Colonial Terminals’ Pratt Summers Interviews Former President George W. Bush at ILTA Conference

(HOUSTON, TX / SAVANNAH, GA) Pratt Summers, vice president of Savannah’s Colonial Terminals, had the honor of interviewing former President George W. Bush at the International Liquid Terminals Association’s 2024 annual conference and trade show held May 6 through 8 in Houston. Summers carried out the interview as part of his duties as ILTA’s chairman of the board.

“This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet and interview our 43rd president,” Summers said. “It only cemented my respect for Mr. Bush.”

During the wide-ranging 90-minute interview, the former president discussed his calling to enter politics, American energy policy, contemporary world leaders, and a variety of other topics. He also shared his inspiration for honoring those wounded under his command in his book of portraiture entitled “Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors.”

ILTA is an advocate and key resource for the liquid terminal industry. The lobbying group is headquartered in the Washington, DC, area, where it advocates on behalf of the liquid terminal industry in Congress and at various federal agencies. ILTA also maintains close working relationships with other organizations that interact with the tank storage industry.

Summers is currently serving a one-year term as chair of the ILTA’s board. He has been the Vice President of Colonial Terminals, a subsidiary of the Savannah-based Colonial Group, for approximately 15 years. Colonial Group is a privately held, family-owned company specializing in energy, distribution, storage, and logistics. Summers has been with the company for 27 years, having assumed the role of Vice President in 2009.

ABOUT ILTA
Founded in 1974, the International Liquid Terminals Association represents more than 85 companies operating liquid terminals in all 50 states and in over 40 countries. Its members’ facilities provide critical links between all modes of transportation for liquid commodities, such as crude oil, petroleum products, chemicals, renewable fuels, fertilizer, vegetable oils and other food-grade materials that are central to the U.S. economy. Terminals provide essential logistics services that spur trade both within the United States and connect the U.S. economy with overseas markets. ILTA’s membership also includes about 400 companies that supply equipment and services to the terminal industry.

ABOUT COLONIAL TERMINALS
Colonial Terminals (CTI) is an industry leader in the handling and storage of liquid and dry bulk products. Colonial Terminals began operations in 1934 with the construction of a 21-acre, deep-water terminal located on the Savannah River to serve the burgeoning import and export, petroleum storage market. Today, Colonial Terminals owns and operates the largest independent liquid and dry bulk storage facilities with breakbulk capability in the southeastern United States. Colonial Terminals is a wholly owned subsidiary of Colonial Group, Inc. Learn more at www.colonialterminals.

(Photo Credit: Annie Mulligan)
ILTA Chairman of the Board Pratt Summers of Colonial Terminals interviews President George W. Bush in Houston