"Great things in business are never done by one person. They are done by a team of people." -Steve JobsAs we begin to reflect on the past year under our current club leadership - we can appreciate the importance of a dedicated team of people focused on one goal. In the coming weeks, we will celebrate our annual Change of Command ceremony as we bring in a new leadership team dedicated to promoting the maritime industry.Here is your opportunity to get to know Emily Black, Crewing Manager, TOTE Services, who will assume the role of Vice President Communications in the coming weeks.Where are you from/hometown? Bedford, New HampshireIf not Jacksonville, how long have you lived in Jacksonville? 8+ yearsBriefly explain your job and major responsibilities: Crewing Manager at TOTE Services, LLC. Working with my wonderful team, we ensure the vessels we manage are filled to a full crew complement within the USCG/International regulatory & customer standards. We work hand & hand with the Seafarer’s International Union (SIU) & American Maritime Officers (AMO) - two major maritime unions providing jobs/careers for thousands of mariners. We pride ourselves on being a family company that really takes care of their crew members.How long have you worked at your current job? I have worked with TOTE Services for almost three years. I started out as an Supply Quality Engineer (SQE) Manager & transitioned over as the Crewing Manager.Any prior employment you’d like to share? I actively sailed just shy of 10 years before transitioning shore side. I hold an active Second Mates Unlimited license. FUN FACT: I once worked as a dinner boat Captain in Hawaii, “Alohhha Ladies & Gentleman!"If you went to college, where did you go and what was your major/minor/degree? I went to Massachusetts' Maritime Academy and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Marine Transportation. Go Bucs!How long have you been a member of the Propeller Club? Three years.Why did you join the club? I am passionate about sharing knowledge of the maritime industry. I feel like the Propeller Club is a wonderful organization that promotes that knowledge, and not to mention the wonderful magnitude of ways we are able to give back to our community not only within the maritime world but within Jacksonville as well.What is your favorite Propeller Club event? USCG & CBP Appreciation Dinner. It is an absolute pleasure to see those ones working hard to protect us being properly recognized.Family/Significant Other/Pets? I have a wonderful family that is extremely close to my heart, but not close in location. I have been blessed with terrific “adopted” local families, in their absence. I have two puppies Lola & Luna.What is your proudest moment/achievement? Being able to give my degree to my late father. He was my biggest supporter and the one who introduced me to the maritime life. I am forever grateful, and proud to continue his passion for the industry & community.What is something unique about you that you’d like to share…hobby/hidden talent/award? I am also an active member of the Women Offshore community. An organization and resource center supporting a diverse workforce on the water. I have been honored to be a panelist at this July’s conference in Houston.
Member Spotlight: Get to Know Daniel Deptula
We're continuing to feature members of our club. If you'd like to be featured, please send a note to communications@propclubjax.com. This month, get to know Daniel Deptula.Propeller Club Member: Daniel DeptulaCompany Name: City of Jacksonville, Emergency Preparedness DivisionEmail: danieldeptula44@gmail.comWhere are you from/hometown?Punta Gorda, FLIf not Jacksonville, how long have you lived in Jacksonville? 6 monthsBriefly explain your job and major responsibilities:I work at Emergency Preparedness Division for City of Jacksonville supporting the Director of Emergency Management and Emergency Operations Center operations, but remain open to employment in the maritime transportation sector.How long have you worked at your current job?2 1/2 MonthsAny prior employment you'd like to share?I recently "retired" from active duty after 25 years with the Coast Guard. I spent 2 years at sea, 10+ years in marine safety/emergency management and 10+ years in maritime security/law enforcement. In my spare time I was a whitewater rafting guide in CA, VA and WV.If you went to college, where did you go and what was your major/minor/degree?US Coast Guard Academy class of 1993 (B.S. Marine Science); US Naval War College class of 2006 (M.A. National Security Policy); US National War College class of 2016 (M.S. National Security Strategy).How long have you been a member of the Propeller Club?Since September of last year.Why did you join the club? Please also include your favorite thing about the Propeller Club.I joined because Jeff Dixon told me to...kidding. Though he did advise me to join after I told him I was retiring from active duty to the Jacksonville, FL area. So far my favorite thing about the Propeller Club was how friendly and helpful everyone has been to me as a new member. I like the opportunities to network and seek opportunities to get more involved in this group and the Port of Jacksonville.What is your favorite Propeller Club event?The member social.Family/Significant Other/Pets?Joyce (wife), Danny (son), Qella and Romeo (German shepherds)What is your proudest moment/achievement?I was selected as Class President of my National War College class (just to get in the school was an honor).What is something unique about you that you'd like to share...hobby/hidden talent/award?I was once on America's Funniest Home Videos, of which my hidden talent was discovered.
Member Spotlight: Get to Know Club President, Ed Coppedge
We're continuing to feature members of our club. If you'd like to be featured, please send a note to Jennifer Kifer, VP of Communications, at communications@propclubjax.com. This month, get to know 2018-19 Club President, Ed Coppedge, Vice President of Coppedge Marine, Inc. d/b/a Coppedge Marine & Industrial.Propeller Club Member: Ed CoppedgeCompany Name: Coppedge Marine, Inc. d/b/a Coppedge Marine & IndustrialTitle: Vice PresidentEmail: coppedge@coppedgemarine.comWhere are you from/hometown?Jacksonville, FloridaBriefly explain your job and major responsibilities:Sales & Technical Representative for Thordon Bearings, Inc. We supply environmentally-friendly propeller shaft bearing systems, rudder and steering linkage bushings, deck equipment bushings to yachts customers on up to Cruise Ships. Industrially, we supply bushings to pump repair companies, Power Plants and Sewage Treatment Plants, South Florida Water Management as well as Hydro-Electric Plants in the Southeast. We also represent Sea Horse Marine Sewage Treatment Devices as well as RPM, Inc, who supplies us with hard coated liners and other castings.How long have you worked at your current job?30 Years in DecemberWhat's your favorite part of your job?I like working with people and companies. I enjoy offering customers a long lasting, environmentally-friendly products. I also enjoy working with my family.If you went to college, where did you go and what was your major/minor/degree?I attended Belmont Abbey College where I earned a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. I have had extensive, hands on training in the field as well as frequent training seminars with Thordon Bearings, Inc.How long have you been a member of the Propeller Club?Coming up on 30 years.Why did you join the club? Please also include your favorite thing about the Propeller Club.I joined the Propeller Club Port of Jacksonville for the networking opportunities plus to follow in the footsteps of my Grandfather, James H. Coppedge, President and founder member in 1930, my father, James W. Coppedge- President in 1964 and my brother, Robert J. "Bobby" Coppedge, President in 1993. Shipbuilding and Repair kind of "runs in the blood" of us Coppedges!Favorite Propeller Club Event?I like all the events; however, Maritime Day touches my heart as we remember all those who have gone before us. Secondly- the Pirate Party, because it is a blast!Family/Significant Other/Pets?I have 3 brothers and two sisters plus my parents Jim & Dolly Coppedge. I am married to Beth Coppedge and God Blessed us with a daughter and son.What is your proudest moment/achievement?I am honored to follow in the footsteps of my family as President of the Propeller Club and be active in the maritime community.What is something unique about you that you'd like to share...hobby/hidden talent/award?I am an Assistant Chaplain at Baptist Hospital where I visit the sick and terminally ill. I am a devout Catholic who attends daily mass. I include God in everything I do.
Propeller Club recognizes Linda Carrion as 2017-2018 Club Member of the Year
At its Maritime Day Celebration on May 22, the Propeller Club of Jacksonville announced Linda Carrion as Club Member of the Year, 2017-2018.Linda joined the Board in the summer of 2017 and started making an impact immediately. In one of her first contributions to the club, she served on the President-appointed 501(c)(6) Committee to compile requirements of nonprofit organizations. Linda has also represented the club in the public, helping to forge partnerships with vital members of the Jacksonville community. She represented the Propeller Club at student events hosted by AMIkids, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and one of the future beneficiaries of Propeller Club contributions. She also represented the Propeller Club at a U.S. Coast Guard-organized 5K race, and in her words, just as important, she completed the race. This gives you some insight into her work ethic - she gets the job done.When the club could not afford to outsource administrative help in the fall of 2017, Linda volunteered to serve as a Board Officer in the role of Board Secretary. The club's Board is comprised of 25 working professionals, so organizing just one of the Board’s monthly meetings requires a tremendous amount of effort to ensure all details are covered. She scheduled Board Meetings, managed RSVPs, booked contracts with vendors, assisted with the agenda, and recorded the minutes. She also consistently collated information from the Board. In addition to obtaining photographs of Board Members for publication on our club's website, her outreach to the Board was crucial to the club's efforts to complete its fundraiser application to ensure compliance with Florida Statute Chapter 496.Linda has also contributed to the success of our monthly events. In addition to organizing the club's Maritime Day celebration on May 22, she has served on the event planning committee to organize an event in April 2018 commemorating an historic partnership between six Northeast Florida transportation organizations.It is the Board's distinct pleasure to award Linda Carrion with this year's Club Member of the Year award.Featured image: Linda Carrion receives Club Member of the Year Award from Propeller Club President Jeff Price on May 22, 2018.
Member Spotlight: Get to Know Jim Wagstaff
We're continuing to feature members of our club. If you'd like to be featured, please send a note to Jennifer Kifer, VP of Communications, at communications@propclubjax.com. This month, get to know Jim Wagstaff, TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico LLC.Propeller Club Member: Jim WagstaffCompany Name: TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico LLCTitle: VP OperationsEmail: jwagstaff@totemaritime.comWhere are you from/hometown?Sulphur, LouisianaIf not Jacksonville, how long have you lived in Jacksonville? Since 1987Briefly explain your job and major responsibilities:I have the honor to lead the land based operations group at Tote Maritime as the VP of Operations. I oversee and lead the Terminal Operations, Equipment, Inland, and Risk Management.How long have you worked at your current job?6 YearsWhat's your favorite part of your job?Watching people grow in responsibility and confidence in themselves.Any prior employment you'd like to share?I worked in the Carrier Transicold Network and was the 8th person in the world to pass the Master Refrigeration Technician program. I have had the opportunity to work at the rail, ocean terminals, vessels, and on airplanes.If you went to college, where did you go and what was your major/minor/degree?Technical Training at FSCJ and numerous leadership programs at UNF, Columbia, and Harvard schools of businessHow long have you been a member of the Propeller Club?This is my First Year as a member.Why did you join the club? Please also include your favorite thing about the Propeller Club.I have participated in many of the events as a guest, but felt as an executive of the organization, it was time to join the club to be able to put my finger on the pulse of the industry by being around the professionals involved with the club.Family/Significant Other/Pets?Susan (wife), Allison (daugther), and Grayson (son)What is your proudest moment/achievement?Personally, children graduating from College; Professionally, being chosen to be one of the executives of Tote Maritime Puerto RicoWhat is something unique about you that you'd like to share...hobby/hidden talent/award?If I'm not at work, I'm typically traveling to another hunting adventure. No real hidden talents; just a regular guy that loves the Lord, his country, the outdoors, and will be eternally grateful for the men and women that serve in the military.Anything else you'd like members of the club to know about you? I'm very proud to have played a part in the "LNG" revolution in Jacksonville.
