Port of Los Angeles Executive Cynthia Ruiz Named to Federal Panel

SAN PEDRO, Calif. — Port of Los Angeles Deputy Executive Director for External Affairs Cynthia Ruiz has been named to the Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness by Acting U.S. Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank. The Committee, comprised of 40 senior-level representatives of multiple industries and supply chain experts, will advise the Secretary, the U.S. Department of Transportation and other U.S. agencies on issues that affect the international competitiveness of U.S. businesses. The Committee holds its first meeting at the U.S. Department of Commerce headquarters in Washington D.C. on October 19.

“The Obama administration recognizes that in order to be competitive in today’s global economy, American manufacturers need to be able to move products and goods securely, quickly and efficiently within our borders and beyond,” said Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank. “The Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness will provide crucial input on issues related to national freight infrastructure and policies so that we can best support millions of U.S. businesses, export goods, compete domestically and globally and support American jobs.”

“It’s a tremendous honor to represent the Port of Los Angeles on this new federal advisory committee,” said Ruiz. “As the competitiveness of global trade intensifies, ensuring a regular flow of communication between Washington and U.S. supply chain stakeholders will be more important than ever.”

The Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness will act as a liaison between industry and government, and is an important step toward ensuring regular contact with the supply chain industries, including manufacturers, distributors and exporters. The Committee’s advice will also be useful in the development of a national freight policy and in executing the President’s National Export Initiative, which aims to double U.S. exports by the end of 2014.

Committee members are leaders in their fields of expertise and represent supply chain firms, associations, stakeholders, community organizations, and also include experts from academia.

Ruiz’s appointment will provide the Port and regional stakeholders an important opportunity for input on critical supply chain issues. As external relations deputy executive director at the Port, Ruiz is responsible for providing strategic external relations leadership and support to Port senior management and Harbor Commissioners regarding legislative policy, communications and regional economic opportunities that require Port and City collaboration.

Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson will serve on the Committee as non-voting members, and the Department of Commerce will work closely with those and other agencies to coordinate government activities and programs to implement Committee recommendations.

U.S. supply chains are critically dependent on the quality and capacity of America’s freight transportation network – the largest and most extensive freight infrastructure in the world. The network serves over 7.5 million U.S. business establishments, carrying some 13 billion tons of raw materials and finished goods annually between production and consumption centers.