Crowley Names New Wind Services, Government Relations VPs
In late March, Maritime and logistics company Crowley appointed Mark Coplen to the role of vice president of project management for Crowley Wind Services, where he’s expected to help advance the company’s growth and market leadership in the offshore wind industry.
In his role, Coplen is being tasked with expanding Crowley Wind’s project management capabilities to support customers in its offering of engineering, procurement and construction management for the offshore wind market.
He previously served as president of Ventolines, an offshore wind consulting company, and as vice president of AdBm Technologies, a company that patented an underwater noise abatement solution for the foundations of fixed-base turbines to reduce impacts on marine life.
Coplen also served as a colonel in the U.S. Army.
Also, in February Crowley appointed Clay Heil as its vice president of global government relations, where he’ll lead the company’s government advocacy across all business interests and activities.
Based in Washington, D.C., Heil will spearhead Crowley’s engagement with federal, state and local government partners and elected officials on policy and regulatory matters that support Crowley’s strategic growth, the company said.
Heil joins Crowley with more than 25 years of legislative and legal experience. He worked in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate for a combined 12 years, holding senior roles including deputy staff director and general counsel for the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Most recently, Heil was a partner in Taft’s Public Affairs Strategies Group, where he represented Fortune 500 companies in the defense, cybersecurity and technology sectors.
During his time in Congress, Heil also served as legislative director for Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and worked for Rep. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.), Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Ark.) and Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.).
He holds a juris doctorate from the Georgetown University Law Center and a bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.
Berton Named Communications Director at Port of SF
Port of San Francisco Executive Director Elaine Forbes has appointed Justin Berton to the role of director of communications, where he will work in the port’s executive division overseeing communications, legislative affairs and the port’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program.
His appointment was effective Feb. 6.
Berton came to the port with a wealth of expertise in regional strategic communications, having served five years as director of communications for Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf. Before serving as director of communications for Schaaf, he worked as the associate director of media relations at Samuel Merritt University in Oakland.
He also worked as a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper from 2006 to 2013.
“I’m proud to appoint Justin to my leadership team to transparently communicate the port’s mission, San Francisco’s unique offerings and all matters regarding our renowned public waterfront,” Forbes said.
In a statement, Berton said that he was honored to join the port as it addresses some urgent challenges, including climate change, economic revitalization and ensuring the waterfront’s continued growth.
“I look forward to contributing to this dynamic organization and building partnerships that advance the port’s core mission to deliver a waterfront that benefits everyone,” he said.
The Port of San Francisco is responsible for 7.5 miles of San Francisco waterfront adjacent to San Francisco Bay, which the port develops, markets, leases, administers, manages and maintains.
Maritime Industry Leaders Join Waterfront Association Employers Board
The Washington, DC-based National Association of Waterfront Employers recently elected new Board leadership, NAWE announced March 7.
The following five individuals now serve as board executives:
- Chairman: Tom Saunders, director of government affairs at Ports America. Saunders previously was the board’s vice chair.
- Vice Chair: Hernán F. Ayala Rubio, executive vice president at Luis A. Ayala Colón Sucrs. Inc.
- Treasurer: Dan Mulligan, director of sales and marketing at Global Container Terminals, USA.
- Secretary: Ed McCarthy, chief operating officer at Georgia Ports Authority.
- At-large member: Mark Johnson, vice president of government affairs and business development at SSA Marine.
- The board consists of 17 members, including five executive board members. It directs and implements NAWE initiatives and offers counsel and viewpoints based on members’ professional experiences. Each executive board member serves a two-year term.
“I am honored to lead NAWE as its new chairman,” Saunders said. “For nearly a half-century, NAWE’s top priority has been and will remain the health and safety of America’s dedicated waterfront workers. Building off the successes of NAWE’s previous board chairs, our members will continue to educate lawmakers and regulators in Washington, D.C., on the critical link NAWE’s members play in the supply chain. We will advocate for policies to ensure the efficient movement of freight and supply chain fluidity.”
A complete list of NAWE Board members is available at https://nawe.us/board.
Elliott Bay Design Group’s Turner Joins Safety Advisory Committee
Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) project manager David Turner has been appointed to the National Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee to represent the viewpoints of naval architects and marine engineers, the group announced March 13.
Turner, who has 20 years’ experience in naval architecture and vessel design, is responsible for the fishing vessel sector with Seattle-based EBDG and has managed and worked onboard vessels for projects ranging from concept design, vessel refurbishments, stability and weight calculations, to efficiency improvements, according to his employer.
Principal John Waterhouse said the firm is extremely proud of Turner’s work in the fishing industry as well as of the recognition that being named to the committee brings.
Elliott Bay Design Group is a full-service, employee-owned naval architecture and marine engineering firm that supports owners, operators and shipyards with a team of naval architects, engineers, designers and analysts in the marine transportation industry.
The National Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee, which was established in 2018, provides advice to the Department of Homeland Security on commercial fishing safety, equipment and vessel operations.
The committee consists of 18 members appointed by the Secretary of Homeland Security, with each member having particular expertise, knowledge and experience regarding commercial fishing safety.
Thomas Sender Mehl Joins CakeBoxx Technologies
CakeBoxx Technologies in late February announced the appointment of Thomas Sender Mehl as the company’s general manager of CakeBoxx Technologies ApS in Aarhus, Denmark and senior vice president of supply chain for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Working with CakeBoxx Chief Commercial Officer Chris Clark in the UK, Mehl will be responsible for driving sustainability and supply chain systems business across those territories, and advancing global transportation logistics and fleet management services for CakeBoxx’s onshore and offshore wind customers.
His focus at the helm of CakeBoxx Technologies ApS will also be on growing the global supply chain systems firm’s leadership in energy transportation standardization and certifications.
“Mehl will address the most challenging transportation logistics problems facing the energy and renewable energy markets – especially around expedited specialized cargo logistics,” the company said in a statement.
“Working directly with CakeBoxx Technologies’ executive leadership, engineering, and logistics teams, he will also provide expert supply chain systems management guidance for CakeBoxx’s renewable energy customers, who run some of the most complex supply chains in the world,” the statement continued.
“CakeBoxx has become a renowned leader in developing transportation and logistics solutions that are transforming the performance, cost, integrity and safety of the most consequential cargo in the world,” Sender Mehl said. “I’m excited to help drive its remarkable supply-chain sustainability and energy growth.”
The firm’s Nordic operations, led by Mehl, officially opened March 1.
Delgado Named POLB Tenant Services Director
The Port of Long Beach’s Board of Harbor Commissioners in mid-March appointed Rafael Delgado to the job of director of tenant services and operations. In his new position, he’ll lead the division that ensures good working relationships with port tenants and other supply chain partners.
Delgado had previously worked as manager of tenant services at the port since September 2019. That division provides customer service, operations support and efficiency enhancements to terminal leaseholders, ocean carriers, cargo owners and other supply-chain partners.
He joined the Port of Long Beach in 2006 as a temporary employee, and has served in a variety of roles, including as a division secretary for the former Trade Development Division, as an administrative analyst, and as Chief Wharfinger from 2013 to 2019.
Before coming to the port, he was a logistics manager for Lakeshore Learning Materials in Carson, Calif. Delgado earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration at California State University, Long Beach.
Matson Logistics’ Byrne Named to CII Board of Directors
The Containerization & Intermodal Institute announced in late March that Jahan Byrne has been elected to its Board of Directors.
Byrne, who has over 28 years of industry experience, is the director of corporate marketing for Matson Logistics, a top 25 3PL and supply chain solutions provider that is part of the Matson Group. He oversees the global branding and marketing operations for the business.
Based in San Francisco, he has held various leadership positions in sales, marketing, and brand management for several maritime transportation and logistics firms, including American President Lines, Horizon Lines, National Shipping and the Pasha Group.
He was also previously in charge of commercial development projects at the Port of Oakland.
Please send your Newsmaker stories to Managing Editor Mark Nero: mark@maritimepublishing.com