Port of Green Bay: Dean Haen recognized for efforts on behalf of the Great Lakes

(Green Bay, Wis.) – Dean Haen, the Brown County Port & Resource Recovery director, has been honored as the Wisconsin Sea Grant Great Lakes Champion for 2021. The new award from the Sea Grant program will be given every two years to an individual, business, organization or program that demonstrates a long-term commitment to the care and concern of the Great Lakes.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be the first recipient of such an award from the Sea Grant program,” Haen said. “I view this primarily as professional recognition but also take pride in my personal action and interest that champion the Great Lakes.”

In presenting the award, Sea Grant officials credited Haen for his leadership which has resulted in economic and ecological contributions by the Port of Green Bay. With an average of 2 million tons of cargo moving through the Port each year, the Port generates many jobs and has a significant impact on the regional economy. 

As Port Director, Haen advocates for waterborne commerce, jobs creation, functional state and federal legislation and work on economic development and transportation efforts. Haen has also played an integral role in the restoration of the Cat Island Chain in the bay of Green Bay, which is bringing back 1,200 acres that provide shoreline protection and habitat for endangers reptiles and birds. The Cat Island Chain also acts as a storage facility for material dredged from the shipping channel, beneficially using material that would otherwise require costly disposal.

Haen adds that he is working to make a difference on several generational projects. “A current one is the acquisition and repurposing of the Pulliam power plant property into a growth opportunity for the Port while also moving the coal piles out of the downtown area.”

Headquartered at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin Sea Grant is a statewide program of basic and applied research, education, and outreach and technology transfer dedicated to the stewardship and sustainable use of the nation’s Great Lakes and ocean resources.

Media note: a photo of Dean Haen is attached to this email. 

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About the Port of Green Bay: The Port of Green Bay exists to enhance the prosperity of the people of Northeast Wisconsin by providing facilities and infrastructure able to effectively and efficiently move commodities and goods across the nation. As the western-most port of Lake Michigan, the Port of Green Bay offers a direct route for shipping from the Midwest to the rest of the world. The Port of Green Bay has 14 active terminal operators located along three miles of the Fox River involved in shipping commodities: Ace Marine, C. Reiss Coal Company, Construction Resources Management, Flint Hills Resources, Fox River Terminals, Georgia-Pacific, Graymont, GLC Minerals, KK Integrated Logistics, Lafarge Northern America, RGL, Sanimax, St. Mary’s Cement and U.S. Venture.