Lorrie Taylor is the Executive Port Director/CEO for the Port of Orange. Recently she was featured in an article by Lamar University. Below is an excerpt from that story about the OC Port Director.
Known as America’s energy gateway, the Sabine-Neches Waterway is home to Southeast Texas’ four local ports – Port of Beaumont, Port of Orange, Port of Port Arthur, and Port of Sabine Pass – all of which are led by Lamar University (LU) alumni: Chris Fisher, port director/CEO for Port of Beaumont; Lorrie Taylor, executive port director/CEO for Port of Orange; Larry Kelley, port director/CEO for Port of Port Arthur; Mark Viator, port manager for Port of Sabine Pass.
Lorrie Taylor is the executive port director and CEO for the Orange County Navigation and Port District. A 1994 graduate with a BBA in accounting from Lamar University, Taylor credits the university for her technical skills in accounting, marketing and economics, and soft skills in public speaking, interviewing, and organization skills.
“I was a senior at Lamar University when I got my first adult job,” Taylor said. “It was from a job posting that I saw on the bulletin board at the Galloway Business School. It was a temporary job at ExxonMobil that helped me gain the experience that led me into my current career path.”
Taylor went on to receive a certificate as a certified public accountant, which set her apart from her peers and allowed her to transition from career beginnings in public accounting, to governmental accounting, to city management, and ultimately to her current role as port leader.
“The interesting thing about all of the local port leaders is that none of us set out to work at a port when we were starting our career,” she said. “I got here through accounting. Larry was a logistics manager at a warehouse. Chris started off in security. Mark was in marketing. We all had different paths that got us here, but that’s the best part about ports. They’re made up of accounting, human resources, marketing, engineering, logistics, warehouse operations, management, and so much more.”
With the addition of the new Master of Science in Port and Terminal Management at Lamar University, Taylor stresses the importance of the critical skills that the program can provide for the local economy.
“There are terminals all up and down the waterway,” she said. “There are refineries. We’re a huge producer of oil and gas. This is the industry for that here in Southeast Texas. The new master’s program at LU can open up so many doors because it teaches you about logistics, transportation on the waterway, etc. I do encourage people to consider this program. The curriculum is very robust, and it’s an excellent program in state-of-the-art facilities.”
One major project of note for the Port of Orange – the North Sabine Lake Island Project – is working to restore almost 2,400 acres on the north area of Pleasure Island in Port Arthur. This project includes a collaboration with Lamar University which will provide research on local fisheries and sociological impact. This region-wide project involving both Orange and Jefferson Counties will create barrier islands of about 600 acres in the Sabine-Neches Waterway which benefits Orange County by providing a critical placement area.
Taylor says that Lamar University’s role in this partnership and others has been invaluable to the Port of Orange, especially biology professor Dr. Matthew Hoch’s work collecting technical data on erosion, fish habitat, wind and wave action, and other crucial information that will benefit the port. She looks forward to seeing the educational, sociological and recreational impacts of the project, and continuing to build on the LU collaboration for future projects.
“I believe in Lamar University so much,” she said. “My two girls both attended LU as well. My oldest daughter received a nursing degree in 2021, and she has a successful career at St. Elizabeth Hospital as an RN, and my youngest daughter graduated in 2024 and has her civil engineering degree working for the Army Corps of Engineers in Port Arthur. I believe that Lamar sets you up for success.”
For the complete story about the LU grads running our ports, click here
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