Board of Governors

President

Carlos Guerra is a Houston, Texas native with over 25 years of experience in the maritime industry. He holds an MBA, multiple bachelor’s degrees in science and engineering disciplines, and professional certifications. He is actively engaged in veteran organizations, dedicating time to supporting the veteran community. Carlos currently oversees the expansion of the OES Group across the Americas, driving strategic growth within the offshore, marine, and renewable energy markets.

1st Vice President

  Chris Stickney is a maritime professional with over a decade of experience in ship operations, sustainability, and decarbonization. He currently serves as Business Partner – Sustainability & Decarbonization at Stolt Tankers, leading initiatives on emissions reduction, environmental performance, and regulatory compliance. Chris holds a B.S. in Marine Transportation from Texas A&M University Galveston Campus and previously sailed under his U.S. Coast Guard Third Mate Unlimited license. 

Treasurer

 Stuart Smith, a member of the club since 2007, has served on the Board and as Club Treasurer since 2014. In 2023, at the Annual IPC Convention in Charleston, he was elected to International Treasurer, and also serves on the Executive Committee over all Propeller Club port chapters worldwide. Stuart graduated in Accounting from the University of Houston Main Campus and has been involved in the marine industry for over 30 years. He is committed to helping perpetuate the maritime workforce in the Galveston-Houston area by volunteering and mentoring college students pursuing a career in the maritime industry.  

Secretary

William Wachel, a member of the club since 2014, has served on the Board as Club Secretary since 2019. Will has over 39 years of broad-based global experience in civil engineering projects. Experience includes infrastructure development for residential, commercial, and industrial sites; transportation projects including roads and bridges; commercial buildings; pipelines; and experience in waterfront/coastal projects such as marine terminals. He has designed and delivered a wide variety of project types, including water and wastewater designs, roadway, site development, utility designs, and permitting. Will has delivered projects utilizing traditional design-bid-build and design-build contracting. 

Membership

Tom grew up in Tampa Florida. He attended Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia graduating in 1977 and South Texas College of Law graduating in 1983. Tom’s law and arbitration practice focuses on work in the fields of maritime, insurance and transportation law. He is a member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, International Transportation Management Association, International Propeller Club – Port of Houston, Houston Mariners Club and the State Bar of Texas.

Tom continues to serve the community by serving on the Board of Directors for the Houston International Seafarer’s Center and serves as an Advisory Director on the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Harbor. Additionally, he is a past Commodore of the Houston Yacht Club and was honored to receive its Yachtsman of the Year Award in 2018.

Board Member

Jack is Vice President and Claims Manager of the Houston office of Shipowners Claims Bureau, the Managers of the American Steamship Owners Protection and Indemnity Association, Inc. (The American Club). He began his career in Insurance with the Travelers Insurance Company in 1985 as a Claims Representative Trainee and has worked for various other insurance companies, including AIG, Reliance National, XL Specialty, and Tower Group. He was also a broker Marsh & McLennan from 200 to 2007 assisting clients in the marine and energy sectors.

Jack initially came to Houston in 1997 with Reliance National/Blackmoor Group, opening it’s Houston office. He joined Marsh & McLennan in 2000, eventually assigned to the U.S. Compliance Audit Team. He joined XL Specialty’s Houston office in 2008 before transferring to New York in 2009 as AVP - Claims Account Manager. Jack joined Shipowners Claims Bureau in December 2013 in the NY Headquarters as VP - Senior Claims Executive, and returned to Houston as Manger in 2020. Jack is a licensed in Texas as an All Lines Claims Adjustor, and also coordinates business development regionally.

Jack is married to Clare and has 5 children.

Board Member

Mervin Schaefer is a maritime professional with over 30 years of experience across the marine transportation and logistics value chain. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University with a degree in Political Science and began his career in customer service with Hyundai Merchant Marine. His professional background spans sales and marketing for steamship lines, trucking and warehousing operations, port sales and marketing with the Port of Houston Authority, and vessel and port operations, including service as Senior Harbormaster at the Port of Texas City. He also has experience in line handling and launch services with Best Bet Line Handling in Texas City.

Mervin joined the PCOH Board in 2024, where he has supported fundraising initiatives including golf outings and luncheon programs. He is actively engaged in giving back to the maritime community through his involvement with the Houston International Seafarers’ Center and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary (Flotilla 6-3). He currently serves as Senior Project Logistics Sourcing Specialist for Air Liquide USA.

Board Member

Michael Kolomaznik began his maritime career in July 2011 with Norton Lilly International in Houston as a Boarding Agent. After just eight months, he was promoted to Vessel Manager, where he quickly gained extensive operational knowledge.  Two and a half years later, he advanced to Port Manager of Norton Lilly International’s Corpus Christi office.

Following nearly six years with Norton Lilly, Michael took on a new challenge as General Manager of Gulf Sunrise Agency’s Corpus Christi office, which he led for over four years.  He then opened a Marine Agency for Synergy Marine Group, Streamline Marine Services, where he served as head for another four years.

Currently, Michael is the Business Development Manager at Gulf Marine Contractors, where he engages with clients daily and focuses on building strong relationships with maritime professionals.

Board Member

Paul Hicks has been in the maritime industry for 35 years in both operations and commercial roles.  His experience includes 20+ years in container carrier operations and sales with Evergreen, Maersk and CP Ships. He then transitioned into breakbulk world working for a charter/broker called Navex. And finally, the past 12+ years he’s been a commercial manager for breakbulk cargos with ro/ro carriers Hoegh Autoliners and currently, Wallenius Wilhelmsen. 

Paul has been involved in various maritime associations as a member of the West Gulf Maritime Association, HCBFFA, and most recently, on the board of ITMA.

He is also a licensed Real Estate Broker, so his sales experience is on both land and sea. 

Paul is married with two grown children and loves to travel with his wife Sherene. 

Immediate Past

President

James Nash has 30+ years of experience in the maritime, port, land transportation and logistics segments of the transportation industry. He holds a Bachelor Degree and Master of Maritime Administration and Logistics from Texas A&M University.

James started his career in operations and has since held various challenging commercial, sales and operations positions with container carriers, breakbulk ocean carrier, third party logistics, port authorities, terminal operator, and ship agency.

In January 2022, James joined the West Gulf Maritime Association (WGMA) as Director, Maritime Affairs. He is responsible for working with and on behalf of WGMA’s membership of steamship owners, operators, agents, stevedores, terminal operators, and stakeholders, as an active advocate and liaison for the maritime industry.

He is actively involved in many industry associations, committees, and boards throughout the Gulf Coast Region.