John Saylor

John Saylor has over 40 years of diversified transportation, logistical and trade development experience.  Mr. Saylor’s introduction into the world of international trade and transportation began in 1968 after serving four years in the U.S. Marine Corps., whereupon he worked for a Miami based freight forwarder with extensive operations throughout Central and South America.  During this time period he was based in Guatemala City overseeing the company’s Central American operations.  Upon his return to the US in 1973 Mr. Saylor joined P. Lorillard Tobacco Corp., manufacturer of Kent and Newport cigarettes as their International Traffic Manager.  In 1976 British American Tobacco acquired Lorillard’s international business and merged it into their U.S. operating arm, Brown and Williamson Tobacco where Mr. Saylor took over as Director of International Operations for B&W overseeing export manufacturing, order processing and distribution worldwide.  In 1982 he also assumed control as Director of the newly formed B&W Trading Company, an international trading company established by B&W to offset tobacco and cigarette sales through counter-trade and bartering.  Subsequently Mr. Saylor later partnered in trade consulting and freight forwarding and Customs brokerage firms as President of American Overseas Transport.  Most recently Mr. Saylor was Director of Maritime Services for Halcrow, Inc. a global consulting firm specializing in infrastructure planning, engineering and finance.

 

In 1984 Mr. Saylor was appointed Commissioner of the Virginia Port Authority by Virginia Governor Charles Robb to a term of 5 years.  Prior to this appointment, Mr. Saylor served as Chairman of the National Maritime Council’s Shipper Advisory Board in Washington, DC.

 

Mr. Saylor is actively involved in trade issues and currently is the Chairman of the Virginia-Washington, DC District Export Council having been initially appointed in 2005.  In 2009 Mr. Saylor served as the Chairman of the Annual National District Export Council Conference which was held in Washington, DC.  Mr. Saylor is also President of the U.S.-Serbia Business Council (formerly the US-Yugoslav Business Council) and in 2003 he single handedly lobbied for and succeeded in obtaining the restoration of Most Favored Nation Status (Normal Trade Relations) for Yugoslavia.  Considered a Balkan expert Mr. Saylor is on call to the State Department concerning trade and political issues in this region.  Working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Mr. Saylor actively participated in various Chamber business coalitions for a number of Free Trade Agreements including Singapore, DR-CAFTA and the most recent FTA’s for Panama, Colombia and Korea.

 

Mr. Saylor was born in Los Angeles and has for many years called Virginia his home.  He attended Miami-Dade Junior College and the University of North Carolina Greensboro.  He is an avid outdoorsman where he considers mountain climbing his passion.  He bikes, runs, rock climbs, skis, sails (Hobi Cat’s) and to relax he plays a little golf.