HUNTSVILLE-The North Alabama International Trade Association
Rick Tucker
(NAITA) today awarded the 2013 International Trade Advocate Award to Rick Tucker, Executive Director of the Port of Huntsville and the Huntsville/Madison County Airport Authority. The NAITA International Trade Advocate Award honors and recognizes an individual who has contributed significantly to the advancement of international trade in general and the vision and mission of NAITA in particular.
The 2013 recipient of the NAITA International Trade Advocate Award is a true visionary and a key player in creating and ensuring North Alabama’s vital international trade infrastructure. Under Mr. Tucker’s leadership of the Port of Huntsville, the International Intermodal Center has seen the expansion of international air cargo flights to Europe, Mexico, Hong Kong, and Brazil, and is ranked the 14th largest airport in the U.S. for international air cargo.
For more than 20 years, Rick Tucker has been committed to promoting international trade and the North Alabama region’s strong economic growth. He has been actively involved in NAITA during that time, serving as President in 1998, and he has served as NAITA’s Treasurer since 2006.
Under Mr. Tucker’s direction, the Port of Huntsville has been one of NAITA’s strongest supporters and has provided an excellent venue for training and networking activities. Mr. Tucker has also included NAITA and its members in Port of Huntsville events promoting interaction between the business community and the global transportation arena.
Mr. Tucker has been instrumental in setting the strategic direction of NAITA, and he has
helped to ensure the financial stability of the organization. His leadership has certainly
contributed to the organization’s position as the resource for international trade in North
Alabama. Rick Tucker is truly a visionary when it comes to global trade and NAITA’s
continued influence through trade education, training and networking.
As Executive Director of the Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority, Rick Tucker is
responsible for the overall management of activities under the jurisdiction of the Port of
Huntsville, including Huntsville International Airport, the International Intermodal Center, and
the Jetplex Industrial Park. At Huntsville International Airport, he has overseen the
extension of the west runway to 12,600 feet; construction of a new 219-foot air traffic control
tower; construction of a nearly 3,000 space parking deck; and completion of a $92 million,
5-year terminal area capital improvement project. Under his direction, growth at the
International Intermodal Center includes completion of a $17 million expansion; construction
of a 100,000 square-foot facility for Panalpina and the addition of a 92,493-square foot air
cargo facility which includes 5,250 square feet of cold storage and 11,000 square feet of
temperature control storage; the growth of rail cargo activity by 91% and the growth of air
cargo activity by 240%. He has guided the development of the Jetplex Industrial Park to
successfully recruit two International Diesel plants; the growth of industrial park square
footage by approximately 2 million square feet; and the addition of more than 30 new
tenants.
Rick Tucker was recognized today at the NAITA Annual Meeting at The Westin as a
true global visionary. His longtime support of NAITA’s vision and mission makes him
an ideal recipient of the International Trade Advocate Award.
About NAITA – 30 Years of Trade Excellence
The North Alabama International Trade Association (NAITA) for 30 years has been a
business-driven non-profit membership organization that promotes economic growth
through international trade education, training, and networking. For further information,
please visit www.naita.org.
MEDIA RELEASE-NAITA
