PAUL ANDERSON

PRESIDENT & CEO, PORT TAMPA BAY, TAMPA

Port Tampa Bay is Florida’s largest seaport by tonnage and footprint. The $18-billion economic engine directly employs 160 people and touches more than 85,000 jobs across west central Florida. Anderson has been in the lead role for more than 11 years. During his tenure, the port has almost doubled its operating income to exceed $80 million. He is chair of the American Association of Port Authorities and previously chaired the Florida Ports Council, the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council and the Coalition for America’s Gateways & Trade Corridors.

EDUCATION: University of Florida (BS)

IF I WERE GOVERNOR: My priority would be to promote policy that will protect and preserve our state’s precious water resources, both from a habitat standpoint and for the future of our citizens’ water supply.

MENTOR: My dad has always been a mentor to me and served as both an inspiration and a model for me. Instead of going to a university to play football, he joined the Marine Corps to serve his country, and to help support his parents, literally sharecroppers. While deployed, my Dad sent home every dollar he earned, he was so committed to his family even while overseas.

READING: Team of Teams, by Gen. Stanley McChrystal