Ships of the Sea host Molly Taylor interviews Dave Manns, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Port City Logistics, about the essential role of third-party logistics providers in moving goods through the Port of Savannah and connecting global supply chains to consumers.

Manns explains how Port City Logistics supports customers through drayage, warehousing, transportation, and distribution, including its 1.2-million-square-foot warehouse and the thousands of containers moving through its operations. He discusses the complexity behind everyday products reaching store shelves, the importance of efficiency and cost savings, and how logistics companies balance technology, automation, and hands-on expertise to meet the needs of diverse customers.

The conversation also explores Manns’s career journey across technology, automotive manufacturing, aerospace, and logistics, along with the lessons that have shaped his approach to leadership. He shares the importance of building trust, asking questions, continuing to learn, and creating a workplace culture where employees are encouraged to contribute ideas and understand how their work impacts the business. Manns also highlights career opportunities in supply chain management, from warehouse operations and forklift driving to data analytics, engineering, and specialized certifications.

Looking ahead, Manns discusses innovations that could reshape the logistics industry, including Port City Logistics’ work on linking containers for more efficient transportation, the potential of autonomous trucks, and the growing role of AI in analyzing data and reducing waste. He also emphasizes workforce development, mentorship, and the value of listening to employees on the warehouse floor. Throughout the conversation, Manns shares why Savannah’s maritime industry offers exciting career possibilities and encourages listeners to keep learning, asking questions, and finding ways to make a positive difference.

The Ships of the Sea podcast is recorded on location at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, housed in the historic William Scarbrough House, an elegant example of early Greek Revival architecture in the South. Built in 1819 for William Scarbrough, a prominent shipping merchant and the first president of the Savannah Steamship Company, the museum showcases a remarkable collection of ship models, paintings, and maritime antiques. In addition to its exquisite interior, the museum features the largest private gardens within Savannah’s historic district, designed to reflect a typical 19th-century parlor garden.

CONNECT WITH US:

A look inside Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Museum EVENTS

Education and Group Programs

Meet the Production Team Dee Daniels Media

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:42 What Dave Does

01:40 3PL And 4PL Basics

02:20 Port Centric Logistics

03:11 Drayage Explained

04:17 Warehouse Scale And Goods

05:53 Truck Types Breakdown

07:21 Warehouse Efficiency Hacks

08:06 People And Culture

10:18 Robots And AI Reality

12:53 Career Journey Origins

18:05 Mentors Trust And Questions

20:09 Wins Lows And Leadership

23:29 Logistics Through History

23:57 3PL Then and Now

25:05 Sears Pillow Airlift

26:46 Careers in Logistics

30:12 Systems and Data Wins

31:29 Engineering Better Work

33:01 Certs and Networking

35:44 Industry Complexity Today

37:34 Culture and Great Game

40:12 Future Tech and IREX

44:00 Parting Advice and Support

Ships of the Sea host Molly Taylor interviews Griff Lynch, outgoing CEO of the Georgia Ports Authority, and Kevin Price, incoming CEO, about the scale, impact, and future of Georgia’s maritime industry and the Port of Savannah.

Lynch and Price discuss the Georgia Ports Authority’s role in supporting Georgia’s economy, including its network of coastal and inland terminals, $1.8 billion in annual economic impact, and support of more than 605,000 jobs. They explore the strategic investments that have helped Savannah become the nation’s third-largest container port and the largest single container terminal in the Western Hemisphere, as well as the importance of rail, trucking, distribution, manufacturing, and agriculture to the region’s supply chain.

The conversation also focuses on careers in the maritime industry and the many paths available beyond traditional port operations. Lynch and Price share their own unconventional career journeys, discuss the value of gaining experience across different jobs and departments, and highlight workforce development programs that give young people opportunities to build careers at the Port, including positions such as crane operators and other skilled roles.

Looking ahead, they discuss the next generation of infrastructure at the Port of Savannah, including the planned expansion of Ocean Terminal, the future container terminal on Hutchinson Island, continued rail and highway connectivity, and the potential for a second Savannah River deepening project. Lynch and Price also share what makes working at the Port rewarding, the importance of thoughtful long-term planning, and why Savannah’s maritime industry offers an exciting career path for young people.

The Ships of the Sea podcast is recorded on location at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, housed in the historic William Scarbrough House, an elegant example of early Greek Revival architecture in the South. Built in 1819 for William Scarbrough, a prominent shipping merchant and the first president of the Savannah Steamship Company, the museum showcases a remarkable collection of ship models, paintings, and maritime antiques. In addition to its exquisite interior, the museum features the largest private gardens within Savannah’s historic district, designed to reflect a typical 19th-century parlor garden.

CONNECT WITH US:

A look inside Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Museum EVENTS

Education and Group Programs

Meet the Production Team Dee Daniels Media

CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST:

Griff Lynch CEO

Kevin Price President

Georgia Ports Authority

https://georgia.gov/organization/georgia-ports-authority

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Welcome to Ships of the Sea

00:38 What Georgia Ports Does

02:24 Savannah’s Strategic Advantage

03:11 Griff Lynch Role

04:18 Investing Billions Ahead

05:26 Kevin Price New CEO

07:19 Why the Long Transition

08:04 Ports Careers for Students

09:55 Griff Education Path

12:21 Kevin Career Switch

13:24 Virginia and Terminal Ops

14:13 Why Port Work Hooks You

15:14 Port Scorekeeping Culture

15:50 Leading Thoughtful Change

16:35 Next River Dredging Plans

18:39 Environmental Mitigation Costs

19:55 Life Working Waterfront

20:23 Rail Yard and Trains

22:22 Port Careers for Kids

25:30 Savannah Terminal Expansion

27:14 Passing the Torch

28:24 Museum Support and Wrap

Ships of the Sea host Molly Taylor interviews Frank Peeples Jr., president of Peeples Industries, about his vertically integrated Savannah-based port operations, including East Coast Terminal Company, Industrial Marine Services, Atlantic Marine Warehouse Company, and Atlantic Marine Logistics.

Peeples explains how owning land and facilities enables long-term planning, flexible labor, and turnkey service for customers, with East Savannah handling bulk and breakbulk cargo and West Savannah supporting container logistics near the Georgia Ports Authority with truck- and rail-served warehousing. He discusses logistics shifts driven by containerization, rail-to-container commodity transloading, and key exports such as wood pellets, including a lightning-triggered conveyor fire and the industry’s fire-prevention focus.

Peeples highlights his father’s patented wood-chip “densifier” that increased ship-loading efficiency, shares his mechanical engineering background, describes industry consolidation since the 1960s, and notes how tariffs and changing trade create new opportunities, global partnerships, and careers in maritime logistics.

The Ships of the Sea podcast is recorded on location at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, housed in the historic William Scarbrough House, an elegant example of early Greek Revival architecture in the South. Built in 1819 for William Scarbrough, a prominent shipping merchant and the first president of the Savannah Steamship Company, the museum showcases a remarkable collection of ship models, paintings, and maritime antiques. In addition to its exquisite interior, the museum features the largest private gardens within Savannah’s historic district, designed to reflect a typical 19th-century parlor garden.

CONNECT WITH US:

A look inside Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Museum EVENTS

Education and Group Programs

Meet the Production Team Dee Daniels Media

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Welcome to Ships of the Sea

00:27 Meet Frank Peoples

01:11 Vertical Integration Strategy

03:49 East and West Savannah Operations

05:27 Rail Served Container Logistics

08:33 Key Commodities Wood Pellets

09:55 Warehouse Fire and Safety

11:27 Stevedoring Innovation Densifier

14:28 Frank's Path Into the Business

16:17 Savannah Port History and Containers

20:24 Georgia Exports and Empty Boxes

21:44 Best Days Building Supply Chains

24:34 Making Wood Pellets Work

25:11 Always Watching Markets

26:53 Tariffs Mean Opportunity

28:13 Unexpected Cargo Stories

28:57 How Peoples Began

31:57 Family Legacy Next Gen

33:41 Ports Are a Symphony

36:28 Partners Beyond Savannah

37:26 Ship Owners Trading Firms

40:22 Trade Shows Associations

42:33 Careers in Maritime

44:54 Closing Thanks Support