| row-start col-xs-12 row-end |
| row-start col-xs-12 row-end speakers-section speaker |
| Joe Brady Correspondent TradeWinds Joe has been a full-time journalist with TradeWinds since 1995. He began working for TradeWinds on a freelance basis in 1990, the paper’s first year of publication. Since 2007, he has been a financial reporter. Prior to joining full time, Joe was a reporter and editor for daily newspapers in Connecticut for 15 years, covering a broad range of beats. Most recently, he was city editor of the New Haven Register. Joe was educated at the SI Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University | |
| Rear Admiral Mark Buzby USN, Ret. Maritime Administrator United States Maritime Administration Rear Adm. Mark H. Buzby was appointed by President Donald Trump and sworn in as Maritime Administrator on August 8, 2017. Prior to his appointment, Buzby served as president of the National Defense Transportation Association, a position he has held since retiring from the U.S. Navy in 2013 with over 34 years of service. A 1979 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Buzby earned his Bachelor of Science in Nautical Science and U.S. Coast Guard Third Mate License. He was commissioned in the U.S. Navy in June 1979, is a graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College and holds master’s degrees from the U.S. Naval War College and Salve Regina University in Strategic Studies and International Relations respectively. Buzby commanded destroyer USS CARNEY (DDG 64), Destroyer Squadron THIRTY-ONE, Surface Warfare Officers School Command, and Joint Task Force GUANTANAMO BAY. As a junior officer, Buzby served in USS CONNOLE (FF1056), USS ARIES (PHM 5), USS YORKTOWN (CG 48), USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DDG 53) and USS SHILOH (CG 67) primarily in operations and combat systems billets. In 1985, he was the Atlantic Fleet Junior Officer Shiphandler of the Year. Ashore, he served on staffs of SIXTH Fleet, US Fleet Forces Command, the Navy staff, and the Joint Staff. Buzby served as the Commander of the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command from October 2009 to March 2013. Buzby’s personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (four awards), Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (five awards) and various other unit and campaign awards. | |
| Eric P. Ebeling President & CEO American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group Eric P. Ebeling is President and Chief Executive Officer for American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier (ARC). His responsibilities include full P&L responsibility and oversight of the sales, marketing, & operations for ARC Group’s various services and products, as well as government relations and public relations for the group. American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier is the largest U.S.-flag Ro-Ro carrier, and the third largest U.S.-flag carrier overall operating in international trade. Its vessels are all enrolled in the Maritime Security Program (MSP) and Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) with the U.S. Maritime Administration and U.S. Transportation Command. Founded in 1990, the company is headquartered in New Jersey with major satellite offices in Germany and Washington, DC. ARC operates a 5-ship liner service between the U.S. East Coast & Gulf Coast ports and ports in Northern Europe and the United Kingdom as well as in the U.S.- Oceania/Asia Trades, and provides full-spectrum ocean shipping and intermodal logistics services globally. Mr. Ebeling has held several other positions within the group, including Chief Operating Officer; Vice President and General Manager Sales & Marketing; Vice President Government Relations & Europe Trade; Director Government Relations; General Manager Europe; Manager Sales & Marketing Europe; and Operations Manager in the logistics group. He joined the company in 2003. Prior to joining ARC, Mr. Ebeling attended American University Washington College of Law (JD Law, 2001), American University School of International Service (MA International Studies, 2001), and Bowdoin College (AB Government & English, 1998). In 2013, Mr. Ebeling completed the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business Advanced Management Program. He is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association. Mr. Ebeling resides in Allendale, New Jersey with his wife Julia and their two daughters, Alexandra and Olivia. | |
| Robert B Grune Senior Vice President/General Manager Crowley Shipping Grune joined Crowley's Seattle office in January 1995 as director of strategic accounts, and in November 2001 was named vice president and general manager, ship assist and escort. In August 2005, he moved to Jacksonville as a senior vice president and general manager for Puerto Rico/Caribbean services. In January 2010, he was promoted to senior vice president and general manager of petroleum services. Rob launched his maritime career sailing for Texaco, Inc. as an officer on its U.S.-flagged tanker fleet from 1980 to 1986. He then served as economics and planning analyst with Texaco in Harrison, NY. In 1989, he took the post of a chartering manager at OMI Corp., an independent New York-based oil tanker firm. In 1991, Rob went on to work for Tosco Refining Corporation in Concord, CA, in the oil-trading division. Prior to joining Crowley, Grune worked three years as a manager of tanker chartering at Continental-Tosco Limited Partnership in Stamford, CT. Grune graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY in 1980, and received a Masters in Business Administration from Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, NC, in 1986. Responsibilities include: Bulk petroleum and chemical transportation; articulated tug barge (ATB) fleet ranging from 155,000 to 180,000 bbls; U.S. Coastwise, Jones Act product tankers, ranging from 240 kbbls to 300 kbbls, capable of carrying refined products and easy chemicals Commencing in January 2018, Gurne became the SVP/GM of Crowley Shipping. Crowley Shipping is the ship operating arm for all of Crowley and consists of Crowley Petroleum Services, Crowley Offshore, Crowley Ship Assist and Escort Services, Crowley Global Ship Management and our newest entity Crowley Alaska Tankers. Crowley Shipping owns and/or operates over 110 pieces of US Flag Jones Act equipment. | |
| Emily Huggins Jones Partner Squire Patton Boggs Emily Huggins Jones uses her significant environmental litigation and trial experience, combined with her background in environmental compliance, to advise clients in the chemical, steel, oil and gas and maritime industries as well as to counsel ship-owners’ trade associations. Her environmental litigation experience includes toxic tort, product liability and maritime litigation matters. She also counsels clients on a full range of environmental compliance matters involving the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, RCRA, TSCA, EPCRA and Department of Transportation regulations and state environmental laws. She is the President and Immediate Past Secretary for DANCECleveland and a member of the board of The Centers for Families and Children. Emily is the current Cleveland office chair for the firm’s Women’s Enterprise. She has also held a number of positions in the DRI Women in the Law Committee, including Expert Witness Subcommittee vice chair and Corporate Counsel Coordination vice chair, and has served as a state marketing representative for the DRI Sharing Success Seminar. She is the former chair of the Environmental Law Section of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. Her professional memberships include the American Bar Association, Virginia Bar Association, Maritime Association of the United States and the Ohio Oil & Gas Association. She was selected as an Ohio Super Lawyer Rising Star for Environmental Litigation from 2012-16 and is a recipient of the YWCA Women of Professional Excellence Award. While in law school she served as executive editor of the Journal of Legislation. | |
| Joe Hughes Chairman & CEO Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc. Joe has served as chairman and ceo of the managers of the American Club, an International Group mutual, for twenty-three years. Joe also oversees the activities of Eagle Ocean Agencies, Inc., an affiliate of SCB, which operates the Eagle Ocean Marine and Eagle Ocean America insurance facilities. In addition, he is a director of American Hellenic Hull Insurance Company, Ltd., a Cyprus-based underwriting investment of the American Club. Having graduated from Oxford University, Joe qualified as a barrister specializing in maritime commercial law before commencing his career in marine insurance. Prior his arrival in the United States, Joe worked for other P&I clubs in the United Kingdom and Norway, latterly serving as chairman of the global marine practice of Jardine Insurance Brokers in London. In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Joe is chairman of the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA), a director (and former president) of the Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey, a former chairman of the Association of Average Adjusters of the United States, a director of New York Maritime, Inc. (NYMAR) and a member of the National Cargo Bureau. Joe also serves on the classification committee of the American Bureau of Shipping, and the North American advisory committee of Lloyd’s Register. | |
| Chip Jaenichen Executive Vice President – US Flag Liberty Global Logistics LLC Chip Jaenichen joined Liberty Global Logistics LLC (LGL) as Executive Vice President for U.S. Flag and member of the Executive Management Committee which is responsible for planning and executing the company’s strategic business activities. During a 35-year Military and Government Service Career, he developed extensive leadership and managerial experience in ship operations, government regulations and Transportation/Maritime policy. He served in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear trained Submarine Officer for 30 years which included command assignments as Officer-in-Charge, Moored Training Ship One (MTS 635) in Charleston, SC; Commanding Officer, USS ALBANY (SSN 753), a fast-attack submarine, and Commander, Submarine Squadron 11 in San Diego, California. In shore assignments, he served on the Pentagon Joint Staff as the Chief of European and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Policy where he was responsible for military-to-military engagement with all 28 NATO nations and as Director of Submarine/Nuclear Power Distribution at Navy Personnel Command, overseeing 4,500 submarine and nuclear-trained surface warfare officers and aviators. His last assignment for the Department of the Navy was as Deputy Chief of Legislative Affairs in Washington D.C. from 2010 to 2012 where is was responsible for engagement with Members of Congress, Committees and Staff to support U.S. Navy Programs. Chip was appointed by President Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as U.S. Maritime Administrator for the U.S. Department of Transportation where he served from September 2014 until January 2017 after previously serving as both Deputy from July 2012 to May 2013 and Acting Maritime Administrator from June 2013 to August 2014. Immediately prior to joining Liberty, he was the Chief Operating Officer of a privately owned maritime company which operated over 90 vessels for Federal, state and local government organizations with multiple offices across the country and overseas. Mr. Jaenichen received his undergraduate degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1982 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Ocean Engineering and he holds a Master’s Degree in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University. He was designated as a member of the American Bureau of Shipping and has served as a Government representative to the National Defense Transportation Association. | |
| Pål Lothe Magnussen President & CEO American Shipping Company Mr. Magnussen was appointed CEO and President of American Shipping Company ASA effective 1 January 2015. He previously served as the Company’s CFO since 1 June 2014. Prior to joining American Shipping Company, Mr. Magnussen served as Director in DNB Markets’ Investment Banking Division, Shipping and Offshore group for 8 years. Earlier experience also include 4 years in DNB Bank’s Shipping and Offshore Division. Mr. Magnussen has significant experience from international shipping finance and been based in New York, Singapore and Oslo. He holds a MBA from Columbia University, New York and a Master of Science degree from Norwegian School of Management, Oslo. | |
| Eric Martin News Editor TradeWinds Eric Martin is news editor at TradeWinds, the shipping business news organization where he has worked since 2007 in various capacities, including US bureau chief and editor of the LNG Unlimited spinoff publication. A native of California who learned that a “face for radio” is not enough for a career in radio, he has worked at newspapers in the US Midwest and Santiago, Chile. He has won a variety of journalism awards, including the Society of Business Editors and Writers’ award for investigative journalism. | |
| Marc Matthews Partner Phelps Dunbar LLP Marc Matthews practices in the areas of admiralty and tort litigation with a special emphasis in defending vessel owners and operators from claims arising under the Jones Act, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, as well as from claims arising from vessel collisions and cargo damage. He has extensive experience in the arrest and seizure of vessels in the federal courts, both from the standpoint of arresting vessels and from the standpoint of obtaining the release of arrested vessels. In addition to his maritime practice, Mr. Matthews has substantial experience in handling commercial contract disputes (in both land-based and maritime contexts) and insurance subrogation. Mr. Matthews is also a trained mediator and is available to act as a third-party neutral mediator to assist litigants in resolving their disputes prior to trial. | |
| Samuel Norton President & CEO Overseas Shipholding Group Mr. Norton was appointed Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company in December 2016. Prior to this appointment, he served as Senior Vice President and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company’s U.S. Flag Strategic Business Unit since July 2016. Mr. Norton served as a non-executive Director on OSG's Board from August 2014 to July of 2016. Prior to joining OSG, in 2006 Mr. Norton co-founded SeaChange Maritime, LLC, an owner and operator of container ships, and served as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Norton spent the seventeen-year period ended July 2005 as a senior executive officer at Tanker Pacific Management (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. In 1995, Mr. Norton initiated and led the entry of the Sammy Ofer Group into the container segment, and acquired and operated the first container vessels in the group’s fleet. While at Tanker Pacific, Mr. Norton also conceived and started a related business, Tanker Pacific Offshore Terminals, which owns and operates a fleet of floating, offshore oil storage terminals. Prior to joining the Ofer group, Mr. Norton played a lead role in the Asian distressed assets group of the First National Bank of Boston, a position which acquainted him with the shipping industry and the Ofer family. Mr. Norton holds a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Language and Literature from Dartmouth College where he graduated in 1981. | |
| Charlie Papavizas Partner, Chair, Maritime Practice Winston & Strawn LLP Charlie Papavizas focuses his practice on administrative, legislative, and finance matters, primarily in the maritime industry. Charlie is frequently consulted on the application of U.S.-flag laws and regulations, particularly the application of U.S. coastwise laws (Jones Act) to cargo, passenger, and vessel movements and investments in U.S. companies. Chambers USA 2017 describes him as “incredibly knowledgeable” thanks to his reputation as “the dean of maritime law” and “the go-to attorney for Jones Act regulatory questions.” He has extensive experience in advocacy on behalf of maritime clients before various federal agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Maritime Administration, and the U.S. Congress. Such clients have included U.S. and foreign vessel owners and operators, industrial companies, private equity, commercial banks, and other financial institutions, shipyards, ship managers, and marine equipment suppliers. | |
| Russell Paret President & CEO Schuyler Line Navigation Company Russell Paret has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Schuyler Line Navigation Company since its inception in 1998. Mr. Paret has a broad maritime background, beginning his professional career at Ekko Chartering in New York where he assisted the senior leadership in the start up of Paragon Line LTD, a vessel operating company. After departing Ekko Chartering, Mr. Paret founded Dome Chartering & Trading Corporation and, subsequently, Schuyler Line Navigation Company, LLC (SLNC). Mr. Paret has guided SLNC to the forefront of the U.S. Flag market by specializing in the niche cargo preference and commercial markets. Over the past decade, SLNC has become one of the most competitive U.S.-based maritime operations, owning and operating both U.S. and foreign flag ships that service ports around the world. Mr. Paret has extensive experience in shipping economics and finance, as well as firsthand knowledge of the United States Armed Forces. He served in the U.S. Navy’s Merchant Marine Reserve Program from 1992-1996 and also trained as a Naval Liaison Officer (NLO) and spent time in Diego Garcia attached to a NEAT unit. He was honorably discharged from the Navy as a lieutenant. A graduate of the State University of New York Maritime College at Fort Schuyler (class of 1992), Mr. Paret holds a Master’s of Science degree in Marine Transportation and Shipping Economics and Finance (1995). While he has spent the majority of his past two decades on land, Mr. Paret holds a USCG 3rd Mate’s license with unlimited tonnage. | |
| Kenneth Richardson Executive Vice President, Global Offshore American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Kenneth (Ken) Richardson is ABS Executive Vice President, Global Offshore. He is responsible for aligning ABS strategic planning, client development and product and service offerings with the offshore industry’s technical needs and requirements. Richardson has held senior management at both ABS and ABS Group. Richardson served as Executive Vice President of Energy Project Development; Principal in Charge, Offshore Engineering department, Houston; Director of Marine Services; Vice President Engineering, ABS Group; Vice President Engineering, ABS Americas and prior to his current appointment, Vice President Energy and Transportation, ABS Consulting. Richardson joined ABS in 1982 as a mechanical engineer in the machinery department. Richardson earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, as well as his master’s degree in ocean engineering from the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. He also completed Harvard University Business School Program for Management Development. Richardson is an active participant in many industry associations, including the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). | |
| Kathrine Schmidt Houston Bureau Chief Upstream Kathrine Schmidt, Houston bureau chief at Upstream, covers oil and gas exploration and production in the Americas, predominantly the US Gulf and Mexico. Since joining Upstream in 2011 she has also worked as an online reporter and correspondent covering a wide range of topics, including Brazil, Argentina and US shale. Before Upstream, she worked as a local business reporter covering the oil industry for the Houma Courier in coastal Louisiana and as a writer for the Santiago Times in Chile. She graduated from Tufts University with degrees in International Relations and English. She lives in Houston with her boyfriend and dog, and in her spare time practices the Brazilian martial art of capoeira. | |
| Will Terrill President & CEO US Ocean, LLC Will Terrill is the President and CEO of Patriot Shipping, LLC, its subsidiary, US Ocean LLC, and Patriot’s parent company. Mr. Terrill joined Intermarine in 2006 and was named as its Vice-President of U.S. Flag Services in 2010. Mr. Terrill was appointed as President of Patriot Shipping in 2016. He assumed the role of President and CEO of US Ocean and Patriot’s parent company in 2018. During Mr. Terrill’s tenure with the Company, a substantial investment has been made in the expansion and modernization of the Company’s U.S. flag fleet. The Company maintains a fleet of seven (7) modern, shallow draft US Flag multipurpose vessels, with lifting capacity of up to 900MT. This expansion and modernization has resulted in the youngest fleet under the US flag and includes the only US Flag commercial vessel with lift on/lift off, roll on/roll off, and float on/float off capabilities. Mr. Terrill is a graduate of Gettysburg College (BA, History – 1993), University of Maine School of Law (JD, 1997) and Tulane School of Law (LLM – Maritime Law, 1998). He resides and is located in Houston, Texas. | |
| Matt Thomson Head of the Transportation & Logistics Group RBC Capital Markets Matt Thomson is the Head of the Transportation & Logistics Group at RBC Capital Markets based in New York. Prior to joining RBC Capital Markets in 2014, he spent 13 years at Bank of America Merrill Lynch where he was a Managing Director overseeing the firm’s ground transportation, logistics and Jones Act practice. Matt began his investment banking career at M&A boutique Wasserstein Perella & Co. During his career, Matt has advised numerous companies on strategic alternatives, including acting for Higman Marine and M/G Transport Services in their recent sales. He has also raised over $50 billion of capital through the debt and equity markets for many of the leading companies in the Transportation and Logistics sector. Matt received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and has a B.A. in Economics from Stanford University. | |
| Daniel Thorogood President SEACOR Ocean Transport Inc. Daniel Thorogood is President of SEACOR Ocean Transport Inc. and is responsible for SEACOR’s Ocean Transport & Logistics Services Division, which includes U.S. coastwise shipping of bulk liquids and dry cargo, movement of U.S. food aid and military cargo globally, harbor and offshore towing, bunkering, and short-sea shipping investments. After graduating from University College London in 2000, Mr. Thorogood commenced his career with SEACOR’s former international offshore marine services division in a commercial capacity. In September 2005, after the Seabulk International acquisition by SEACOR, he relocated to Ft. Lauderdale to support the integration. In November 2007 Mr. Thorogood was promoted to Senior VP of SEACOR Ocean Transport Inc. and in January 2009 he was appointed as President. Mr. Thorogood is also Chairman of Trailer Bridge, Inc. | |
| Robert A. Vosbein Jr. Executive VP & General Counsel Harvey Gulf International Marine Mr. Vosbein graduated from the University of Arizona in 1992 earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Finance. Upon graduation, he moved to Kiev, Ukraine, where he worked as the Deputy Director for the Ukrainian Legal Foundation. Mr. Vosbein subsequently attended Tulane Law School, graduating Cum Laude in 1996 and receiving a Certificate of Specialization in Admiralty Law. Upon graduation, Mr. Vosbein joined the law firm Adams and Reese, LLP. Mr. Vosbein’s practice included maritime litigation and transactions and commercial litigation. At Adams and Reese, Mr. Vosbein served on the firm's Recruiting Committee and later served as the firm’s Liaison Partner in charge of Associates. While practicing law at Adams and Reese, Mr. Vosbein also served on the firm’s Diversity Committee and taught Trial Advocacy at Tulane Law School. Mr. Vosbein joined Harvey Gulf in March, 2007. In addition to the traditional role of a General Counsel, Mr. Vosbein’s duties have included management of employee benefit plans, insurance procurement, human resources administration, marketing, and corporate, regulatory, and customer compliance. | |
| Jon Waldron Partner Blank Rome Jonathan Waldron is the former chair of Blank Rome’s Maritime & International Trade Practice Group and concentrates his practice in maritime, international, and environmental law, including maritime security. Jon served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 20 years, attaining the rank of commander, and was senior counsel to the Marine Spill Response Corporation, where he provided on-scene legal advice at major spill events. He is ranked by Chambers USA as a leading attorney for shipping regulatory matters, with Chambers sources stating that he has a “deep knowledge of maritime and environmental laws” and is “iconic when it comes to D.C. regulatory matters.” Chambers has also noted that Jon is said to be the “top expert on the Jones Act” and is “known for his prominence in matters relating to the Coast Guard.” Sources say that he is “the ultimate professional,” “knowledgeable, wise, well known in the industry and a pleasure to work with,” and particularly appreciate that he is “very well connected within the Coast Guard.” | |
| Edward Washburn SVP, Fleet Operations Pasha Group Mr. Washburn has over 30 years’ experience in the maritime industry. Joining Pasha Hawaii in 2015, he is responsible for the safe, efficient, and environmentally compliant operation of Pasha Hawaii’s six Jones Act container, pure car/truck carrier, and ConRo vessels. Mr. Washburn oversees new building, engineering and technical services, operations, crew management, budgetary planning and controls, regulatory compliance and environmental health. Prior to Pasha Hawaii, he held the position of General Manager Engineering and Technical Services for Horizon Lines LLC, following 22 years as Supervisor Port Engineer, Vessel Maintenance, Marine Inventory and Crane Maintenance. Prior to Horizon, he was a Licensed Marine Engineer for Marine Engineers Beneficial Association and First Class Marine Electrician for North Florida Shipyard. He holds an MBA-Decision Sciences from San Francisco State University, BS-Marine Engineering from Massachusetts Maritime Academy. | |
| Matt Woodruff Vice President Public & Government Affairs Kirby Corporation Matt Woodruff is Vice President of Public & Government Affairs for Kirby Corporation. He is a 1982 graduate of Texas A&M University and a 1985 graduate of the University of Houston Law Center. A maritime lawyer by background, Matt has spent his career advocating for maritime interests. Matt presently serves as President of the American Maritime Partnership, a coalition of over 450 organizations representing the domestic maritime industry. He is the Southern Region Chairman of the American Waterways Operators. He is the Vice Chairman of the Inland Waterways Users Board, and is a past chairman of the Waterways Council, Inc. He is currently an officer or director of several other industry groups. In the past, he has served as President of the Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association, President of the Texas Waterway Operators Association, and Chairman of the Clean Channel Association of Houston. Matt is active in civic and community affairs. He is mayor pro tempore of the City of Hedwig Village and a current director and past chairman of the Galveston Bay Foundation. He is a member of the C Club of Houston and is an active volunteer and board member of TEXSAR, Inc., a statewide search and rescue organization. He retired as a Commander from the U.S. Naval Reserve, where he served as an intelligence officer. | |
