Scholarships & Awards
Bill Cofer Honored with HRGCC’s 2011 Commerce Builder Award
NORFOLK, Virginia – October 28, 2011 – The Hampton Roads Global Commerce Council presented its 2011 Commerce Builder Award to J. William (Bill) Cofer at the 63rd annual Virginia Conference on World Trade Banquet, held Thursday evening, October 27, 2011 in Norfolk.
The Commerce Builder Award is presented annually by the HRGCC to the person and/or organization responsible for outstanding contributions to the development of world trade. Bill Cofer was chosen as this year’s award recipient because of his tireless efforts to keep the Port of Virginia operating at full capacity and enhancing port operations to keep global commerce flowing through Hampton Roads. Cofer works with the Virginia legislature to promote the interests of the Port and the region. He works with the Coast Guard and Army Corp of Engineers to enhance port operations. It is in large part because of Cofer’s efforts on behalf of the port during Hurricane Irene that the port was able to open to commercial traffic in a remarkable 15 hours. Cofer is a forward thinker – always forecasting ways to enhance port operations and position Hampton Roads and Virginia as a leader in global commerce.
A Virginia native and graduate of Old Dominion University, Cofer plays an active role in the Hampton Roads maritime community. He was appointed to the Commonwealth’s Board for Branch Pilots in 1991 and has held the position of President of the Virginia Pilot Association since 1998. He previously served as President of the Virginia Maritime Association and is currently serving as its Chairman of the Board. Cofer represents the port as a member of the Virginia Area Homeland Security Executive Committee, and has served as Chairman of the Virginia Maritime Association’s Harbor Anchorage and Dredging Committee, the Fire Protection Committee, and the Hampton Roads Maritime Emergency Port Control Committee. His professional affiliations extend to additional roles including Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nauticus, Trustee in the American Pilots’ Association, member of the Executive Board of the Hampton Roads Partnership and a member of the Board of Directors of Festevents. Cofer previously served appointments to the Virginia Board of Transportation Safety and is a past Chairman of the Living River Restoration Trust Board of Trustees.
Cofer’s achievements exemplify the goals of the HRGCC and our regional trade community. HRGCC is dedicated to promoting the international commerce of the United States in general, and that of the port of Hampton Roads in particular. The Council’s primary mission is to bring together and serve the industries in Hampton Roads associated with national and international commerce, particularly the trucking, shipping, rail and air transport industries, through education, information-sharing, and networking opportunities. The success of Hampton Roads businesses in the global market is dependent on the service of its members, and Bill is an exceptional representative of all that our community has to offer.
Dawn Serafine, President
president@hrgcc.org
Scholarships
A $1,000 scholarship is awarded by the Hampton Roads Global Commerce Council annually to a high school senior bound for college. Candidates must apply and submit a 500-word essay on a topic chosen by HRGCC. Scholarships are presented in March each year. The essay theme for 2011 was “The expansion of the Panama Canal will double its capacity of 2014. What impact will this expansion have on the world’s ocean trade routes and, in particular, on the Port of Hampton Roads?”
Our 2011 winner is Veronica Ladao of Salem High School, Virginia Beach.
An essay topic and application information for 2012 will be available in the fall
