Guest Speakers
Ally Cedeno
Founder, Women Offshore
Ally Cedeno is the Founder of Women Offshore and a 2008 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. She is licensed as a chief mate of unlimited tonnage vessels and dynamic positioning operator. Ally's experience on the water spans both the maritime and offshore energy industries over the last 11 years. Her latest vessel was a 7th-generation, ultra-deepwater drillship built in South Korea in 2017. Ally spent much of her career at sea as one of the only women in operations on the vessels she worked on, yet she is determined to change that with Women Offshore, an online organization and resource center for a diverse workforce on the water. Women Offshore shines a light on women in operations, provides resources to foster long-term careers, and shares the latest efforts on gender diversity and inclusion in the offshore and maritime industries.
Capt. Amy Arrowwood
Director
Maritime Credit Program
San Jacinto College Maritime Campus
Capt. Amy Arrowood is the Director of the Maritime Credit Program at San Jacinto College Maritime Campus. In this role Amy’s responsibilities include educational leadership and administrative management of Texas’s only Associates of Applied Science in Maritime Transportation Degree. Capt. Arrowood is a graduate of Texas A&M University Galveston and holds a 2nd Mate Unlimited tonnage, Oceans license; a Master 1600 Ton license, and a Tankerman PIC endorsement.
Prior to joining San Jacinto College, Capt. Arrowood sailed US Flag vessels both coastwise and internationally. Amy also completed three years of active duty as a commissioned officer in the United States Coast Guard where she was awarded the Coast Guard Commendation Medal. In total Amy has over 23 years of maritime industry experience.
Anne Seither
Deputy Director
National Maritime Center
Capt. Augusta Roth
Department Head, Associate Professor of the Practice
Department of Maritime Transportation
Texas A&M University at Galveston
Andrea Orlowski
Senior Analyst
Commanders Action Group
Military Sealift Command
Andrea Orlowski is Senior Analyst for the Commanders Action Group responsible for . Military Sealift Command provides on-time logistics, strategic sealift, as well as specialized missions anywhere in the world, under any conditions, 365 days a year.
Andrea Orlowski graduated from US Merchant Marine Academy in June 2006 and commissioned in the U.S. Navy. She began her career as a design engineer on the Landing Craft Air Cushion in Panama City, FL. Andrea served as the Lead Test Engineer for verification of the 33K air conditioner testing in the climatic chamber at Eglin Air Force Base. She transferred to MSC in 2009 and joined the In-Service Engineering Branch. In 2010, she had the great pleasure in assisting in the activation of the USNS COMFORT for disaster recovery after an earthquake in Haiti. Andrea took on increasing complex and multi discipline design packages to include the conversion of AFSB(I) USS PONCE. Andrea as served as the Director of the Military Sealift Command Technical Library responsible for all drawings and technical manuals for 130+ vessels. Most recently she was the Engineering Business Analytics and Policy Supervisor responsible for the development and promulgation of engineering policy for MSC, which is ISO 9001 Certified.
Andrea is serving as a Lieutenant Commander is the Strategic Sealift Officer Force. Her active duty assignments include time as a Naval Science instructor as TAMUG, Post Indoctrination Course Instructor, USNS COMFORT and USNS MERCY, in addition to multiple MARAD vessels.
Additionally, she is the very proud mom to 4 children and wife to an Active Duty Naval Aviator.
Brittany Truss
Assistant DPO
Noble Drilling
Brittany worked with Ensco International to start her career in the offshore oil industry and specialized in dynamic positioning on their 8500 series MODU's. While working with Ensco, she learned the fundamentals of dynamic positioning, how to make bulk transfers to and from supply vessels, how to maintain a daily stability report, maintained required safety inspections, maintained water ballast, controlled the Vessel Management System, became proficient in power management, and much more. Although it was an amazing experience, it was time for a change and Brittany turned to expedition cruising with Lindblad Expeditions. She started off as a deckhand and worked her way to Second Mate onboard the National Geographic Quest and Venture. She sailed the waters of Costa Rica, Panama, Baja, Alaska and the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Brittany has also worked as a 2nd Mate DPO onboard the Mcdermott DP50, a heavy lift vessel operating in the Gulf of Campeche and was recently hired with Noble Drilling as an Assistant DPO. She hopes to continue honing her skills as a Dynamic Positioning Officer and attain her Chief Mate Unlimited in the foreseeable future.
Cristina Galego
Public Relations Manager
Port of Galveston
Erin Bertram
Vice President
Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association, Gulf Coast
The Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (M.E.B.A.) is the nation's oldest and finest maritime labor union, established in 1875. Erin Bertram is M.E.B.A.'s Gulf Coast Vice President and heads up operations at our Houston Union hall representing a large and diverse mix of engineers and deck officers, experienced and skilled in all aspects of the maritime workforce. She is part of the District Executive Committee -- the M.E.B.A.'s five-person governing body -- and serves on the Board of Trustees for the M.E.B.A. Benefit Plans as well as the American Maritime Congress. After graduating from the Texas A&M Maritime Academy in 1991 with a B.S. Marine Engineer and USCG 3AE license, Erin kept engine room operations running smoothly for years aboard Steam, Gas Turbine and Motor vessels, upgrading her licenses as she sailed. In January 2000, she began assisting the Union as Dispatcher/Representative in the Houston hall through 2013. Her organization, integrity and know-how was embraced by members who elected her as Houston Branch Agent for three years beginning in 2014. She has represented the Union on various recruiting missions, high-profile industry conferences and meetings, as well as on the Officers' Union of International Seamen. She began her four-year service as Gulf Coast V.P. in January 2017.
Evan Mays
Bayport Container Terminal Manager
Port of Houston Authority
Evan Mays is the Bayport Container Terminal Manager for the Port of Houston Authority where she leads one of the largest container terminals in the US.
She received her B.S in Maritime Sciences/License option from Texas A&M University at Galveston in 2002. After graduating, Evan spent years in various positions within the maritime community including 3rd Mate/Cargo (2nd) Mate for Military Sealift Command and Supply Boat Captain for Waterside Launch Services before joining the Port of Houston Authority. Evan served in various operational roles during her tenure at the Port of Houston Authority including, Vessel Services Superintendent, Yard Planner, Vessel Manager and Terminal Operating Systems Manager.
Ilya Espino de Marotta
Vice President of Transit Business
Panama Canal
Obtained her Marine Engineer degree from Texas A&M, in Galveston, Texas, U.S.A., in May 1985; and in 1996, her Master in Economic Engineer from the Universidad Santa María La Antigua (The Old Saint Mary University in Panama City, Republic of Panama), also known as USMA. Took Managerial Development courses in: The INCAE Business School, located in Managua, Nicaragua (February 2000) and, The Kellogg School of Management, located in Illinois, U.S.A. (July 2006).
Is a Certified Public Translator. Obtained her Project Administrator Certificate from the Project Management Institute in May 2007.
Has worked for the Panama Canal Commission / Panama Canal Authority for over 30 years on various positions. Among them, Design Engineer for the Industrial Division-where the Canal floating equipment repair shipyard is located; for the Engineering Branch, Dredging Division; and for the Mechanical Engineering Branch, Engineering Division. Also worked for the Accounting Division as Valuation Engineer. Was the Investment Program Coordinator for the Maritime Operations Department. In May 2002, assigned to the Canal Master Plan coordinating team, under the Administrator’s Office, where she participated in the development of the Panama Canal Master Plan and the Expansion Proposal presented to the Nation for a Referendum on October 22, 2006. She then transferred to the Programs Development Office under the Administrator’s Office, where she participated in planning the execution of the various works required for the Expansion Program.
In May 2007 she was appointed as Executive Manager of the Resources Planning and Project Controls Division, Engineering and Programs Administration Department, responsible for the execution of the Expansion Program. She acted in this position until 2012.
In May 2012 she was assigned as Executive Vice President for Engineering and Program Management. This Vice Presidency is in charge of all engineering of the Panama Canal and preparing the designs and specifications for all Panama Canal Projects, also issuing and managing all the construction contracts for the Panama Canal; and heading the execution of the Panama Canal Expansion Program. In the development and execution of her responsibilities, has been recognized several times with several awards of excellence for her contribution to various programs. She acted in this position until February 2019.
Recently she has been designated as Executive Vice-President for Transit Business responsible for all maritime operations, emergency response, dredging operations, maintenance of canal’s infrastructures, floating and rolling equipment, customer affairs and marketing analysis.
She has also given many lectures on the Panama Canal Expansion Program and the national and international level and was awarded as “Outstanding Woman of the Year” by the Panamanian Association of Business Executives; Global Chairman’s Diversity Leadership by Stanton Chase; Forbes Magazine of Mexico recognized her in its list of the 50 most powerful women in Central America; 2016 Women who make a difference by the International Women Forum; holds the Distinguished Woman Award from the Association of Professional and Business Woman of Panama and Awesome Legendary Leadership (ALL) Award.
Member of the Board of Directors of the Ronald McDonalds Charity Organization of Panama. Personal: Happily married for 28 years with Peter Marotta, three biological kids Marco 27, Peter 25, Andrea 22.
Likes: travel, go to the beach, workout, photography, diving, cooking when time allows.
Capt. Joy Manthey
Marine Project Engineer
Shell Trading U.S. Company
Captain Joy Manthey has been a Captain for over 40 years. Captain Joy received her Operator of Passenger Carrying Vessels of not more than 100 Gross Tons license right out of High School. She became the first woman to hold a First Class Pilots License in 1980 from Mile 88 to Mile 235 AHP on the Mississippi River. She later earned her Master Unlimited Any Gross Ton License. In 1981, Captain Joy owned and operated a 276 Passenger vessel, the Samuel Clemens in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 1991, she was Captain of the first gambling boat on the Mississippi River in Davenport, Iowa then proceeded to open Casino boats in New Orleans, Biloxi, and Baton Rouge. After working on the Casino Boats and overnight passenger boat, the Steamer Mississippi Queen, Captain Joy decided to enter religious life and she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in the early 90’s. During this time, she became a chaplain to the men who worked on the brown water towboats operating on the Mississippi River and the Intracoastal Waterways. In 2008, Joy chose not to take final vows in her religious order and returned to being a full time Captain and Chaplain for an inland marine company. Captain Joy has held three Federal Appointments from the Director of Homeland Security serving on the Lower Mississippi River Waterway Safety Advisory Committee (LMRWSAC) and the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC.) She is currently serving for the Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (MEDMAC.) LMRWSAC provides advice and recommendations to the Department of Homeland Security through the Coast Guard on matters such as communications, surveillance, traffic management, anchorages, the operation of the New Orleans Vessel Traffic Service and other issues dealing with the navigation safety on the Lower Mississippi River and its connecting navigable waterways. The purpose of MERPAC is to advise the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, via the USCG Commandant, on matters relating to the training, qualification, licensing, certification and fitness of mariners and seamen in the Merchant Marine. MEDMAC advises the Secretary of DHS on medical certification determinations for issuance of licenses, medical standards and guidelines for physical qualifications of operators, medical examiner education and medical research. Captain Joy has a BS from Louisiana State University, a MPS in Pastoral Care and Counseling from Loyola University New Orleans and has her BCC, Board Certification by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains.
Karen Higgins
Marine Project Engineer
Shell Trading U.S. Company
Karen Higgins is a Marine Project Engineer for Shell Trading US Company and is currently based in the Houston, TX office. As a Marine Engineer, she provides support for many Shell Company projects and is currently is a project engineer for Shell’s Shipping and Maritime, “LNG as a Marine Fuel” initiative. Karen joined Shell a little more than seven years ago and has worked on various assignments in Houston and Louisiana. She was a Maritime Assurance Advisor analyzing safety and operating issues to assure compliance with standards for companies (and companies chartering ships) doing business with Shell. In 2015, Shell contracted to build a couple ice-classed anchor handlers as support vessels for planned Alaska operations and assigned Karen to be the onsite Charterers’ Representative on these new construction vessels in Houma, LA. Pursuant to that assignment, Karen joined the STONES Support team aboard the “Turritella” FPSO, (Shell’s first FPSO (Floating Production Storage Offloading (asset)) in the Gulf of Mexico), as “Topsides Surveillance Engineer” as well as to provide marine surveillance support onboard.
Karen graduated from Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering and a USCG 3rd Engineer’s License (Unlimited Horsepower Steam and Motor). After graduation, she went to sea and worked through the different requirements and USCG licensing accreditations and earned her USCG Chief Engineer license of Unlimited Horsepower, Steam, Motor and Gas Turbine in 2003. She was one of the first and very few female Chief Engineers in the industry. During about a 2-year hiatus from sailing, she was recruited by Mass Maritime Academy where she returned to her alma mater as an engineering instructor teaching 1st year and 2nd year cadets Auxiliary Engineering and Diesels. After teaching Karen returned to sea sailing as 1st engineer and then completed her sea-going career sailing on her Chief Engineer’s License on Product Tankers and Shuttle Tankers.
Karen is a native of Boston, MA, (growing up in a Boston suburb) and transferred to Houston to work for Shell. She has a passion for anything that has to do with the ocean and when she has the time, she enjoys boating, jet-skiing, and SUP’ing.
Katrina Haselman
Consultant
Seariver Maritime, Inc.
Katrina has spent over 25 years in the Oil and Gas industry. Her career began as a cadet on International break bulk and Lighter Aboard Ship (LASH) vessels. After graduating from US Merchant Marine Academy, Katrina sailed for Chevron on her USCG license advancing it to Unlimited Chief Mate and 1600 Ton Master’s license. She spent an additional 15 years ashore with Chevron in various commercial negotiations and project roles. During that time, Katrina earned her MBA from Rice University. Katrina retired from Chevron and spent a couple of years focused on raising her three boys before returning to outside work as a consultant. In 2018, Katrina joined SeaRiver Maritime, Inc. and currently overseas the group that manages the VLCC and Suez chartering out of the Arabian Gulf.
Outside of work, Katrina likes road trips and to go dirt biking with her boys.
Laila Linares
Program Manager
Office of Strategic Sealift
U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration
Laila received her U.S. Navy Reserve officer commission from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in 2006, where she majored in Marine Engineering Systems and minored in Environmental Engineering. After graduation, she elected to sail for the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC), the ocean transportation provider for the DOD, as an Engineering Merchant Marine Officer. Eventually transitioning shore-side with MSC Headquarters and then later with Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), she has served in roles supporting maritime and vessel operations, ship design, new ship acquisition, ship inspection, project/program management, contract administration, process improvement, and lifecycle management. Today, Laila is a Program Manager with the Office of Strategic Sealift at the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD). She is responsible for leading teams in implementing and executing all major acquisition functions associated with new construction of the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel training fleet, decommissioning of the Nuclear Ship Savannah and recapitalization of vessels in the Ready Reserve Force (RRF). Laila remains active in the U.S. Navy Reserve as a Lieutenant Commander with the Strategic Sealift Officer Program. Since earning her M.S. in Engineering Management from The George Washington University, she continues to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers amongst young adults, particularly women enrolled in Washington, D.C. colleges/universities. In addition to serving as the President of the USMMA Alumni Foundation - Washington, D.C. Chapter, she is also a devoted Executive Member of Congresswoman Eleanor H. Norton's (D-D.C.) Service Academy Selection Board.
Laura Camcioglu
Director of Administration
Port of Galveston
LeighAhn Ferrari
U.S. Merchant Marine
LeighAhn J. Ferrari is a United States Merchant Marine, who holds a United States Coast Guard Master of Unlimited Tonnage upon Oceans license. Ms. Ferrari graduated in 2012 from the SUNY Maritime College with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Marine Business and Commerce with a Humanities Minor.
Ms. Ferrari began sailing with Military Sealift Command in July 2012, as a Third Officer and then Second Officer NAVOPS aboard USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10). Her other ship assignments include Second Officer NAVOPS and Cargo aboard USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE 7), Second Officer NAVOPS aboard USS Emory S. Land (AS 39), Second Officer Cargo aboard USNS John Ericsson (T-AO 194), Second Officer Cargo and Chief Mate aboard USNS Pecos (T-AO 197), and finally Chief Mate aboard USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52). She is currently serving as the Executive Assistant to the Commander of Military Sealift Command.
LeighAhn Ferrari is a native of Copiague, New York and currently resides in Riverview, Florida.
Capt. Lindsay Price
Lead Captain
G&H Towing
Captain Lindsay M Price is a graduate from SUNY Maritime College. She moved to Houston, Texas in 2007. Since that time, she has been employed by G&H Towing Company: starting as a mate Lindsay worked her way up, becoming G&H's first female captain in 2011. She is currently serving as lead Captain onboard one of G&H towing's newest boats the David B. She has been involved with bringing new tugboats out of the shipyard and preparing them to come into G&H’s fleet. Lindsay stays involved in the Maritime community by mentoring tug employees within G&H, working with the Stephan F. Austin High School maritime training program and being an active mentor for WomenOffshore’s mentor program. She is a contributor to SeaSisters.org and has been an active and involved member of WISTA since 2011. Lindsay aspires to become a Harbor Pilot and continues promoting women in the Maritime industry.
Michelle Schopp
Lieutenant Commander
U.S. Coast Guard
Michelle Schopp is a Lieutenant Commander with the U.S. Coast Guard, where she is currently the Branch Chief of the Coast Guard’s International Resident Training program, supporting various national and global stakeholder initiatives in accordance with the U.S. Department of State, designing curricula for courses, seminars and workshops affecting over 225 senior international maritime professionals a year. She most recently served two separate tours as Investigations Division Chief where she oversaw all Coast Guard marine casualty, violation and personnel action investigations for Miami/Fort Lauderdale/West Palm Beach, Florida and the state of North Carolina, and previous tours of duty in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and U.S. Virgin Islands. Michelle is the U.S. Coast Guard liaison to the Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership at Mary Baldwin University, and serves as a senior board member for the Peninsula Chapter of the United Nations Association – USA, is a member of the Peninsula Master Naturalists, and the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) – DC Metro Chapter. Michelle holds a Masters Degree in Environmental Management from Duke University, a Bachelors in Environmental Management, and an Associates in Legal Studies, both from the University of Maryland, University College. She resides in Newport News, Virginia with her husband Ryan, where they plan to stay upon her transition out of the military in the summer of 2020.
Dr. Joan Mileski
Department Head, Professor
Department of Maritime Business Administration
Texas A&M University at Galveston
Dr. Joan P. Mileski is a tenured Professor in Maritime Administration and of Marine Science and the Head of the Maritime Administration Department at Texas A & M University at Galveston (TAMUG). She holds a PhD in International Management Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas, a M.S. in Taxation from Pace University and B.B.A in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame. She has transportation experience with Union Tank Car Corporation. She has also been a Certified Public Accountant for 40 years. She has been awarded several grants including from the U.S. and Texas Department of Transportation and DHS, has teaching and international research awards, and publishes in Research in Transportation Business & Management, Maritime Business Review, Marine Policy, Maritime Policy and Management, Maritime Economics and Logistics, World Maritime University Journal of Maritime Affairs, Ocean Yearbook, and the Asian Journal of Shipping. Her research activities currently include the impact on Maritime Industry firms’ competitive strategy of maritime security regulations and maritime cyber security and on the importance of disaster preparedness of transportation infrastructure. She is a Fulbright research scholar alumnae, a former Professor at the World Maritime University and past President of the Women in the Academy of International Business.
Natasha Fenton
Project Administrator
Port of Galveston
With a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Marketing, I began my career in Finance. At Wells Fargo Advisors, I had the opportunity to earn my licenses to trade stocks, bonds, options, etc. I then had the incredible fortune to manage portfolios whilst enjoying both client-facing and institutional investing roles.
However, a fateful winter fishing trip for this Florida girl would change everything. After an extraordinary day offshore, I realized my undeniable passion for the sea and decided to attend graduate school at Texas A&M University. Learning to navigate while sailing the Pacific and seeing whales and sea life I had only dreamed of with folks I dearly respected was a phenomenal experience I will forever treasure! After graduating with a Master’s in Maritime Administration and Logistics, I went to work as a Project Administrator for the Port of Galveston. While my roots are Floridian, my future is deep in the heart of Texas.
Nicole Greenway
2nd Engineer
Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association
Nicole Greenway is a 2015 graduate of Great Lakes Maritime Academy. She has worked on a variety of vessels as a member of MEBA. She currently holds an Unlimited Second Engineer’s License. Her husband is also a graduate of GLMA and sails with MEBA.
Pamela Skaufel
Director
Aviation & Marine Lubricants
ExxonMobil Fuels & Lubricant Co.
Joined Mobil North Sea, located in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1998. After a brief assignment with the Europe/Africa audit department, she joined the procurement organization after the merger. She then moved to Esso Exploration & Production Chad Inc in 200/2003 to support the start up of production operations as the Procurement Supervisor, and lived in Africa with her dog Whiskee !. She began a series of procurement managerial assignments in Houston from 2006 until 2013, mostly supporting the Upstream organizations. After a role as the Planning Manager for Global Services Company (GSC) in early 2014 she moved to Global Real Estate & Facilities Management (GREF) as Regional Manger Asia- Pacific, located in Melbourne, Australia. In 2016 , she began her Downstream career in the Supply & Trading organization and was responsible for trading Petroleum Coke & Sulphur. She assumed her role as in the Lubricants organization as Director for Aviation & Marine Lubricants in Jan 2017.
Phyllis Saathoff
Executive Director / COO
Port Freeport
Phyllis Saathoff is an accomplished executive with over 25 years of service in the port industry. With a strong accounting and finance background combined with her operational leadership, Phyllis brings a proven track record to Port Freeport.
Saathoff began her maritime career at Port Freeport in 1992. She served as Managing Director, and then in April 2012, became the Interim Executive Director/CEO before joining the Port of Houston Authority in October 2012. Saathoff served in various capacities during her tenure a the Port of Houston Authority including Chief People Officer and Deputy Executive Director of Corporate Affairs. She was responsible for public affairs, strategic planning, channel development, freight mobility and environmental affairs. Saathoff returned to Port Freeport in April 2016 as the Chief Executive Officer.
Under Saathoff's leadership, the Port has been successful in obtaining U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chief's Report to Congress to deepen the Freeport Harbor Channel to 56 feet and in financing and initiating the development of the Port's first container terminal. Being the recipient of the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association for 29 consecutive years demonstrates Saathoff's commitment to public transparency and accountability.
Sarah Scherer
Director / Dean
Seattle Maritime Academy
Sarah’s maritime career started in 1989 as a Cadet at Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG) which is also the Texas Maritime Academy. After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Sciences and an Unlimited Tonnage Third Mates License from the US Coast Guard, she enjoyed working in various parts of the Maritime Community. Her sailing endeavors included work on supply boats, tugs, landing crafts, high speed catamarans, seismic and fisheries research vessels from the South Pacific Ocean to the Bering Sea. One of her shoreside adventures included being the Assistant Scientific Support Coordinator for the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii and Oceania with NOAA HAZMAT providing scientific support during Oil or Hazardous Material Spill Incidents to the USCG or US EPA. Her introduction to commercial shoreside operations began with Foss Maritime Company in the Health & Safety Department. In Dec 2007, she earned a Master’s Degree from the Leadership Institute of Seattle in Leadership and Organizational Development. She continued her career as a Regulatory Training Manager for Crowley Maritime Corporation on the Gulf and East Coasts. Sarah stepped away from the maritime industry for a couple of years doing leadership and organizational development. She moved back to Seattle and into the fishing industry as a Safety Manager for Coastal Villages Region Fund. She most recently took the helm as the Director/Dean of the Seattle Maritime Academy.
Skylar Vanckhoven
Mate
G&H Towing
I attended Texas A&M at Galveston, Texas Maritime Academy, and graduated in 2015 with a Third Mate Unlimited Tonnage license. Shortly after graduation, I started working at G&H Towing as a Mate. I received my towing endorsement through the company and recently upgraded my license to 1600 Ton Inland Master. Throughout my time at the company, I have gained experience on single screw, twin screw, and z-drive tugs in the Ports of Houston, Galveston, and Freeport. My future career goals are to make captain at G&H Towing and get my Masters in Maritime Administration.
Stephanie Blummer
First Engineer
OSG Ship Management, Inc.
Graduated from A&M Texas Maritime Academy in 2008 with a BS in Marine Engineer Technology and a 3AE Unlimited Motor and Steam USGC license. Joined MEBA in the fall of 2008. Worked on several types of vessels: bulker, RO/RO, container, passenger and tankers. Currently sailing as a permanent First Engineer with OSG, a tanker company. This May got a Chief unlimited motor license.
Tracey Murrell
Director
Operational Safety, Environment & Health
Waymo
Tracy Murrell is an accomplished leader with more than 20 years of experience in operations and risk management in the transportation industry. As the Director of Operational Safety, Environment and Health at Waymo, she leads a team of safety professionals who are working to bring fully self-driving technology to the world; which will improve mobility and save thousands of lives now lost to motor vehicle crashes.
Prior to joining Waymo, Ms. Murrell led a team of safety experts responsible for oversight and strategic management of maritime operational risk for Royal Caribbean Cruises, LTD. And before that, she led the Office of Marine Safety at the National Transportation Safety Board, where she was responsible for investigations of all major marine casualties in the United States.
Ms. Murrell has been a frequent representative on matters related to maritime safety in international and domestic forums including the Cruise Ship Safety Forum and International Maritime Organization.
Ms. Murrell received her BS in Marine Transportation from Texas A&M University at Galveston, an MBA from Nova Southeastern University and is pursuing an MS in Human Factors from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. She holds a United States Coast Guard Master’s license.