Part of the Cooper/Ports America (C/PA) team since 1997, Penny Burney has honed a number of skills in her 23 years with the Houston-based company, experienced the company’s growth and development first-hand, and continues to have a hand in numerous roles that are responsible for C/PA’s continued success.
“Prior to coming to C/PA I had worked in data entry for five years,” Penny said. “After taking a year off to stay home with my children, I went back into the world of data entry before being hired by Britton Cooper at what was then Port Cooper/T. Smith.”
Not long after coming aboard Port Cooper/T. Smith, the company underwent a change of identity to become Cooper/T. Smith Stevedoring, though Penny’s responsibilities went unaltered.
“Through the years I’ve worn many hats, which when working for Cooper/T. Smith is a privilege,” she enthused. “I’ve worked as a data entry clerk for the warehouses, and I learned to bill the stuffing and stripping of containers for the CFS station at Barbour’s Cut. Eventually, I learned how to breakout manifests, complete ILA payroll and maintain ship and machinery logs.”
After becoming a stevedore biller, she progressed to heading up the compliance portion of the company’s Foreign Trade Zone, which she’s still responsible for to this day. Currently, Penny’s duties fall under the title of Office Manager, a role she was appointed to in 2016 upon the firm’s merger with Ports America to become Cooper/Ports America. In this role she primarily assists Dave Morgan, President, C/PA, and Don Johnson, CFO, C/PA, but also works with the safety team to manage the I-Auditor program (safety observation app) and statistics, creates spreadsheets for production data and presentations for meetings and tradeshows.
“My job is comprised of many little components,” Penny explained. “But even though they’re small, they’re important.”
Rounding out Penny’s responsibilities is relocating employees to new sites, assisting with corporate event planning, dabbling in IT and Human Resources, as needed, and even opening, maintaining, and closing office sites.
Having had her hand in so many aspects of the business with such a broad spectrum of duties, Penny has developed a motto for her professional life: “I don’t ask anyone to do anything I haven’t done myself.”
Penny cherishes the connections she’s made over the years, from managers all the way to dock workers. “C/PA is my second family,” she shared. “I’ve worked with some for more than 20 years and some for just a few short months. I believe it’s the quality of time that’s sometimes more important than the quantity.”
On her future with C/PA, Penny ponders, “When I come to work, I never dread it. I love working with people and helping them solve problems and achieve goals -- there’s always something new to learn. The day I quit learning is the day it’s time to pack my things, because in the stevedore business there’s always something new, and I strive to remain teachable.”
When she began her professional journey with Port Cooper/T. Smith in 1997, Penny knew nothing of the logistics and transportation industry, let alone what a stevedore was. With 23 years of experience under her belt, she’s become a lynchpin of the Houston operation.
“I’ve learned many valuable life lessons and met some great people during my time here,” she declared. “I’m thankful I was given the opportunity to become part of this team.”