SC Ports CEO Melvin named 2023 Leading Woman

South Carolina Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin was named 2023 Leading Woman by SC Women in Leadership.

SC Women in Leadership celebrates South Carolina women who have blazed trails in civic leadership. Melvin received the Leading Woman award for her commitment to working across party lines and working to create more economic opportunities in South Carolina.

“I am honored to be recognized by SC Women in Leadership as a leader whose work helps to improve the quality of life for South Carolinians,” Melvin said. “Throughout my career, I have seen the importance of working toward a common goal and having a diverse group of decision makers at the table.”

Melvin was also recognized for her role leading the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project, in partnership with many elected leaders and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District.

For over a decade, Melvin navigated complex regulatory processes and worked to secure the $580 million in state and federal funding needed to complete the project.

Charleston now has the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast at 52 feet.

“Barbara Melvin is navigating uncharted waters as the first woman to lead a port of this size,” said Barbara Rackes, CEO and president of the SC Women in Leadership Board of Directors. “She has proved herself a capable captain, working collaboratively with state elected leaders, members of Congress, state and federal agencies, project partners, and business and maritime community leaders. We celebrate her achievements as a model our future women leaders can emulate.”