Joe Matheny News

For the first time in its history, more than 3 million multi-day cruise passengers sailed from Port Canaveral, contributing $40 million in cruise revenue during the fiscal year ending September 30, also a record as newer and larger cruise ships and 66 additional ship calls helped boost passenger totals. Cruise traffic rose 16.08 per percent with 3,100,199 passengers. Overall, Port Canaveral’s total revenues surged dramatically to nearly $57.8 million, eclipsing the previous Port record of $51.2 in 2006 by 13 percent.

In an unanimous vote during its August Board meeting, the Canaveral Port Authority approved construction of a new Welcome Center and development of an entertainment district on the south-side of Port Canaveral. The $16.6 million Canaveral Cove project is scheduled for completion in June 2013. GWWO, Inc. of Baltimore, Maryland, will design the 15,000-square foot Welcome Center. It will include exhibit areas, movie theater/auditorium, and offices. “We envision the Welcome Center and infrastructure improvements as a catalyst for private development on other property at the Port…

The Canaveral Port Authority closed on a $42m loan from PNC Financial Services Group to accelerate the development of a new cruise terminal and cargo facilities. The 3.14 percent interest rate loan has a term of 13 years and with the Port’s existing debt, will enable Port Canaveral to be debt free in 2023.    During its December Board meeting, the Commission voted unanimously to supplement its own revenues for the $100m expansion program in order to move forward to take advantage of low construction costs.   “Because of our Commission’s action, we were able to close this loan quickly to secure very advantageous terms to support future development of the Port,” said Joe Matheny, Vice Chairman of the Canaveral Port Authority Commission.”

During its first meeting of 2008, the Canaveral Port Authority elected Titusville attorney Joe Matheny as the new chairman of the Board of Commissioners. The five-member board voted unanimously for Matheny, the District 2 representative who has served on the board since 1998. "We have experienced dramatic success during the past two years with topping the $50 million revenue mark for the first time in our history, moving into the Port's new modern administration building, and signing major cargo deals such as the new Vitol fuel tank farm," Matheny said after the Board vote. Matheny secedes outgoing chairman Tom Goodson of Rockledge, who owns a paving company. The District 3 representative was elected to the Board in 2002.

Rodney Ketcham, the owner of a Cocoa Beach commercial real estate firm, was elected chairman of the Canaveral Port Authority during the board's first meeting of 2002. Other officers elected were: Raymond Sharkey as vice chairman, a retired aerospace manager serving his second term representing District 1; Donald Molitor as secretary/treasurer, the retired telecommunications business owner represents District 3 and also is serving his second term. Other board members are: Titusville attorney Joe Matheny, a second-term representative of District 2, and Ralph Kennedy, a construction business owner and Port Commissioner since 1990. He represents District 4.

Rockledge businessman Tom Goodson formally has been installed on the board of the Canaveral Port Authority, replacing Donald Molitor, who served eight years on the commission. had when I was a child," says Goodson, owner of Goodson Paving and Seminole Curbs. Commission. In an unanimous vote, Rodney Ketcham, the owner of Rodney Ketcham Realty, will serve as chairman for a second consecutive year. "Thank you for your confidence and support. It's an honor to serve with you," Ketcham said. anniversary and it looks like a good, fun year ahead." Ketcham represents District 5. Retired aerospace manager Raymond Sharkey also will serve a second consecutive term as vice chairman of the board. District 1. represents District 4.