Release Date: 11/29/2007

PORTAGE, Ind. – Peter Laman has been named port director at the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor as of Dec. 3.

Laman, a New Orleans resident for the last eight years, has 25 years of management experience in port operations along the Gulf of Mexico and West Coast. Laman held numerous positions within Continental Grain Co. and its successor Cargill at some of the largest port facilities in the country.

"We are excited to be able to hire someone with Peter's extensive port operations and logistics experience," said Rich Cooper, executive director for the Ports of Indiana. "He is uniquely qualified for this position and will certainly be a great catalyst for helping to grow this port, the businesses located here and the Northwest Indiana economy."

Laman's recent duties with Cargill included management of maritime activities in Westwego and Reserve, La., as well as Tacoma, Wash., including management for ship, rail, barge and truck logistics, as well as oversight of $750 million in export facility assets. Laman previously worked in Indiana at the Continental Grain Co.'s Ohio River facility in Mount Vernon during the early 1980s.

"I am very excited about this opportunity and moving to Northwest Indiana," Laman said. "This port is a crown jewel for Indiana. I look forward to working with the great team of businesses, community leaders and Ports of Indiana staff that have made this facility so successful, and I plan to do my part to build on that success for the future."

Laman graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in agricultural engineering and served as a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, earning a National Defense Medal and Good Conduct Medal. Peter and his wife Kristi have three grown children and will be relocating to Northwest Indiana very soon.

The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor handled $820 million of shipments last year and is home to 28 companies on its 600-acre complex, located 18 miles from Chicago.

Media Contact: Jody Peacock, (317) 233-6225 or jpeacock@portsofindiana.com