Board of Governors

President

Steven holds a Marine Engineering degree from Massachusetts Maritime Academy and a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University. Steven is Managing Director of PEI TECH LLC serving the global maritime, cruise, offshore and government services industries providing Aderco fuel additives and NSI bunker brokering. His background includes USCG Unlimited Licensed Engineering Officer, US Naval Reserve Officer, and ten years working onboard tankers, containerships and bulk carriers. For the past twenty years he has held executive leadership positions on the commercial side of the industry in technical services, sales and marketing. Steven is active in industry associations, including Houston Propeller Club, CIMAC, One Tree Planted, Green Marine and Connecticut Maritime Association. In his free time, he enjoys biking, sailing and golf. 

2nd Vice President

Timothy Strickland has a passion for the ocean. This passion easily translated into his focus on maritime law, which led him to serve early in his career as in-house counsel and subrogation manager for an international marine insurance service company that provided surveying, adjusting and subrogation expertise to marine insurance underwriters in England, France and Spain — and throughout the world.

Tim has been involved in several notable maritime cases, including the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and Thunderhorse production platform Salvage. In both cases, he was actively engaged with the client from the earliest opening hours of each crisis and then was involved with the emergency response center in Houston for months.

Faced with complicated maritime cases, other attorneys might be intimidated or need to get up to speed on everything involved — from the business to the logistics to the science. But some might say that Tim has been perfectly trained for these scenarios. He even sat for and passed his United States Coast Guard O.U.P.V. test to obtain a USCG Captain’s license. With a marine biology background, a love of the ocean and a passion for winning, he is right at home fighting for his client’s cause in even the most trying circumstances. Throughout his career, Tim has litigated claims in state and federal courts including marine and non-maritime personal injury defense, premises liability, international salvage disputes, insurance coverage, energy construction disputes and complex international business transactions. He has had the opportunity to successfully represent a diverse and sophisticated clientele ranging from large insurance companies to small local businesses. In particular, Tim has been quite successful with international arbitration disputes and has the unique ability to litigate away from home if necessary.

One of the things his clients appreciate most about Tim is that he understands they are businesspeople and their decision-making process is not driven by his opinions. He is there to help them do their jobs better, not take over. In other words, he is a professional, knowledgeable and indispensable counselor and advisor, but at the end of the day, their business is theirs to run. He just makes it easier for them to do so.

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. 

Treasurer

Stuart Smith, a member of the club since 2007, has served on the Board and as Club Treasurer since 2014. Stuart graduated in Accounting from the University of Houston Main Campus and has been involved in the marine industry as a shipyard controller for the last 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

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

Carlos Guerra is a native of Houston Texas with over 20 years of experience in the Maritime Industry. Carlos has earned multiple Bachelor's degrees in various science and engineering fields along with other certifications. Currently, Carlos is one of the top Vice Presidents for Gulf Copper and Manufacturing Company. He is also a member of numerous Veteran organizations donating time supporting other veterans.

Board Member

William Swartz began his career in the maritime industry in 1994, when he began as a machinist for an Indiana based company that manufactures new products for the tank barge industry. From there, he installed and repaired barge overfill systems across North America and parts of South America. In 2014, he moved to Houston to help oversee a valve repair company and started a pump repair division within that company. During that time, he was solely responsible for obtaining VR status for valve repairs by the National Board of Pressure and Boiler Inspectors. In 2020, he started his own consulting company that handles marine and plant customer issues of all types. His company, Probity Solutions LLC, also provides customers with many products and services needed for their projects such as new valves, valve repairs, sight glasses, sight glass repairs, and much more.

William Swartz is a member of the NAMS organization. He sits on the advisory committee for the San Jacinto Maritime College. He has spent many hours training customers and Coast Guard members on the equipment and products they might see topside of barges and how to inspect them.  

Board Member

Willi Gerami, is the Maritime Affairs Representative for West Gulf Maritime Association. He represents WGMA to his members, regulatory agencies, and other industry partners. In addition, he develops necessary relationships to facilitate collaboration between WGMA and its members while assisting in communication between WGMA and its members.

Recently started working on his graduate degree in Maritime Business Administration and Logistics from Texas A&M University – Galveston and holds a B.S. in Supply Chain and Logistics from the University of Houston as well as an A.A.S. in International Business & Logistics with Maritime Specialty from San Jacinto College.

He is certified in SAP - SCM & MM and by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) and served as President of Supply-Chain Industrial Distribution Organization (SIDO) while attending the University of Houston. With a pure passion for technology and strong bond with the sea, he was bound to be in Shipping Industry!

Student Chapter Board Member

Dorimekka "Dori" is a student TSU Maritime Transportation Management and Security Candidate - Class of 2023. She is an enthusiastic individual with a passion for helping others. Excellent people skills and easily able to adapt to new and fast environments. Dedicated work ethic with a love for learning new material. Excel at persuading others and working both independently and with a team.Enthusiastic individual with a passion for helping others. Excellent people skills and easily able to adapt to new and fast environments. Dedicated work ethic with a love for learning new material. Excel at persuading others and working both independently and with a team.