 
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Services |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three New Operations Managers On The Job At Key MORAN Ports Atrio of experienced maritime professionals is working to make operations smoother and more efficient at MORAN ports on the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico. Taking over as operations managers within the last year have been Al Cook in Norfolk, Matthew Brock in Jacksonville and Mark Koenig in Port Arthur. Two are graduates of Texas Maritime Academy and all three have prior experience with shipping companies and management positions within the marine industry. "These three represent a very valuable infusion of young management enthusiasm," said MORAN president Ted Tregurtha. "We've been working with all three for many months now and it's clear that they are making a big difference at their individual ports and for the company in general."  Al Cook, a native of Jacksonville, took over as ops manager in Norfolk at the end of 2004, replacing Dick Qua who relocated from Norfolk to Savannah to become operations manager there. Cook, a 45-yearold Texas Maritime graduate, had previously been director of marine operations for Trailerbridge Inc. in Jacksonville. Together with Mark Vanty, vice president and general manager of Moran Towing of Virginia, he helps operate the second busiest of all MORAN ports, with close to 100 employees and more than a dozen tugboats. "The job changes from day to day," he said. "But that's the challenge of it. I could be working on personnel issues one day and then putting together a bid for an offshore towing job the next." Cook said he has been impressed with the dynamics of MORAN being a company with 150 years of history that is still actively planning for future business and investing in equipment that will be around for decades to come. "It's an interesting mix of heritage and forward thinking," he said.  Matthew Brock, a native of Charleston, S.C., and a graduate of the University of South Carolina, took over as operations manager in Jacksonville in early 2005, filling a spot formerly held by Tom Craighead, now vice president and general manager in that port. Brock, 32, had previously been operations manager for the Jacksonville office of Carolina Shipping Co. "I've been in the marine industry since my earliest years as an intern with the Maritime Association of the Port of Charleston," he said. "And now I've found a good home here with MORAN." "What I've noticed about MORAN is the way it treats its employees," he added. "It's a company that seems to care about its people, with training, and benefits and a responsiveness to the needs of the individual." In his new position, Brock said personnel issues consume a significant portion of his time. With about 30 employees, he said, he often has his hands full trying to keep everyone happy. "But it can certainly be gratifying when you are able to do that," he added.  Mark Koenig, a native of Jacksonville, took over as operations manager in Port Arthur in April, 2005. The 45-year-old Texas Maritime graduate has held a variety of maritime positions including shipboard billets during seven years at sea after graduation. He fills a position formerly held by Steve Kelly, now vice president and general manager of MORAN operations in Texas. Koenig also said that personnel and crewing issues consume a major portion of his time on the job. "It's the full range of licensing, documentation, training, hiring, individual needs and things that arise with crew change every Wednesday," he said. "These things consume a lot of time, but there are plenty of other challenges that come with operating any marine company on an around-the-clock basis." Koenig said he feels he has found his permanent professional home with MORAN. "I've worked for quite a few companies in this industry," he said. "I think this company has the best personnel policies and the greatest get-it-done attitude. The cooperation between ports is impressive.Everyone here seems to care about everyone else and about getting the job done for our customers. It's impressive." |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
50 Locust Avenue | New Canaan, CT 06840-4737 USA | Tel: 203.442.2800 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
