James Hartung currently serves as the Vice-President of the Board of Trustees of Toledo Sister Cities International.  He is an internationally recognized leader in public port administration, intermodal-system’s development, management and urban affairs. He is the former President/CEO of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority and is recognized for directing, and promoting Northwest Ohio as a major intermodal center and for the administration of a nationally recognized Innovative Project Financing Program. 

He had been a major spokesman for the maritime industry regionally, nationally and internationally.  He served as Chairman of the American Association of Port Authority and served 8 years as Chairman of The International Cargo Handling Coordination Association. He has been the recipient of numerous awards.  In 1992 James was named Great Lakes Man of the year, The 2002,Humanitarian of the Year by the Greater Toledo Urban League, the 2003 Transportation Professional of the Year by the Toledo Transportation Cub and in 2001 was the first recipient of the Northwest Indiana World Trade Council’s James H. Hartung Lifetime Achievement and Leadership Award which is now awarded annually for leadership in promoting international commerce and understanding.