Board of Directors
Robert P. Burke became a director in August 2005. Mr. Burke is currently a private investor in the maritime industry. Mr. Burke was most recently CEO of Chembulk Management, an owner and operator of a fleet of modern chemical tankers. Prior to that, Mr. Burke was CEO of Great Circle Capital from 2000-2005, a $120 million private equity firm specializing in maritime transportation investments that are funded by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, an independent development agency, and private investors. Prior to Great Circle, Mr. Burke was a Managing Director at GE Capital, in charge of their Marine Transportation Group. Mr. Burke serves on the Audit, Nominating and Compensation Committees. Mr. Burke is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y. and has a MBA from Columbia Business School.
Mr. Burke brings leadership and industry experience to our Board from his former position as the CEO of a worldwide chemical tanker operator, Chembulk Management. He also brings finance experience to our Board from his former positions as a maritime lending executive of GE Capital and CEO of a marine private equity firm. Mr. Burke also brings finance experience through his endeavors as a private investor.
Malcom P. McLean, Jr., a director since May 2002, is the owner of MPM Investments and the President of MPM Properties, Inc., a commercial real estate development company in Alabama. Since 1987, he has owned and managed various businesses in the restaurant and real estate field. From 1978 to 1986, Mr. McLean worked in various capacities at U.S. Lines, Inc., a large international container shipping company, where he was President from 1984 to 1986. Mr. McLean is the son of the late founder of Trailer Bridge and the brother-in-law of Greggory B. Mendenhall. He was also a director of Kadampanattu Corp.
Mr. McLean brings industry and global experience to our Board through his former positions as president and executive of a major international container shipping company.
Greggory B. Mendenhall, a director since May 2002, is special counsel with the law firm of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP. Prior to 2003 he was managing partner of the New York office of Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP, where he had practiced law for more than ten years. Mr. Mendenhall worked at U.S. Lines, a large international container shipping company, where he was a director and Vice President, Marine Operations from 1980-1986. Mr. Mendenhall is also an independent director since December 2007 of GS Maritime Holding, LLC., the parent company of United Maritime Group, LLC. which provides U.S.-flag transportation, storage and transfer of dry bulk commodities. Mr. Mendenhall has a JD from The George Washington University Law School and a BA from Brigham Young University. Mr. Mendenhall has worked in the maritime industry for over 30 years and has specifically been involved with container shipping since 1980. He has been an officer, director, investor and counsel to many maritime companies in the industry and has a broad knowledge of the U.S.-flag industry, regulations and programs.
Mr. Mendenhall brings legal experience to our Board from practicing law for over twenty years with an emphasis on maritime law and governmental relations. He also brings to our Board industry and global experience through his former position as a maritime executive of a leading worldwide container shipping company.
Douglas E. Schimmel, a director since August 2007, is a Managing Director/Portfolio Manager at Sandler Capital Management, a New York City based investment advisor that manages both hedge funds and private equity funds. Through its various on-shore and off-shore funds, Sandler manages approximately $1.1 billion in assets. Mr. Schimmel, who joined Sandler in 1994, is a research analyst and leads credit analysis for the hedge funds. Prior to joining Sandler Capital, he was an equity research analyst at Merrill Lynch, covering and publishing research in the cable television and broadcasting industries. Before that, Mr. Schimmel was an analyst/portfolio manager at Wertheim Schroeder & Company specializing in media, telecommunications and package food and beverage company investments. Mr. Schimmel is a director and serves on the audit committee of Multivision Communications Corp., a public company trading on the TSX Venture Exchage, providing subscription television service in Bolivia. He has a B.A. from the University of Miami. Mr. Schimmel serves on the Compensation, Audit and Nominating Committees.
Mr. Schimmel brings financial experience to our Board through his current position as a managing director of a large investment advisor to hedge and private equity funds and also through his role as a director of a public company.
Allen L. Stevens, Chairman since August 2008 and a director since May 2002, owns and manages several private companies with interests in real estate and grain handling. Mr. Stevens has been involved in the maritime industry for over 30 years at Sea-Land Service and McLean Industries, Inc., container shipping companies. Mr. Stevens also serves as a partner of Club Quarters, an urban business hotel he co-founded. He is a graduate of the Unviersity of Michigan and Harvard Law School. Mr. Stevens is a director of Subsea 7, Inc., a public company, providing worldwide underwater construction services to the oil and gas industry. Mr. Stevens serves on the Compensation, Audit and Nominating Committees.
Mr. Stevens brings industry and technology experience to our Board from his former position as an executive of major international container shipping companies; as the former executive of shipbuilding companies; and as a director of a major subsea contractor to the oil industry. Mr. Stevens also brings finance experience to our Board through his role as a member of the audit committee of a public company and as the former CFO of a public shipping company.