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Having been licensed for over 25 years, currently I hold a license as Unlimited Master with Master of Towing and have over 13 years of sea experience world-wide on various classes of vessels including OSVs, ocean towing vessels and various large merchant ships. I also have 10 years of shoreside vessel management experience as well as being certified to teach many maritime training courses.
Aside from having spent time aboard OSVs and tugs as Chief Mate, several interim vessels, and ultimately a USNS survey ship sailing as Chief Mate and then as Master for 2 years, I have at least 14 years of supervisory experience in the maritime industry. A California Maritime Academy graduate, I most recently held the official title as NW Towing Operations Manager for Sause Bros in Coos Bay, Oregon. My specific job duties included managing the ever-dynamic West Coast towing operations involved with 13 sea-going tugs and overseeing the 120 union employees that man them. I have spent many years sailing deep sea and have experience working shore-side as well, since my work at Sause Bros included coordinating transportation and streamlining maritime operations.
I am well-aware of the growing trend in the maritime industry towards instituting efficient safeguards both onboard vessels and across all shore-side operations. One of my chief responsibilities at Sause, in following the company's need to comply with ISO/ISM standards, was to develop, institute, and maintain ongoing Safety Management System programs that enable the organization and its employees to uphold strict protocol. As a key member of the Safety Management Team (Sause managers in charge of monitoring and guiding the SMS), I also assisted in auditing processes, helped to identify any associated problems, and worked to implement corrective solutions.
Using my computer expertise, organizational skills and understanding of maritime operations, I helped the Sause organization to optimize their in-house networking system, to improve employee incentives (rotation schedules, travel plans, and other company policies), and to head-up the hiring process of both licensed and unlicensed mariners. I oversaw all mandatory training schedules, participated in training seminars, interacted with customers (government agencies, union officials, and private business owners), composed assorted memorandums, documents, letters and emails, as well as created forms for company-wide use & information. As direct supervisor of the dispatch office, I monitored all vessel movement, operational maintenance, and repairs.
In 2004, I transitioned from residing in Hawaii to living in Seattle and became the Project Manager at Pacific Maritime Institute. During that time, the Workboat Mate Program was conceived and the US Coast Guard granted their approval for this program to operate as a solution to the workboat manning crisis. As part of the team at PMI, I was intimately involved with the development of the curriculum and taught both the classroom content and also built and supervised the shipboard simulation scenarios that allowed the trainees to gain experience and knowledge in a controlled environment. In fact, I was on the design and construction team that built their world-famous tug bridge simulator.
Sause Bros retained me in 2005 to return to Coos Bay to fill a newly created position as their NW Towing Operations Manager, a position that was recently developed to keep them in step with the growth of their industry. Sause Bros recently realigned their operational management structure and removed the NW Operations Manager position; unfortunately, this is the job I held in the organization. This change has allowed me to expand my horizons and to focus my energy in different directions, specifically sailing in the workboat fleet.
Of interest to you may be my ongoing training in Intermodal Transportation. As a Commander in the United States Navy Reserve, I am pursuing a Masters degree in Intermodal Transportation from the American Military University through their online education program. Recently completed the 2-week course, Facility, Vessel and Company Security Officer Program, which focused on effective security techniques, training procedures, and US and International requirements in the area of Maritime Security. The material I took away from this training, as well as in Intermodal Transportation, undoubtedly enhances my professional background in (and increases my working knowledge of) safety-at-large that the maritime industry now requires of those who work in the field.
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