla to the position of Director of PortMiami, where he oversees the operations and capital development for the largest cruise port in the world, and #1 cargo port on the East Coast for port productivity and performance.

"Congresswoman Frederica Wilson has been a strong advocate not only for PortMiami, but Florida's 15 deep-water seaports," said PortMiami Director and CEO Juan M. Kuryla. "The Congresswoman has played a vital role in banding together a bipartisan caucus to push the interests of Florida's seaports in the nation's capital. It is an honor to have been selected as her guest for this evening's State of the Union address."

With many capital improvements in excess of $1 billion reaching important milestones, PortMiami is gearing up for the new generation of containerized cargo. Completed projects include four new Super-post-Panamax gantry cranes, a new restack facility, newly restored on-dock rail service, as well as a new access tunnel linking the port directly to the national highway system. Additionally, the deepening of the Port's main cargo channel from a water depth of -42 feet to -50/-52 feet will position Miami as the most convenient global transshipment hub on the North American East Coast. When completed this summer, PortMiami will be the only U.S. Atlantic port south of Norfolk, Virginia at -50 ft.

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Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a third-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school. Congresswoman Wilson also founded the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida's harbors and waterways.