SESCO Cement announce the appointment of Jihad Chahine as Terminal Manager for its Port Redwing facility at Port Tampa Bay.
Chahine, a mechanical engineer and operations leader with experience at SESCO, will direct all terminal operations as the company advances toward full-scale production at its newest location.
Chahine joined SESCO Cement in June 2021 and most recently served as Vessel Operations Manager at SESCO’s Houston, Texas facility, the largest cement terminal in the US. In that role, he led lean and 5S implementation initiatives, oversaw vessel scheduling and unloading operations, managed preventative maintenance programs, and minimised demurrage exposure by balancing operational capacity with business demand. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at San Antonio and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
“Jihad’s deep knowledge of our systems, processes, and culture makes him the ideal leader to bring our Tampa terminal to its full potential, he helped us in Houston to maintain double digit growth in operations for 5 years in a row” said Mohamed El Nokali, Vice President of Operations at SESCO Group. “We are confident that under his leadership, our facility at Port Tampa Bay will deliver on the promise we’ve made to Florida’s construction industry.”
In his new role, Chahine is responsible for leading the Tampa terminal from commissioning through ramp-up to steady-state operations, ensuring safe and reliable performance, and collaborating cross-functionally to align operations with evolving business needs. He brings to Tampa the same operational discipline and continuous improvement mindset that helped establish SESCO's Houston facility as the largest cement terminal in the country.
“I’m proud to be part of SESCO’s expansion into Florida and excited by the opportunity to build something from the ground up here in Tampa,” said Chahine. “Our team is focused on delivering safe, efficient operations that support Florida’s construction sector and create lasting value for the community.”
SESCO Cement serves a variety of industries, including building products, manufacturing, distribution, and ready-mix plants. The Port Tampa Bay terminal is strategically positioned to serve Florida’s major construction markets via maritime shipping lanes, interstate highways, and rail networks. SESCO anticipates moving up to 500 000 t of cement and crushed limestone aggregate through the facility by the end of 2026 and will have a team of 25 Tampa-area employees in support of its expanding operations.
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