2018 Conference Speakers

Angus Campbell was appointed Corporate Director – Energy Projects in 2016 to support the achievement of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement’s (BSM) business growth objectives in the energy sector, focusing on the development of commercially viable gas supply and energy infrastructure projects.  Previously, Angus served as Managing Director of BSM United Kingdom, appointed in 2013, and bringing extensive experience with him to the role.

Before joining BSM, Angus held the position of Owner/Principal Consultant at CH4 Marine Advisory, a consultancy company dealing with the commercial development of marine transportation related to oil, gas and maritime security.

Angus has been in the shipping industry for over 40 years, working at Denholm Ship Management, Seatrain and for 30 years in senior positions at Overseas Ship Holding Group.  Angus’ operational background is specialised on managing dry/wet and gas carriers and his focus is energy transportation.

Stuart Morstead is an experienced high-tech entrepreneur and enterprise counselor. As Co-founder of Arundo, Stuart brings hands-on experience as a veteran co-founder of two previous high-tech services companies and a deep appreciation of the challenges of managing complex enterprises, especially in asset-intensive industries.  Prior to his entrepreneurial success, Stuart had a decade-long career at McKinsey & Company where he had operational responsibility for McKinsey’s IT practice in the Southern US and Northern Latin America. His tenure with McKinsey includes many years of extensive work in the Oil & Gas and high technology sectors. Stuart holds a BA in Economics from Rice University and an MBA from INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France.  He has served as an Adjunct Professor in the Jones School of Business at Rice where he lectured on the implications of IP-based technologies for asset-intensive industries.

Jan-Willem van den Dijssel is an accomplished trader and business leader with over 20 years’ experience in the maritime trading industry. In his current role, Jan-Willem is responsible for the general management of Cargill’s business across the Americas.

Jan-Willem joined Cargill in 1996 as a grain trader in Santiago de Chile within the Latin America business unit. Later, he successfully held trading roles in Cargill’s global corporate headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota and in Miami, Florida.

In 2004, Jan-Willem moved to the Panamax desk of Cargill’s Ocean Transportation business in Geneva, Switzerland before he became manager of the Americas Handy desk. In 2011, Jan-Willem joined the New Jersey office as Americas Commercial Manager. In 2014, he was promoted to his current role of Americas Lead.

Jan-Willem studied Finance and Accounting at Glasgow University and in 1995 he graduated with an MSc in Business and Commerce from Groningen University in the Netherlands.

In January 2018, Jan-Willem was named as Cargill’s board representative of the North American Marine Environment Protection Association.

Kirsi Tikka is Executive Vice President, Senior Maritime Advisor at ABS, responsible for aligning ABS strategic planning, client development, and product and service offerings with the industry’s technical needs and requirements.

Previously, Tikka served as ABS Executive Vice President Global Marine, Europe Division President, and as Vice President and Chief Engineer. Before joining ABS in 2001, Tikka was a professor of Naval Architecture at Webb Institute in New York.  In addition to teaching, she carried out research on tanker structural strength and risk analysis, as well as active involvement in the U.S. National Research Council Marine Board studies on double hull tankers. Tikka also worked for Chevron Shipping in San Francisco and Wärtsilä Shipyards in Finland.

Tikka is a native of Finland and holds a doctorate degree in naval architecture and offshore engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and naval architecture from the University of Technology in Helsinki. She is a Fellow of both the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA). In 2012, Tikka received SNAME’s David W. Taylor Medal, the highest technical honor for naval architecture or marine engineering. She is a Foreign Member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering.

Gary Vogel currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc.  Prior to joining Eagle in September 2015, Mr. Vogel served as Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Clipper Group, Ltd. and as President at Van Ommeren Bulk Shipping (USA).  Mr. Vogel began his shore-side shipping career as a dry cargo shipbroker in 1988- where he was employed by Pinney, Inc. and later Skaarup Shipbrokers.

Mr. Vogel is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY, where he graduated with a B.S. in Marine Transportation, as well as a USCG Third Officers Unlimited Tonnage License.  He sailed briefly on container ships and product tankers and served as an officer in the US Naval reserve.  Mr. Vogel has also completed executive programs at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Vogel serves as a Director of Ship Finance International and on the Lloyds Register North American Advisory Committee.  Previously, he has served on the Board of Directors of the American Institute for International Steel, and as Membership Chairman of the Association of Shipbrokers and Agents.  Mr. Vogel has also been a member of Young Presidents Organization International (YPO/YPO Gold) since 2004 and serves as a Board Member of its Fairchester Gold Chapter.

John Sitilides, a Washington D.C. government affairs specialist and diplomacy consultant to the U.S. Department of State, shares his insights into U.S. and global risk trends, international security flashpoints and geopolitical strategies before C-suite executives, high-stakes decision makers and opinion leaders at investor, corporate and government conferences and events.

As Principal at Trilogy Advisors LLC since 2005, Sitilides manages a government affairs portfolio specializing in regulatory reform. He has testified before Congress and is a regular media commentator on national security and American politics on broadcast, print and digital media.

Since 2006, Sitilides chairs the State Department’s Advanced Area Studies Program for Southeast Europe (under a U.S. government contract) at the Foreign Service Institute, the primary training institution for U.S. diplomats and other foreign policy professionals.

Sitilides serves on the Board of Directors of 3doo Inc., Biovest, the Advanced Imaging Society, and International Orthodox Christian Charities.

He is a member of the Association of International Risk Intelligence Professionals; the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation, the Columbia University Club of Washington D.C., the Association of Former Senate Aides, the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies, and the New York State Society of Washington D.C.

Sitilides holds a Master’s Degree in International and Public Affairs from Columbia University.

Kenrick A. Ebanks is the Global Director, Commercial Services for the Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands(MACI).  He joined MACI in February 2006 as Head of Finance and IT has held various Senor Managerial positions within MACI.

Mr. Ebanks began his civil service career in the Portfolio of Finance in 1999. He held various senior manager positions including Deputy Accountant General of Government’s Treasury Department, a post he was appointed to in November 2004. Mr. Ebanks was also the first Chief Financial Officer of the Portfolio of Finance.

Mr. Ebanks is a member of the MACI Executive Management Team, the MACI Management Committee and the Maritime Sector Consultative Committee. He is an ex-officio member of the Cayman Islands Shipowners’ Advisory Council – Ships Committee and Yachts Committee.

Mr. Ebanks received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Tampa in Florida and is also a Certified Public Accountant.

Sherice joined Maples and Calder as counsel in 2013, and was elected as a partner in 2016. Sherice has been ranked in a number of legal directories, including Legal 500, Who’s Who Legal, IFLR1000 and Chambers Global.

Legal 500 recognised her as a key advisor and a ‘Leader in her Field’ and more recently were quoted as saying that she is ‘particularly terrific; she has particular expertise in yacht finance that is almost unique in the Western Hemisphere’.   She is ranked as a Leading Lawyer – Rising star in IFLR1000 2019.

Sherice has been ranked by Chambers and Partners for a number of years, where she has been praised for her excellent client service and in-depth knowledge of banking and finance, especially asset finance. Most recently they commented that she continues to impress peers and clients with her strong banking and finance knowledge.

Chambers Global 2018 recognises her as a specialist in asset finance, who heads the shipping practice. One peer reported: “She is fair and sensible to deal with, and a real expert on asset finance. She is always able to see the big picture while also being very good at dealing with nitty-gritty details.”

Sherice is the founding president of the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association Cayman Islands, the Country Liaison for the Cayman Islands for the Women in Maritime Association, Caribbean, a member of the International Aviation Women’s Association, the Deputy Chairman of the Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands and a member of board of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands.

Bar Admissions

1999 – Admitted as an attorney at law in Trinidad and Tobago (does not practise as an attorney-at-law in Trinidad and Tobago)
2000 – Admitted as a solicitor of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (British Virgin Islands) (does not practise as a solicitor in the British Virgin Islands)
2004 – Admitted as an attorney-at-law in the Cayman Islands

2013 – Admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales (does not practise as an English solicitor)

Marty Cochrane is the director of solution architecture for EMEA at Arundo. Previously, he led software development at Statkraft, Europe’s biggest renewable energy company. Marty’s background is in software engineering, with a specialization in industrial applications. In his spare time, he competes professionally around the world racing superbikes. Marty has also been developing his own technical platform that is used in top teams around Europe to develop riders’ skills.

Mogens Mathiesen has a 17-year career with business and technology from asset-intensive industries.  Prior to Arundo, Mogens was with Aker Solutions where he managed condition monitoring activities in Emerging Subsea Technologies. Mogens also has a background as a successful CEO of nanotechnology startup n-Tec, worked as a management consultant, and spent several years in R&D and product development for condition monitoring, wireless communications, and control systems in ABB. Mogens holds an MSc in Ocean Engineering from NTNU and UC Berkeley. He is a veteran of the Royal Norwegian Navy and an expert evaluator for the Norwegian Research Council.

Martial is Regional General Manager Sustainable Shipping in Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore. He started his career at Bureau Veritas Paris in Y2006 as Safety & Machinery Expert. In Y2008, he was appointed Dual Fuel Engines and LNG Carriers Expert. Afterwards he worked as LNG Business Development Manager since Y2010. Before joining BV, he worked in DCN for more than 15 years. Martial Claudepierre holds a master engineer degree in Mechanical and Naval Shipbuilding of ENSIETA & UBO – Brest France.

Fred Gordon has been with Navios since March 2010, serving as the Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Navios Maritime Holdings.  He has over 40 years of experience working for shipping and project development companies in business development, strategic planning, finance, chartering and technical capacities.  Mr. Gordon has worked for drybulk, tanker, gas, container and reefer ship owners and operators and has developed power projects and ports in Romania, Turkey, Pakistan, Russia and China.  He received his BS in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from Webb Institute and his MS in Operations Research from Columbia University.

Michael McNamara serves as the President & Managing Director of the Americas for Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS).  VPS is the leading provider of fuel testing and inspection service to the global maritime industry.

Michael has a diverse set of experiences in the petroleum and shipping industries that spans over 25 years and covers all aspects from finance, production, processing, transporting, selling, and buying.

Michael holds an MBA in international business and finance from Oklahoma City University, and has completed the Executive Management Program at Wharton School of Business.

Prior to joining VPS he served as the Associate Vice President, Energy Management at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., where he was responsible for coordinating global strategies for all aspects of the company’s fuel exposure and energy expense across all of the corporation’s operations including fuel procurement; emission abatement; fuel/emission regulation; fuel hedging; and energy efficiency programs.  Earlier in his career, Michael held numerous positions in the areas of business development, finance, operations, and sales for Conoco Inc. and Forcenergy Inc.

James Collett was made Managing Director of Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine, the world leader in marine navigation technologies and services, in April 2017.  He joined the company in 2015 as Commercial Director, overseeing P&L, and growing the global commercial and military defence business after heading up the Mobility and Energy division of Intelsat. Prior to that he was with Inmarsat for more than 10 years, rising steadily through the ranks, culminating as Director of their maritime business yielding $350M per year.  James has a wealth of experience in the global digital and tele-communications markets. He holds a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Manchester, England.

Kevin Humphreys is General Manager for Merchant & Gas Carrier Segment sales at Wärtsilä, Inc. Wärtsilä is a leading global provider of equipment, technology, and services in the marine, oil & gas, and power industries. Kevin has held various positions at Wärtsilä for the past seven years.

Kevin has 25 years of experience as a senior executive and manager in a variety of fields including private equity and venture capital backed start-ups, OEM, software, international shipping, and government. Among his significant previous positions, Kevin served as CEO and Chief Operating Officer of Fifth Street Development and Senior Vice President of Engineering & Business Development at Marorka USA. Before entering the private sector, Kevin was a Special Agent with The Federal Bureau of Investigation, sailed as a licensed chief engineer in the merchant marines, and served as an officer in the US Naval reserve.

Kevin is a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in marine engineering systems, holds a Chief Engineers License Unlimited steam and diesel, and has a Master of Arts degree in the Philosophy and Theology of Science from Biola University.

Thomas “Tom” Hamilton is the Global Underwriting Director for the American P&I Club.  After spending time in the claims department, he joined the Club’s underwriting team in 2006 and has been focusing much of his efforts on members in the Americas and Europe, Middle East and Africa.  Tom graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Logistics and Intermodal Transportation and a USCG Third Officers Unlimited Tonnage License.  Tom has served aboard passenger, container and Ro-Ro ships.  He is a member of the Connecticut Maritime Association and an associate member of the Association of Average Adjusters of the United States and Canada.

Magnus Tangen, VP Commercial Development, has worked for Clean Marine Energy in a business development and project management role since 2013 and is primarily involved in developing the marine markets for LNG as fuel, in North America and beyond.  Prior to joining Clean Marine Energy Magnus worked as a sale and purchase/projects ship-broker in Stamford, CT.  Magnus studied business and finance in St Andrews, Scotland and at CASS Business School in London, UK.  Magnus is a Norwegian citizen and served as an officer in the Norwegian Navy before moving abroad.

Elena is a Director for Digital Commercialisation serving digital innovation solutions department within Lloyd’s Register. She has over 10 years of experience in business development globally focusing on big data, IOT and Analytics and AI solutions for clients in Marine & Offshore, Energy and Management Systems and Inspection Services Industries.   Prior to joining Lloyd’s Register, Elena successfully delivered new innovative solutions for various other clients globally. Elena is very passionate about new digital solutions which can make a huge impact and difference across industries and in people’s lives.  Elena has an MBA from DePaul University – Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, Chicago and BSBA from City University, Seattle.

Jess is an experienced, passionate, and driven executive leader with 30+ years of experience helping clients transform business problems of all sizes and types into quality solutions utilizing technology, automation, innovation, change and behavioral management, analytics, strategy, and business intelligence. Working closely with executives and project teams, Jess provides insight, alignment, and guidance to help clients scale, transform, grow, innovate, create, and reach new levels of achievement and success for their business. Recently Jess functioned as an executive advisor in a business development role affording him the opportunity to work with a wide-range of global clients (startups, SMB, mid-market & enterprise) across many different industries (including maritime), with a focus on emerging trends: cryptocurrency, digital tokens, blockchain, AI, automation, analytics, & cybersecurity. He also worked closely with the new management styles of young emerging companies and gained experience with the new generation of business management, structure, & organization.

Based in Hamburg, Jan Hansen, Global Business Development Director, has more than 28 years’ service with Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine, spending a considerable time in Asia and the US heading up commercial sales teams. Apart from being a Master Mariner he has also been a visiting professor at the World Maritime University. Jan studied at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, US and the Copenhagen Business School, Denmark

Francesco Bellusci was born in 1966 in center Italy and grew up with a strong passion for the sea in all its broad aspects. In 1984 Bellusci achieved a high school diploma in Humanistic Sciences and in 1992 graduated “cum laude” in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineer at Napoli Polytechnic University. Francesco Bellusci joined Scorpio Ship Management in 1994 as Superintendent, after having served the Italian Navy on board an oil recovery vessel. His duties at Scorpio over the years have included covering all responsibilities in ship management, such as maintenance, repair, new building, new projects, R and D, crewing and total quality assurance.

Mr. Bellusci was Technical Director from 1995, DPA from 1997 and was appointed General Manager in 2008 and Managing Director in 2010.
A high level of competence, strong motivation and an innate passion for the sea have guided his career development within Scorpio, a company with a solid base that allows him daily to carry out his responsibilities ethically and effectively, safeguarding the environment and contributing to the development of a sustainable world. Active member of Intertanko Safety, Technical and Environmental Committee and various other committees in Shipping.

The success of Scorpio would not have happened without a solid industrial plan where the vision of Francesco on ship efficiency and regulatory challenges was instrumental.

Joshua Shapiro joined Liberty Maritime Corporation (“LMC”) and Liberty Global Logistics (“LGL”) in 2009 as part of the Operations and Strategic Planning departments.  He was named the Chief Operating Officer of LMC and Executive Vice President of LGL in April 2016.

As Executive Vice President of LGL, Mr. Shapiro is also integrally involved in the ocean transportation and logistics company, overseeing all modes of its diversified point to point logistics solutions including – ocean, trucking, air and rail.  He is a member of the Executive Management Committee which is responsible for the business performance, strategic partnerships and growth strategies of the companies.

Mr. Shapiro received his B.A. in Political Science from Emory University in Atlanta, GA.  He then worked in Washington, D.C. as a Personal Aide and Legislative Policy Advisor to Congressman Thomas Reynolds.

Prior to joining LMC and LGL, Mr. Shapiro received a Master’s Degree in Shipping, Trade and Finance from the Cass Business School of City University in London during which time he gained working experience at various ship brokerage firms.

He is an elected member of the American Bureau of Shipping, the Young Shipping Professionals of New York, an Associate Member of the Association of Ship Brokers and Agents and on the Advisory Board of Maritime Global Technologies Innovation Center.

Cynthia A. Hudson is CEO and founder of HudsonAnalytix, Inc., a global maritime risk consultancy serving the maritime transportation sector, headquartered in the Philadelphia, US and internationally from Piraeus to Jakarta.

In 1986, Ms. Hudson founded what became HudsonAnalytix to provide emergency response, maritime project management and maritime consulting services to maritime transportation interests; oil and energy, vessel owners/operators and insurers for more than 100 oil and hazardous material response incidents.

Hudson led the firm into maritime security for ports and vessels providing port vulnerability security assessment work at hundreds of ports and facilities worldwide and in 2016 expanded HudsonAnalytix’s cyber operations to design and deliver cybersecurity and cyber risk management solutions to maritime clients and provide cybersecurity expertise to governmental agencies.

Well-known and highly regarded throughout the maritime transportation industry for her work and contributions in her field, Ms. Hudson was most recently honored by the Organization of American States (OAS) Inter-American Committee on Ports with the 2016 Maritime Award of the Americas: Outstanding Women in the Maritime and Port.  Ms. Hudson serves on a number of industry boards and is President of WISTA Delaware River & Bay Chapter and a Director of the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA).

Martin is a Master Mariner and Marine Engineer by profession and has sailed on Tall Ships, Container Vessels and Tankers. He came ashore in 2002 to join Columbia Shipmanagement in Hamburg/Germany during an exceptional phase of growth from 7 to 85 ships in full management.

As Commercial Director, Martin provided leadership and direction for putting the ship management agreements into action. Working hand in hand with the Technical Director, he was responsible for the delivery of safe, efficient and profitable services to the clients’ and company’s satisfaction.

In 2014 Martin joined Fednav Ltd., Canada’s largest ocean-going dry-bulk shipowning and chartering group. The company is the leader in international shipping on the Great Lakes, as well as the Canadian Arctic, boasting the world’s largest fleet of ice-class bulk carriers. As Vice President, Shipowning and Technical Services, Martin is responsible for Fednav’s newbuilding program and the management of their growing, 55+ strong fleet.

Martin holds a M.Sc. in Nautical Studies and Marine Engineering from HAW Hamburg, a business degree from AKAD Leipzig and an LL.M. from University of Saarland. Martin is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s High Potentials Leadership Program.

Rajnish Bahel is a mechanical engineer with more than thirty-eight years of comprehensive experience in the maritime industry.  Bahel has led the planning, organizing, and managing of all safety functions for fleet operations including implementation of ISM requirements and development and execution of safety programs.

As Technical Director of Saitech, Bahel leads a team in managing a fleet of US flag tanker vessels, maintaining a sound safety culture, and ensuring compliance with all international and local regulations and Class requirements.

Before joining Saitech, Bahel worked at Eagle Ship Management, Thome Ship Management, Eitzen Maritime Ship Management and VShips.

Bahel is licensed for Chief Engineer and Watch Keeping from the Mercantile Marine Department of Mumbai, India, holds a Graduate Degree in Marine Engineering from the Directorate of Marine Engineering and Training and has a Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering from the Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology.

John D. Noonan, who goes by his nickname “Jack”, is a maritime industry professional with 40 years’ experience.  He was CEO of Chembulk Tankers, from which he retired in December 2017.  He subsequently formed Binnacle Maritime LLC to provide consulting services within the shipping and related maritime services industry.  Prior to Chembulk, Jack worked for Stolt-Nielsen, Sound Tanker Chartering, and Clipper Group.

Jack is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation, with a concentration in Marine Petroleum Operations and a USCG License as 3^rd Mate.  Additionally, he was commissioned as Ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve, ultimately achieving the rank of Lieutenant. Following graduation, he sailed with the US Flag Tanker Fleet of Texaco, advancing his USCG License to Chief Mate.

Jack is a frequent speaker at industry conferences such as Marine Money which holds conferences on ship finance.  In 2017, Jack was recognized by the Connecticut Maritime Association as Commodore, its highest honor for its annual shipping industry symposium.  Additionally he was named Alumnus of the Year by his alma-mater the US Merchant Marine Academy.

Stasu C. Bizzarro has been part of the Weather Routing Inc. (WRI, Ltd.) team for 22 years, since 1996. He was promoted to Vice President in 2002, and further to President in 2012. He graduated from Lyndon State College, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science with a major in Meteorology, Mathematics, and Physics, and with a concentration in Communications.

Mr. Bizzarro is a strong advocate for traditional meteorology and forecasting. Even with advancement in technology, WRI’s philosophy has remained dedicated to providing quality forecasts, directly prepared and reviewed by meteorologists.

Captain Donald Carroll is Senior Vice President with MT Maritime Management (USA) LLC in Southport, Connecticut.  Captain Carroll oversees commercial and technical operations for the MTM Group of companies and has over 40 years of maritime experience.  Early in his career, he spent 12 years at sea on tankers, dry bulk and ro ro/container ships as deck officer.  Five of those years were as Master.  Since 1991 he has worked ashore in various management positions in marine chemical & oil transportation.

Captain Carroll has served on the Technical Committee of the Chemical Distribution Institute (CDI) representing MTM and the International Parcel Tankers Association (IPTA).   Starting in 2001 he served for 16 years as a committee member on the Chemical Transportation Hazardous Committee (CTAC).  He has taught USCG Certified courses in rapid radar plotting, ARPA Training, and LNG cargo handling using computer simulators.

Captain Carroll graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy with a BS Degree in Marine Transportation, USNR Commission, and a Third Officer’s license.  Upon sailing after graduation he eventually attained a Master’s Unlimited Tonnage license.

With over 30 years maritime experience both at sea and onshore, Anuj drives business development, leads the vetting team and fosters industry and customer relations in the Americas region. Anuj began his seafaring career as a deck cadet working his way up to Captain and holds a Commonwealth Extra Masters Certificate of Competency and Shipping Management from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.  He is a Fellow of The Nautical Institute and chairman of the US Gulf Branch, an active supporter of seafarer welfare and privileged to be an Ambassador for the Sailor Society. Anuj sits on the Board of Directors of the Houston International Seafarers Center and on the Board (and Treasurer) of NAMEPA – North American Marine Environment Protection Association.

Christopher (Chris) Clott, Ph.D. is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of the Maritime Global Technologies Innovation Center (MGTIC).  He is also ABS Chair of Marine Transportation and Logistics at SUNY Maritime College in New York City.  Recent research has focused on new maritime technologies, shipping alliances, tanker transportation, and congestion alleviation.  Dr. Clott had administration and faculty roles at the California Maritime Academy and Saint Xavier University (IL.) prior to SUNY Maritime. Chris previously worked as an Account Executive for OOCL (USA) Inc. and Lykes Lines. He has a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago, an MBA from Saint Xavier University and a B.A. from Fordham University.

Captain Reed assumed command of USCG SECTOR Long Island Sound following three insightful years serving as Sector Deputy.  He enlisted into the U.S. Coast Guard in 1992 and received his commission from Officer Candidate School at TRACEN Yorktown in 1996.  His previous assignments have included tours at USCG Headquarters, Resident Inspection Office St. Croix-U.S. Virgin Islands, Marine Safety Office San Juan, Marine Safety Office/Group Los Angeles-Long Beach, the National Strike Force Coordination Center, Coast Guard Station Pensacola and CGC Chincoteague. Throughout his enlisted and commissioned service to the Coast Guard, Captain Reed developed expertise in mission sets across both Prevention and Response disciplines. While assigned at U.S. Coast Guard Activities Europe as an International Port Security Liaison Officer (IPSLO), he engaged with port communities throughout Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and served as the program’s liaison to the European Commission. Here, he assisted in the development of protocols for mutual recognition of port security standards between EU member states and the U.S. As Chief, of the International Port Security Department, he oversaw the entire IPSLO staff charged with conducting engagements towards fulfilling the congressional mandate to assess anti-terrorism measures and monitored implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility (ISPS) Code at the overseas ports in 82 maritime nations in Africa, Europe and The Middle East.  He assumed the duties of Sector Commander of SECTOR Long Island Sound in April 2018.

He is married to the former Jacqueline Heiss of Santé Fe, New Mexico and has four children (Kevin, Maya, Harper, and Jack).  Captain Reed received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Alcorn State University and also holds his Masters of Business Administration.

Commander Keith M. Donohue is currently the Deputy Sector Commander at USCG Sector Long Island Sound.  Prior to this assignment he was seconded to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as a consultant at the Regional Activity Center/Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Information and Training Center for the Wider Caribbean Region (RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe) in Curacao.  Other assignments include: Commanding Officer of the USCG Pacific Strike Team; International Port Security Liaison Officer at USCG Activities Europe; and Response Department Head at USCG Marine Safety Officer Port Arthur Texas.  From 2003 to 2007, while serving in the Environmental Standards Division at USCG Headquarter, CDR Donohue played a leading role in establishing and implementing the U.S. Mandatory Ballast Water Management Program.  He wrote Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular No. 07-04.”Ballast Water Management for the Control of Aquatic Nuisance Species in the Waters of the United States”, June 17, 2004, as well as 07-04 Change-1 of October 29, 2004; and he drafted the initial version of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Ballast Water Management System Type Approval regulation in 2007.  Most recently, he facilitated the finalization, submittal and approval of “Guidelines for Ballast Water Exchange and Sediment Management in Wider Caribbean Region Areas” among the 28-country Regional Task Force on the Ratification and Implementation of the IMO Convention on Ballast Water Management in the Wide Caribbean” Region (IMO BWM.3/Circ.2 5, June 2018).  He is a Credentialed Merchant Mariner, and is certified as a: Type I Incident Commander; ICS Instructor; Master Exercise Practitioner; Hazardous Materials Technician; and a Facility Security Officer.

With over 7 years in the classification business and 5 years as a field surveyor, Philip Hadjisoteriou has a broad knowledge of surveys in both class and statutory. For the past 2 years he has supported his local client base in the tri-state area as the client relations manager. Here he has been exposed to the commercial and business environment and brings LR’s developments in a multitude of fields to the table. These include class and statutory survey requirements, survey support and logistics, Inventory of Hazardous Materials, Cyber Security, Sulphur 2020 and Ballast Water treatment.  Philip has a Master of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Leeds.

Joseph Gross is the Manager of Dry Cargo Vessel Operations at d’Amico Shipping USA in Stamford, CT.  Mr. Gross joined d’Amico in December 2013. A US Coast Guard licensed Master Mariner, he has nearly 30 years of experience in the maritime industry, both at sea and ashore.  Coming ashore in 1997, he spent two years working in vessel operations at Charles R. Weber Company, followed by eleven years there as a spot tanker broker.  From 2010 until 2011, he worked as a dry cargo broker at John F. Dillon & Company, and from August 2011 to December 2013 as a ship broker on the projects desk at Maersk Broker America, Inc.   Mr. Gross graduated from SUNY Maritime College in 1991 with a Bachelors degree in Meteorology & Oceanography, and a US Coast Guard Unlimited Third Mates License.  Mr. Gross has been the President of the Connecticut Maritime Association (CMA) since 2016, and is a member of Senator Christopher Murphy’s (CT) Long Island Sound Advisory Council.

Peter Hadjipateras is the Corporate Development Manager at Dorian LPG (USA) LLC, and has held this position since 2014. Before taking on his current role at Dorian, Hadjipateras was closely involved in the formation and growth of Dorian LPG Ltd. as a NYSE listed company (LPG) with a fleet of 22 VLGCs. He currently oversees market research within Dorian and focuses on internal development projects. Hadjipateras has seagoing experience on board VLGCs, Pressure LPG vessels, Aframax Tankers and a Fully Ref Juice Carrier, and has spent months at shipyards in Japan and Korea supervising newbuilding constructions. Prior to joining Dorian, Hadjipateras held training positions at RS Platou in Singapore, Barry Rogliano Sales in Shanghai, and Pacific Cargoes Inc. in Washington DC. He has a BA Degree from Georgetown University.

Alexandros Glykas, Director at DYNAMARINe is a Naval Architect and Marine Engineer, motivated by the dynamism of the Maritime Industry and endless opportunities for raising the standards towards ensuring a safer working environment for the seafarers and the protection of the environment. From 1996 until 2000 Alexandros was involved in maritime casualty investigations as well as the ratification of new requirements at the IMO. From 2001 onwards, Alexandros was actively involved in the management of RO-RO, General Cargo and Tanker vessels. In 2007 he became involved with policies and procedures in Ship to Ship transfer operations. Within DYNAMARINe Alexandros has an active role in the sales and development of products and services. Alexandros has also been involved in the academia as a lecturer since 2001.

Cody Falcon has more than 15 years of experience in high-tech solution design, product implementation, and operations.  Prior to Arundo, Cody was with a leading Big Data Analytics provider that focused in machine learning, where he led product development and global field operations.  Cody served 11-years active duty in the U.S. Navy, where his work focused in electronic warfare, satellite communications, and cryptography; including a five-year assignment at the White House as an Advance Lead for two Presidents of the United States.

Jayant K Roy Choudhury is a highly accomplished and results-driven team leader with twenty-five years experience in the maritime industry with a strong background in strategic planning, auditing, team leading, quality assurance, project management, regulatory compliance, risk analysis/mitigation, sales support and safety.

Before joining Crowley in 2012, Roy worked with Teekay Corporation, Canada and Great Eastern Shipping, India. His areas of responsibility at Crowley include Engineering Strategy and selection and procurement of major Capital Equipments.

Roy’s interests include Energy Efficiency and promoting Entrepreneurship.  He has worked extensively on Crude Oil heating procedures for Oil Tanker and co-founded Blue Water Trade-Winds; a leading provider of Crude oil heating consultancy for ship operators. Blue Water Trade-Winds received 2015 Lloyds’s award for Technical Innovation for Crude Oil Heating solutions. Roy is a Marine Engineering graduate of DMET (India) and has a Master’s degree in Business Management from Bauer Collage, University of Houston.

Jason Kelly serves as Executive Vice President of Moran Shipping Agencies and is a co-founder of Sea Ahead, a startup blue-tech incubator.  An active member of the maritime community, Jason volunteers with ASBA (Treasurer), the Chamber of Shipping of America, the Dean’s Advisory Council, URI Graduate School of Oceanography, Chair, Providence Harbor Management Commission, and member, Mystic Aquarium President’s advisory board.  Jason holds an MBA from Middlesex University in Shipping & Logistics and a Bachelor of Business from Boston College.  Jason is a passionate advocate for commercial shipping and smart-ocean planning, strongly supporting industry best practices in safety, security, and environmental stewardship.

Terje Kristiansen’s core driver is working with customers and delivering solutions making a difference for individuals and companies. He is passionate about the success of customers and his team and finding ways of improving to achieve results.  Since completing his masters in 1996 Terje have been working in or around the shipping industry. He joined ShipNet in 1998 and have been involved in all areas of the organization, and was the regional leader building the presence for ShipNet in the Middle East.  Terje’s core focus the last 17 years of his career have been in sales and sales management and coaching. While at Onninen, he was part of formalizing and implementing the sales process as well as managing a sales team in, providing spares and logistics services to marine, oil & gas industry in Norway.  Terje has a Master’s in Business and Economics, with Ship Management, as well as trained in the Scandinavian Leadership Model.

Erny Otterspoor is a Maritime Consultant at OtterMar with more than 45 years executive and technical experiance in the shipping industry.  His previous positions include Vice President Technical Director at Gaurdian Ship Management (TBS Roymar), President Mormac Marine Enterprises, President MTL RRF at Crowley, Vice President Engineering at Marine Transport Lines, VP Engineering at Mormac Bulk Transport, Port Engineer at Mormac and Farrell Lines, and ABS Surveyor. He has a BE in Naval Architecture from NY Maritime, he sailed in the USMM, and sailed and served in the USN. For the majority of his career he has been passionatly involved in all aspects of Ship Management including US Flag, International Registries, Marad and MSC vessels.

Fred Finger joined American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier Group in August of 2009 as Vice President & General Manger of Operations for American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier (ARC).  In August of 2018 he assumed his current role as Vice President, Head of Operations. In his current role he is responsible for all operational and technical aspects of the ARC fleet as well as ARCs port operations.

Prior to joining ARC, Mr. Finger worked at Maersk Line, Limited for 25 years in a variety of operational and commercial roles including Director of Commercial Operations and Senior Director, Specialized Vessel Management.

Mr. Finger is a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy obtaining a B.S. in Nautical Science as well as an Unlimited Merchant Marine Master’s License. He serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the United Seamen’s Service, is a member of the Lloyd’s Register North America Advisory Committee and is also a member of the American Bureau of Shipping and the US Registry Working Group. Mr. Finger is a past Chairman of the Overseas Security Advisory Committee Maritime Security Working Group.

Captain Mohan Muppidi is a Master Mariner who started his sea career with Shipping Corporation of India in 1974.  Captain Muppidi got his command in 1984 and sailed on various types of vessels, tankers, bulkers, and container vessels. He joined OMI in 1988 and sailed till 1992, having had the privilege of being in command of OMI’s ULCC, TT Settebello.  Captain Muppidi moved to the US in 1994 as Port Captain with OMI and reached the position of Vice President Safety and Quality in 2004.  He joined TORM Tankers in 2007 when OMI was sold and subsequently worked with Heidmar.  Since 2012, Captain Muppidi has been with Fleet Management and is currently working as Senior Vice President in Connecticut.

Captain James C. DeSimone is employed by the New York City Department of Transportation as Deputy Commissioner & Chief Operating Officer of the Ferry Division.

Prior to joining the New York City Department of Transportation, DeSimone held senior management positions in the high-speed ferry and towing and transportation sectors of the maritime industry, and served on the administration of our nation’s oldest maritime academy. During his seagoing career, he sailed in all shipboard capacities up to and including master and as port captain for various companies.

Captain DeSimone holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Manhattan College, a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York Maritime College, a Professional Certificate in Chartering from the Association of Shipbrokers and Agents and a United States Coast Guard License as Master of Steam or Motor Vessels of Any Gross Tons upon Oceans.

Professional membership includes: the American Bureau of Shipping, National Cargo Bureau, Connecticut Maritime Association, Professional Advisory Board of the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School, Board of Directors of the Passenger Vessel Association and the Standing Committee of the Marine Society of the City of New York.

Mr. Ole Christian Schroder, Director of Environmental Compliance for Scorpio Group, headquartered New York and Monaco. He presently oversees 190 Modern Eco- friendly vessels, enforcing environmental compliance policies, procedures, and regulatory performance.   Mr. Schroder previously came from, TORM AS, following its 2007 acquisition of OMI Corporation, where Mr. Schroder reported to OMI’s Board, responsible for implementing a comprehensive and strategic compliance program.

In 2000, Mr. Schroder co-founded as principal and partner, Hudson Marine Management Services, a consulting group specializing in crisis management, emergency response and maritime security. Originally from Oslo, Mr. Schroder has over 35 years of international shipping expertise, dating back to his family history in ship owning, OSCO Shipping, pioneers in the chemical and product trade.  Mr. Schroder, a founding member of Intertanko’s Environmental Committee, now Vice-Chairman, is also a board member of NAMEPA.

Ravi Singh has served as Chief Technical Officer of Northern Shipping Funds since December 2012.  Prior to joining Northern Shipping Funds, Mr. Singh headed the Marine Risk Management group at Liberty Mutual between 2009 and 2012.  From 2007 to 2009 Mr. Singh served as Head of Technical Operations for American Commercial Lines.  From 2005 to 2007 Mr. Singh led Americas Marine Management Consulting group at DNV and from 1996 until 2005 he served as Head of US Operations for ABB Marine & Turbocharging.  Mr. Singh was a Fleet Manager at Sea-Land from 1990 to 1996.   He began his career at sea and sailed for 7 years on several different vessel types.  Mr. Singh graduated with a degree in marine engineering from the Indian Merchant Marine Academy in 1978, earned a Chief Engineer’s license from the U.K. in 1983, a Bachelor of Science & Engineering in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1986, and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Rutgers University in 2000.

Ryan Smith is Director of Global Channel Management for KVH Industries, a leading provider of maritime connectivity solutions. Ryan is responsible for the creation and oversight of the channel partner programs for KVH’s mini-VSAT Broadband service providers and also heads commercial sales for the Americas region. He joined KVH in 2005 and has extensive knowledge of KVH’s satellite TV and satellite communications products and services, in both the commercial and leisure markets, and of the overall telecommunications industry. A Rhode Island native, Ryan has a B.A. from Hobart College, in New York; he is based in KVH’s global headquarters, in Middletown, RI.

A 1981 graduate of Trinity College Dublin, Ian Workman’s career in the Maritime Industry started in 1985 as an Oil Trader with the Mitsubishi Corporation in London. In 1988 he joined Bunkerfuels UK Ltd as a Bunker Broker and in 1996 went on to be the General Manager of GAC Bunker Fuels UK Ltd. before coming to America in 2001 where a brief stay with a dot.com startup was followed by joining World Fuel Services Ltd as VP of International Bunker Sales in August 2001.  In 2017 Ian joined VPS Testing & Inspection Inc in his current position as Account Manager.

Ian is married with two boys now 20 and 21 years old, he joined the Board of the CMA in 2009 in its Planning and Administration chair before being President from 2012 until 2016 and is currently a Board Member of the CMA Education Foundation. He became an American Citizen in December 2011.

Mr. Alexander P. Panagopulos, Founder & CEO of Forward Ships and Chairman of Arista Group, addressed his confidence on LNG as fuel for ships as it is financially viable and justifies the investments needed. LNG not only minimizes emissions, but through the reduced transportation cost that it offers, strongly contributes towards more sustainable shipping; this despite the relatively higher initial newbuilding capex as compared to conventional ship designs. Meeting the requirements of environmental regulations will unavoidably increase the cost of all newbuildings but depending on the solution adopted there is a significant potential for payback for this extra cost not only for the shipowner but for our society as well. As we have witnessed with the evolution from coal to oil to power ships, the transition to gas powered systems is the next frontier.  This is profoundly a game changer with an enormous environmental benefit for our earth and its oceans.

Rich Pruitt is responsible for overseeing all Carnival Cruise Lines’ onboard and shoreside environmental operations for a fleet of 26 ships deployed in North America, the Caribbean and Australasia.  He also evaluates new technologies, establishes newbuilding specifications, develops company vision and strategic initiatives and sets policy for all sustainability and environmental stewardship activities.

Rich is the founder and Principal of RMP Sustainability LLC, providing maritime safety, environmental compliance and sustainability solutions to organizations.

Rich also served as Vice President, Safety and Environmental Stewardship at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.  In 2010, he led RCL’s humanitarian relief efforts following the Haitian earthquake.  Prior to joining RCL, Rich served in the United States Air Force as a Russian linguist and Airborne Mission Supervisor and in the United States Coast Guard in various national security and marine safety positions.

Rich has earned an Environmental Master of Business Administration degree from Florida Atlantic University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management from National Louis University and an Associate in Russian Interpreting from the Community College of the United States Air Force.  Rich is currently a Guardian Ad Litem in the 17th Circuit and is actively engaged in various industry, charitable and environmental organizations.

Mark has over 15 years of cleantech venture experience.  Mark, as a co-founder, led the formation of Novus Energy Partners, a 2007 vintage US-Norwegian cleantech VC fund followed by Tolero Ventures, a boutique investment fund.  Prior to that, Mark was with GE for 10 years and as a Senior Vice President of GE Energy Financial Services he co-led the effort to re-start GE’s cleantech venture investing efforts.   In the maritime sector, Mark has worked in shipbuilding and as a naval architect. Mark also served for 13 years as an officer in the US Army Reserves. He was mobilized in 2003 to Baghdad where he focused on nation-building.  Mark’s public sector experience also includes the Economic Development Director for Providence where he focused on the Innovation ecosystem and developed an Urban Food strategy.  He is currently a US director of Alfanar, the only venture philanthropy non-profit focused on the Arab world, and Tern, a Taiwan-based urban mobility company.

Mark holds an MBA and Master of International Affairs from Columbia University & a BS in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from Webb Institute.

Chuck was appointed Sales Director for Offshore Energy in January 2018.  He is responsible for business development and managing Partners with expertise in providing global connectivity solutions to the Maritime energy markets.

Chuck joined Inmarsat in January 2003 with more than eighteen years of sales, sales management and business development experience in Communications and specifically in SCADA Communications.  Prior to his current role, he managed Global IoT/M2M Sales for Inmarsat’s Enterprise Business Unit, as well as over 9 years supporting all North American SCADA communications customers and projects for Stratos Global.

Before joining Inmarsat, he spent fifteen years in corporate sales and consulting roles within Aurion Technologies, a pioneer in cloud-based IoT systems and with GTE and Lucent Technologies.

Chuck has a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from North Texas State University and a Master of Sciences in Telecommunications from Southern Methodist University.

Sean Riley joined Veson Nautical in 2012 and serves as Veson Nautical’s President and COO. At Veson, Sean is responsible for driving and managing company operations including Sales, Marketing, Professional Services, Information Technology, Human Resources, and Veson’s regional offices. Sean previously worked at PowerAdvocate, where he was responsible for sales, product delivery, and customer support for several software products. He also served as a strategy consultant with The Parthenon Group, a global consulting firm, and he began his career in the Venture Capital/Private Equity industry. Sean earned his MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and graduated cum laude with a BA from Amherst College.

Deepak Tyagi has over 15 years’ experience as an IT executive leader with startup DNA and Fortune 500 rigor and discipline.  Deepak is the Founder and CEO of ArtisChain which enables trusted multi-party business networks across global trade supply chains.  Prior to ArtisChain, Deepak headed IT for the startup, Gartner (~70M/yr revenue), and had been an IT business partner for over 15 years to marketing, sales, HR, finance, events, legal, corporate communications across retail, travel, gaming, insurance, and publishing industries in large enterprise settings.

Paul’s experience in the maritime industry spans over 40 years. He acquired his Unlimited Master’s license after gaining the required sea-time in 1986 after initially graduating from the Maritime Institute, “De Ruyter“ in Flushing, The Netherlands in 1978. A sea-going career of 11 years on the passenger ships of Holland America Line was followed by 15 years as Area Sales Manager at Radio Holland USA during which time he was involved in the implementation of various new navigation and communication technologies on board ships. Paul joined Transas in 2005 and was appointed Sales Director. The development of on- board, shore based and simulation solutions however has always retained his interest and the recent acquisition of Transas Marine by the Wärtsila Group has proven to only amplify this through Warstila’s Smart Marine initiatives and the drive towards digitalization of the entire marine industry.

Andreas Glud is the Group Segment Manager for Hempel Group’s Global Marine and Dry Dock segment. He has worked in product management on many of our anti-fouling products, including the launch of Hempaguard X7, our most successful launch to date.

As lead of the Dry Dock segment, Andreas also oversees Hempel’s hull performance division. This division is responsible for the development of SHAPE, our digital hull performance system. SHAPE utilises hydrodynamics, physics and chemistry to collect, analyse and report information on the impact that a hull’s coating has on the vessel’s overall hull performance, including the effect it has on the fuel bill.

The Rev. Marsh Luther Drege is Executive Director of Seafarers International House in New York City.  This Lutheran mission is an outreach to seafarers who stay at an 84-room guesthouse in NYC’s Union Square as well as supplying port chaplains for the ports of New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New Haven, CT.  He is also the current President of NAMMA (The North American Maritime Ministry Association) which exists to provide a network for training and coordination of ministries that serve port communities throughout North America.

Mike graduated from the US Merchant Marine Academy in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science and USCG License as 3^rd A/E. He sailed as marine engineer for three years with the American Maritime Officers (AMO), beginning his career in the marine lubricants industry with Mobil Oil in 1996.  Since joining Chevron in 1999 Mike and has gained exposure across sales, account management and technical roles with the Chevron Marine Lubricants organization.

Stefka Wechsler is a marine fuel and fuel oil price analyst for Argus Media.

Wajdi Abdmessih, President of Seahawk Services, has 25 years’ experience in fuel oil testing and inspection.  Abdmessih has held various positions in a fuel testing company as a laboratory manager, branch manager, technical director, and vice president of marine fuel.  He has worked on fuel blending and assisted vessel operators in navigating fuel oil operational problems.  Abdmessih was the first to analyze and report on the 0.10% sulfur fuel quality before it became available in the market January 2015.  Seahawk Services began in 2014 in Philadelphia Harbor and has expanded to New York and Houston with plans to expand internationally.  At Seahawk Services, Abdmessih created internal methodology to detect problematic fuels.  He has published papers on fuel quality, presented at many international fuel conferences, and assisted with many legal dispute cases as an expert in fuel oil testing and handling.

Chakib Abi Saab, Chief Technology Officer, drives OSM Maritime’s global technology strategies creating efficiencies, building on the OSM competitive advantages, and creating new revenue streams.  With an international work history, Chakib has worked in several progressive tech-based leadership roles across the world: North & South America, Asia & The Middle East with Baker Hughes Inc, & with Malaysian based multinational corporation, Bumi Armada Berhad.  With time spent on the highly accredited international think tank – Gartners Research board – Chakib is a continuous learner and leader. Education: Bachelor of Business Management & Master of Business Administration, International Business from Texas based LeTourneau University.

Todd Allen is the Regional Manager of NAVTOR USA Inc. located in Seattle WA.  NAVTOR is a company headquartered in Egersund, Norway.  They are a leading force in the provision of innovative e-Navigation solutions, and a total supplier of Navigational products and services for the maritime sector.  Thousands of ships and hundreds of shipping companies from all over the world use NAVTOR’s tools and services for their navigational needs.  Before being appointed Regional Manager of NAVTOR USA Inc in August 2017, Todd worked for the head office in Norway.

Steve has more than 30 years of experience in the maritime industry. Prior to joining Ecochlor, Steve was Founder, President and CEO of Foresea Consulting where he provided various advisory services including strategic planning, regulatory compliance and crisis management to the maritime and environmental communities. Before Foresea, he was President and CEO of National Response Corporation (NRC). During his 20+ years at NRC he grew the business from a start-up to a leading global emergency response and environmental services firm. He has extensive experience with OPA 90 compliance issues with particular focus on vessel owner and insurance matters.

Steve was previously an attorney with Haight Gardner Poor & Havens from 1985 to 1993 where he specialized in maritime litigation and environmental law. He also served as a marine engineer aboard Exxon USA’s domestic tanker fleet. Steve graduated from Hofstra University School of Law and the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

Jan Flores has more than 20 years in the maritime and offshore industry. He has developed a wide range of expertise including specialized and bulk marine transportation, complex offshore projects, offshore support vessels, shuttle tankers, FPSO/FSO, and LNG/CNG

Prior to joining NETSCo, he directed the FSO Group at OSG and was responsible for Business Development in the offshore market. While with OSG, Jan was the Technical Project Manager overseeing the development of the MT Overseas Cascade and the MT Overseas Chinook. Both vessels were the first two dedicated shuttle tankers in the Gulf of Mexico and now support the FPSO Pioneer, serving the Petrobras deepwater fields known as Cascade & Chinook. In addition, Jan held the position of Technical and Marine Superintendent at Crowley Maritime Corporation.

Jan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Ocean Engineering with a specialization in Naval Architecture. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in the state of Florida. Jan is a member of The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) and serves as a member of the American Bureau of Shipping Americas, Technical Committee.

Dick serves as president of Maritime Solutions, Inc. whose mission is the introduction of innovative products and shipboard systems that provide more effective solutions to traditional marine environmental protection problems including the treatment of ballast water. Dick has more than fifty years of experience in the maritime industry.  He is a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, the U.S. Navy School of Diving and Salvage and New York University Graduate School of Business Administration.

Sergio Garcia is a Naval Architect & Marine Engineer who has been working 34 years in the Maritime and Oil & Gas industries.  Mr. Garcia has worked in shipyards and classification societies in various production and managerial roles.  His career has taken him around the globe, from South America to North America to West Africa. In 2000, Mr. Garcia began working for DNV GL as a surveyor then operations manager and is presently Regional Business Development Manager for Maritime Americas.

Ryan J Gravouia has spent the past 6 years traveling the world with BlueTide Communications, Inc.in the satellite communications business.  In 2012 Mr. Gravouia joined the BlueTide Communications, Inc. team as an Executive Sales Representative.  In 2017 Mr. Gravouia was promoted to his current position, Vice President of Sales. Before entering the satellite communications industry, Mr. Gravouia started his sales career in the medical/healthcare industry focusing on sales & marketing.  Mr. Gravouia has direct sales experience with end-users in most aspects of Satcoms.  He has specific experience with end-to-end communications solutions in Ku-band for TDMA / SCPC, Ka-band, L-band and cellular.

Mike Guggenheimer serves as president & CEO of RSC Bio Solutions and its sister company, RSC Chemical Solutions. Mike initiated RSC’s move into industrial biotechnology with a 2012 investment in Terresolve Technologies, a leading biolubricant company with a 20-year record of accomplishment. This platform has developed into a global leader in performance environmental chemicals.

Prior to RSC, he was an operating partner for Blackstreet Capital Management, a private equity group that focused on control buyouts of under-performing corporate orphans. He was responsible for two portfolio companies: Fanfare Media Works, where he served as chairman, and Houston Harvest Gift Products, where he was vice president and vice chairman. He also held a variety of general management positions for Milliken & Co., from manufacturing management to strategic business development.

Mike holds a B.A. in psychology from Davidson College and an M.B.A. from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.

Thomas Jefferson Johnson has over 45 years of marine industry experience.  Mr. Johnson is a 1969 graduate of the Texas Maritime Academy holding a B/S in Marine Engineering, US Coast Guard license and commission in the US Navy at the time of graduation. Before becoming the Marketing Director at GMPE Corporation, Mr. Johnson most recently work at Senesco seeking new vessel building opportunities with the petroleum tank barge, oil and gas exploration and production, short sea shipping operators as well as other specialized marine vessel applications such as domestic LNG and CNG marine transportation.  Prior to that, he has variously served with the US Army Corps of Engineers, Designers and Planners Naval Architects, Delaval Turbine Company, General Regulator Company, Tacoma Boatbuilding Company, Bulkfleet Marine, Zapata Gulf Corporation, and Kirby Corporation.

Mr. Johnson is a member of the Society of Naval Architects & Marine Engineers (SNAME), Marine Technical Society, Connecticut Maritime Association, and is Vice Chairman of the Houston Maritime Museum.

Commander Maureen Johnson graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 2001. She has completed tours as a Deck Watch Officer onboard CGC VALIANT (WMEC 621), as Port Safety/Security Branch Chief and Port State Control Branch Chief at Marine Safety Office San Francisco Bay/Sector San Francisco, as Operations Officer of District 17 Waterways Management Branch, as Senior Investigating Officer at Sector Buffalo, and as the Port Safety/Security Branch Chief and Vessel Branch Chief for the Pacific Area Prevention Operations Planning Staff.

Commander Johnson currently serves as the Chief of the Prevention Department for Sector Long Island Sound, with responsibility for commercial vessel inspections, facility inspections, waterways management, aids to navigation, and casualty investigations that occur in Connecticut and Long Island, NY, up to 200 miles offshore.

Commander Johnson holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine and Environmental Sciences from the Coast Guard Academy, and Master of Science Degree in Leadership, Disaster Preparedness and Crisis Management from Grand Canyon University.

Bradley Kerr is the Director of Sales & Marketing for Detyens Shipyards.  Bradley’s responsibilities include but are not limited to Commercial Ship Repair Sales, Marketing and Business Development. Bradley has been in the marine industry for over 20 years and has been blessed to be working at Detyens Shipyards for the past 15 years. Bradley and Tracy, his bride of 25 years, have a son, Bailey (21) and a daughter, Holly (19).  Bailey attends SUNY Maritime and Holly attends Appalachian State University in Boone, NC.  The Kerrs live in Wando, SC where we enjoy bicycling, boating, fishing, gardening and beach combing.

Martin Killian leads Satellite and Connectivity Solutions product management for Globecomm.  He steered the launch of Globecomm’s VSAT service in 2015, which currently supports major customers across enterprise, maritime, and government vertical markets.  Prior to Globecomm, Mr. Killian held key sales and management roles with France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications (FTMSC) and its successor, Vizada.  He was instrumental in the Inmarsat BGAN product and service rollout for media giants NPR and CNN, which later won a Technology and Engineering Emmy Award for its IP-based newsgathering system utilizing Inmarsat’s BGAN technology.

Mr. Killian holds a Master of Science in International Business from Florida Atlantic University (FAU), as well as a BS in Marketing from FAU.

Linda Kreter is a serial entrepreneur with companies in clinical drug development, marketing, advertising, veteran/caregiver advocacy, and augmented communications. Today, as CEO of WiseHealth, Inc., Linda uses this experience to enhance outreach, education, and engagement for significant populations. In the military space, she supports veterans (including USCG and seafarers), and families via video, syndicated podcasts, and social media communities to educate and inform. Linda is a military family SME who speaks, writes, and advocates for improvements in health and wellness care delivery, and is a John Maxwell Team certified coach. She earned her degree in biology at Smith College.

Richard A. Mueller has more than three and a half decades as an C-level executive, project manager, consultant. As founder of NETSCo, Inc., in 1984, his experience includes overall corporate management, project management as an owner’s representative in oversight or hands-on positions. Richard also has extensive experience in vessel operations, manning, personnel, traffic and dispatch issues as well as providing repair and maintenance oversight.  In addition, Richard has experience in crisis management experience: including vessel groundings, major mechanical casualties, on-scene investigations, oil spills, etc.

Prior to founding NETSCo, worked for Hyde Products, Inc. from 1979-1984, in their marine department, selling chemicals, parts, and marine equipment.

Richard is also one of the founders of Choice Ballast Solutions, a consulting and advisory services firm with a specific focus on compliance with ballast water management (BWM) requirements. He holds eight [8] patents, both US and international, and is the inventor/designer for the Nutech O3 Mark III System. This BWMS was IMO Type Approved and Flag State Approved in Korea and was sold to NK O3, the current provider of the Blue Ballast System. Richard has extensive experience with all types of BWMS design, installation, testing, start up and service.

Richard has been a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) for over 39 years and has held various elected positions including four [4] terms as Chairman for the Great Lakes/Great Rivers Section, V.P. of Planning/Public Policy, currently serves as the Functional VP of Membership, and serves on the Council and the Executive Committee. He is a longstanding member of the U.S. Propeller Club in Cleveland, OH and Tampa, FL. Richard is also an elected Member of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and serves on the ABS Great Lakes Members Committee.

Dr Jerry Ng KL is the founder and CEO of BOS Global. He graduated from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK in 1979 with 1st class (Hon) and in 1983 with PhD in Marine Technology. Prior BOS Global, he taught engineering at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) where he was a member of the NTU Council and Academic Board. He headed the Technology Development at Singapore Institution of Standards & Industrial Research (SISIR).

Among his achievements were the National Young Scientist and Engineer award from the Science Council (now called A*STAR) and the Edwin Walker prize from the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, UK.

Clément Renault is passionate about solving complex problems using technology. This led him to work on jet engines for the world’s largest aircraft, the Airbus A380, optimize wifi performance using machine learning, and design the brain of self-driving trucks.  Clement holds a Master of Science from Stanford where he focused on machine learning and big data. He has lived and worked in France, England and the US.  He decided to co-found Shone in 2017 to help the maritime industry usher in a new digital era.

Alex is the Director of Moran Cyber at Moran Shipping Agencies, Inc., where he leads a capability that offers industrial cybersecurity solutions and testing, industrial cyber risk advisory, and strategy development to improve safety and security of commercial ship and port operations and logistics.  Moran’s cyber capability is built upon a foundation of IT and information security integration with the business of shipping, port operations, finance, and the global supply chain.

Alex is a master mariner and a state harbor pilot in Massachusetts.  His concerns for the impacts of cyber risk to maritime and marine terminal operations drove him to cyber as full-time commitment in order to make a difference for industry.  Alex formed and led the first maritime cyber research and risk assessment teams of their kind in the United States, supported through partnerships and collaborations with international shipping stakeholders across industry sectors.  This industry-funded evidence-based research was the first of its kind and validated the risk to maritime, the value of which was included as a contribution to the Industry Guidelines for Cybersecurity Onboard Ships.  This work has now evolved to solutions-based approaches to assist principals with identifying vulnerabilities and risk in order to develop and apply solutions for remediation and risk management.

Alex is also a Captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve, with 25 years of service.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, and is a graduate student at the U.S. Naval War College.  He represents Moran on the Joint Industry Working Group on Cybersecurity, and is a contributor to the Industry Guidelines on Cybersecurity Onboard Ships.  Alex served as Co-Chair and Steering Committee Member of the US Department of State Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) Maritime Security Working Group from 2015-2017, and represents Moran on the Cyber Rhode Island Advisory Committee, Chaired by Congressman James Langevin.  He is also a member of the Boston Marine Society and the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA Americas).

Nina is a certified Environmental Educator with experiences in marine science education, outreach, volunteer management, and restoration. Nina grew up in coastal Rhode Island where she kindled a passion for protecting marine environments. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 2015 with a B.S in Environmental Science and a double minor in Biology and Geospatial Technologies.

Nina discovered her love for combining science with education. Before NAMEPA, she taught over 3,500 students from diverse backgrounds in coastal North Carolina, coastal Rhode Island, and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Nina also served two AmeriCorps terms focused on bringing marine sciences to underrepresented youth. Additionally, she has unique experiences in habitat restoration: restoring salt marshes, monitoring oyster reefs, and maintaining stormwater mitigation projects.

Nina is excited to continue to dedicate her career to “Save Our Seas” by continuing to educate others on the marine environment and the marine industry, and by inspiring the next generation of ocean stewards through cleanups and increased awareness.

Matt Filosa joined Veson Nautical in 2013 as a member of the Professional Services team.  In his current role as Regional Account Manager, Matt works as a strategic relationship manager to ensure client satisfaction and develop further strategic partnerships with Veson’s existing client base.  Prior to this, Matt held the role of Senior Consultant, where he provided project management and software consulting services to clients in the Americas and EMEA regions. Matt has led many successful software implementation projects and engagements for a wide variety of existing Veson clients. In particular, he has developed subject matter expertise in the freight trading, LNG, and chemical tanker spaces. Prior to joining Veson Nautical, Matt worked as a Business Consultant at Eze Software Group, a software company based in Boston, MA that provides technology for traders, asset managers and other financial professionals. Matt holds a BA in Economics from Wake Forest University.

Markus Haas has more than 13 years’ experience as project manager in the field of EPC, plant operation and services.  More than 14 years of experience in analytical chemistry in SICK AG, in the field of emission monitoring of exhaust gases from large combustion- and cements plants. After some years working as technical industry manager for Power and Cement worldwide, now working since more than 6 years as a specialist in emissions from ships and maritime applications.

Alex is a master mariner and a state harbor pilot in Massachusetts.  His concerns for the impacts of cyber risk to maritime and marine terminal operations drove him to cyber as full-time commitment in order to make a difference for industry.  Alex formed and led the first maritime cyber research and risk assessment teams of their kind in the United States, supported through partnerships and collaborations with international shipping stakeholders across industry sectors.  This industry-funded evidence-based research was the first of its kind and validated the risk to maritime, the value of which was included as a contribution to the Industry Guidelines for Cybersecurity Onboard Ships.  This work has now evolved to solutions-based approaches to assist principals with identifying vulnerabilities and risk in order to develop and apply solutions for remediation and risk management.

Alex is also a Captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve, with 25 years of service.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, and is a graduate student at the U.S. Naval War College.  He represents Moran on the Joint Industry Working Group on Cybersecurity, and is a contributor to the Industry Guidelines on Cybersecurity Onboard Ships.  Alex served as Co-Chair and Steering Committee Member of the US Department of State Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) Maritime Security Working Group from 2015-2017, and represents Moran on the Cyber Rhode Island Advisory Committee, Chaired by Congressman James Langevin.  He is also a member of the Boston Marine Society and the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA Americas).

After completing his degree in Anthropology at University College London in 1982, Alistair Johnson did post graduate research work in an inner-city area of south east London on leisure provision for young black men. In 1986, Alistair began running, overhauling, and upgrading the family lettings business while caring for his Mother’s foster children.  In 1994, Alistair produced and directed a short film, Just Ten, for Carlton Television and The Arts Council which was broadcast in 1995.  In 2008, a discussion with a shipping lawyer about the early Tig Rig design and the key mechanical safety overrides led to nearly a decade of drawing and design.  Alistair’s hard work has been realized with a solid credible design and his first Tig Rig client.  Alistair lives in Vancouver with his wife.

Christopher Aversano is the Principal and Founder of Regulus Ocean Consultants.  He has spent his entire professional career in the maritime space.   It is more than his profession but his passion.   His love for this industry started at sea, serving as a ships officer.  His shore side roles included various commercial roles, business to business marketing, organizational management, and business development.  A cornerstone of this experience is the 17 plus years of charter party negotiation expertise gained as broker, charterer and owner.  Mr. Aversano has experience at the crossroads of the maritime and finance communities as well as an understanding of the practical applications of technology in the shipping industry.  Mr Aversano holds a BSc (Honors) in Marine Transportation from SUNY Maritime in the Bronx, NY and an MBA from American University in Washington DC.   Mr. Aversano has also successfully completed the ASBA Charter Party Certification.  Currently Mr. Aversano is the Vice President of the Connecticut Maritime Association, one of the US largest maritime organization, with over 1200 members worldwide.