MARINAPLANNER - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer Corporate
Brian has 30 years of financial experience serving as CFO of privately held and publicly traded enterprises over the past 20 years. He is experienced in marina development, construction, operations and acquisitions from the East Coast and West Coast. Prior to his involvement with Bellingham Marine, he served as CFO of Harbor Group International in Norfolk, Virginia and as division finance officer of the Resort division at the Irvine Company comprising its hotels, golf clubs and marinas. Brian began his career with the global professional services firm Deloitte & Touche.
He has extensive experience in finance, reporting, capital markets, treasury, risk management, and planning. Brian has been involved with the acquisition, development and financing of over $2 billion in real estate assets, including office, apartment, retail and marina properties.
Brian received his bachelor of business administration from the University of Notre Dame and has completed advanced studies in financial planning at the University of California, Irvine. Brian is a certified public accountant and a licensed real estate broker.
Job Titles:
- General Manager Australia
After three years of working in the Middle East for Bellingham Marine's licensee, Septech Emirates, where he served as the business unit manager of Septech's marine division, Bruce Birtwistle rejoined the Bellingham Marine family as General Manager of Bellingham Marine New Zealand in 2012. In 2021, Bruce was promoted to General Manager of Bellingham Marine Australia.
Job Titles:
- in 2016 As a Member
- Manager of Project Development Southwest Division, USA
Bryce Fisher joined Bellingham Marine in 2016 as a member of the company's sales team. His focus is on helping clients navigate marina and commercial dock construction projects.
Bryce's expertise is in permitting support, feasibility analysis, market development, evaluation of site-specific design criteria, engineering management and project coordination.
Bryce's regional territory includes California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Baja California and the west coast of Mexico.
Bryce has a long history in the marine industry. His 20 plus year career includes marina management, marine construction, and the development and sale of custom products to major boat manufacturers. He also holds a USCG 100-Ton Master Near Coastal Captain License.
Job Titles:
- General Manager New Zealand
Chris Lamont has over 35 years of experience in the construction and marine industries and holds an NZCE (New Zealand Certificate in Engineering: Civil and Structural). He has gained a wide range of management experience working on Bellingham Marine projects throughout the world. Chris joined Bellingham Marine in 1998 as a Project Manager with Bellingham Marine New Zealand, before being promoted to Operations Manager, where he oversaw all aspects of production and project management.
In 2004, Chris relocated to Spain to take on the role of European Operations Manager and was promoted to General Manager of Bellingham Europe and Bellingham Marine Spain. Chris returned to New Zealand, taking on a management position with an international construction company before returning to become the General Manager of Bellingham Marine New Zealand in 2021.
Chris has extensive knowledge of the Unifloat system and has been highly involved with Bellingham Marine's R&D efforts. His technical knowledge and thorough understanding of scheduling and budgeting are invaluable in providing technical assistance to marina owners and developers to realize their projects.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Engineering at the Corporate Division
- Vice President of Engineering Corporate
Craig joined Bellingham in 2017 as Vice President of Engineering at the Corporate Division. He brings with him extensive knowledge and experience in both structural and coastal engineering. His project portfolio includes many award winning designs such as the USS Arizona Memorial landing dock in Honolulu and the floating 14th golf green in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
Prior to coming to Bellingham, Craig owned his own engineering firm, Redpoint Structures. He opened his doors in 2005 to provide structural engineering, testing and prototyping services to the marine design and construction community. Before launching his own firm, he was with Geiger Engineers for 19 years, serving there most recently as senior principal in charge of marine and special structures design.
Craig earned a Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering degree from the University of Washington. He holds civil and structural engineering registrations from Canada to Washington D.C. Craig's designs can be found in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Bahamas, Mexico and Canada.
Job Titles:
- General Manager Timber Division, USA
Ed Heaton began his career with Bellingham Marine in 1998. During his time with the company he has proven his ability to help owners take their marina projects from conception to completion including overseeing the construction of numerous high profile projects.
Ed's unique background and skill set give him a tremendous advantage in the role of General Manager of the company's Timber Division. His ability to ensure owners their projects will be delivered on time, on budget and built to Bellingham Marine's high standard for quality performance is backed by his proven track record. Prior to being promoted to the position of General Manager, Ed enjoyed a successful career as a lead construction manager for the company's Southwest division.
Ed has a Bachelor of Science from the University of California, Davis and several certified construction management continuing education courses.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Finance Australia, Queensland
Elena serves as Vice President of Finance of Bellingham Marine Australia, Bellingham Marine New Zealand, Bellingham Marine Southeast Asia, Bellingham Marine Singapore and Marine Technologies.
Elena manages financial, accounting and taxation operations, systems and practices, ensuring information is timely, accurate and compliant with relevant accounting standards and taxation principles.
Elena brings 18 years of extensive experience in the commercial sector, specialising in management accounting.
Elena joined Bellingham Marine in 2009 and worked as management accountant and financial controller of Bellingham Marine Australia and Bellingham Marine New Zealand before she was promoted to her current role of Vice President of Finance.
Elena graduated cum laude from Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) with a bachelor's degree in accounting and is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA).
Job Titles:
- General Manager Southwest Division, USA
- in 1996 As the Manager of Project Development
Eric joined Bellingham Marine in 1996 as the Manager of Project Development for the Southwest region. Before coming to Bellingham Marine, Eric obtained a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington. Since that time he has also earned a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in finance.
His extensive knowledge of engineering practices and customer service strengthens his ability to provide technical assistance to meet each client's needs. Eric's areas of expertise include feasibility analysis, market development, marina assessment, evaluation of site-specific design criteria, contract development, engineering management, and project coordination.
Eric holds active memberships with the San Diego Port Tenants Association, California Association of Harbor Masters and Port Captains, and is a board member of the Marina Recreation Association.
Job Titles:
- Area Manager Australia, NSW
Gary has worked in the maritime and marina construction industry since 1997. During that time Gary has managed both sales and operations functions in marina component manufacture, piling and pontoon installation, and wharf/jetty construction. His experience includes both small and large-scale marina works in all mainland states and territories in Australia. Previous to his current role at Bellingham Marine, Gary spent five years as the Bellingham Marine Queensland manager constructing over 40 marina projects totaling nearly 2000 marina berths, during that time.
Gary's formal training and qualifications include a trade certificate in carpentry, an associate diploma in civil engineering and a master's degree in business administration.
Job Titles:
- Manager of Project Development Northeast Division, USA
Jay Varga has more than 30 years of sales experience and has been directly involved in the marina industry since the mid-90's. Jay joined the Bellingham team, as a sales and project development manager, when the company acquired Concrete Flotation Systems, a former Bellingham licensee in 1997.
Prior to joining Bellingham Marine, Jay worked as sales and marketing manager at Wilcox Crittenden, a US manufacturer of marine hardware.
Jay brings a tremendous amount of experience to his work and is committed to helping his clients design and build marinas that address their unique challenges.
Jay graduated from Curry College with a Bachelor of Science in business management and holds active memberships with the Connecticut Marine Trade Association and the Rhode Island Marine Trade Association.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager
- General Manager of the East Division
Jeff serves as the General Manager of the East Division. Jeff joined the company in 2017 as a Project Manager before he was promoted to his current role. Before joining Bellingham Marine, Jeff served as a Project Manager for multiple top construction companies specializing in turnkey large industrial projects such as; tilt walls, precast panels, and heavy civil work. Jeff's strong leadership and experience provide the tools to bring Bellingham Marine's quality product, customer service, and streamlined project completion to every client.
Jeff received his bachelor's degree in Construction Management from the University of North Florida.
Job Titles:
- General Manager Northwest Division, USA
In 2022, Jim was promoted to the position of General Manager for the company's Northwest Division before serving as the Manager of Project Development for seven years. Jim's vast experience and hands-on management approach uniquely position Bellingham Marine's Northwest Division to meet the needs of a broad range of clients and to excel at a myriad of projects including those that are particularly complex and unique.
Jim Engen has over 20 years' experience in the design, manufacture and construction of marina dock systems. He joined Bellingham Marine in 1994 as a general laborer and worked his way up through the company. In 2007, Jim was appointed to the position of operations manager. His general responsibilities included management of Bellingham Marine's two production plants in Washington State, purchasing and receiving, quality control and safety. In addition to his role as operations manager, Jim has worked as a senior estimator and project manager for the company.
Job Titles:
- Owner & Chief Executive Officer Corporate
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer for Bellingham Marine United States
- General Manager of the Drystack Division
Kevin serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Bellingham Marine United States. Kevin joined the company in 2008 as General Manager of the Drystack Division. The following year, he assumed the responsibilities of general manager of Bellingham's Southeast Division, giving him a dual role as both the GM of the Southeast as well as the Drystack Division, before he was promoted to his current role.
Kevin has over twenty-two years of commercial construction experience with a bachelor's degree in Construction Management from the University of North Florida.
Kevin's commercial construction experience has been in a variety of structural systems, and he has successfully managed projects as the prime contractor and owner representative. This diverse skill set enables him to meet the demands of the project and maintain Bellingham Marine's high standards for product quality and customer satisfaction.
Job Titles:
- in 2017 As a Manager of Project Development
- Manager of Project Development Southeast Division, USA
Lee Ishee joined Bellingham Marine in 2017 as a manager of project development for the Southeast Divisions. Lee is a highly accomplished sales professional with over 10 years of experience in the marine industry. In his current role, he is responsible for projects between Delaware and South Carolina.
Lee is a United States Navy veteran, having received an honorable discharge for his years of service. Upon completion of his military service he was hired as a sales manager for ShoreMaster LLC, where he worked his way up to national brand manager. In that position, he worked extensively on new product development and was responsible for millions of dollars in revenue generation.
His extensive knowledge in the design of both coastal and inland marinas strengthens his ability to deliver the highest caliber service to each and every client. His skills in contract negotiation and project development make him a valuable asset to the Bellingham Marine team.
Lynn serves as Controller of Bellingham Marine, overseeing its accounting, costing, and compliance functions. She is a financial operations professional with over 18 years of experience working with privately held, publicly traded and non-profit organizations. Lynn is experienced in manufacturing, construction, education, biotechnology, compliance, and tax. She spent the past 12 years consulting for Concordia University in a finance and tax capacity. Lynn is well versed in ERP software conversions and implementations, risk assessments as well as financial and budgetary planning.
Lynn holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from California State University, Fullerton and is a CTEC Registered Tax Preparer.
Job Titles:
- Area Manager Australia, SA
Marc is an influential member of the Bellingham Marine team. He joined the company in 2012 as the area manager for Australia's southern territories including Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.
His areas of strength and expertise include product design, sales, production management, installation supervision, project management, QA and OH&S implementation, and overall business administration.
Marc has over 25 years of experience in engineering, manufacturing and construction in the commercial building industry. Prior to joining Bellingham Marine, Marc was the state manager of one of Australia's largest manufacturers and installers of commercial building components.
Marc graduated from Victoria University in 1995 with a bachelor's degree in engineering and construction management.
Job Titles:
- Manager of Project Development Southeast Division, USA
Matthew joined Bellingham Marine in July 2016 as the Southeast Division's project development coordinator and was promoted to manager of project development in January 2020. He is dedicated to serving clients through his experience and knowledge in marina and dock design, sales, repairs, planning and project management.
Matthew's territories include the Gulf Coast Region consisting of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida as well as Georgia, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, the east coast of Mexico and Central America.
Matthew graduated in 2015 from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor's degree Political Science with focus on Law Studies and Minor in Environmental Studies. He currently holds memberships with Marina Association of Texas, Florida Marine Contractors Association, US Superyacht Association, Jacksonville Marine Association, Coastal Conservation Association and BOAT US.
Job Titles:
- Australia in 2017 As the Queensland Business Development Manager
- Business Development Manager Australia, Queensland
Paul joined Bellingham Marine Australia in 2017 as the Queensland Business Development Manager. He has a distinguished career in marina management, which has taken him from Dubai to Cyprus. Having managed a broad range of marinas, such as d'Albora Marinas in New South Wales, he has gained a deep understanding of what it takes to build an award winning marina.
Paul was awarded the CMM (Certified Marina Manager) Certification from the Association of Marina Industries in 2012 for his over 18 years of marina management experience. CMM's represent the elite in the marina and recreational boating industry, and Paul is no exception.
His deep rooted respect for the marine environment and his dedication to keeping it safe for the community lies in his being a passionate boater himself. That passion, combined with his marina management experience, make him a great asset to both our team and our clients.
Job Titles:
- Lead Manager of Project Development for Bellingham Marine 's Southeast Division
- Senior Manager of Project Development Southeast Division, USA
Steve is the lead Manager of Project Development for Bellingham Marine's Southeast Division. With over 30 years experience working with clients to build world class boating facilities, Steve is a leading authority in marina and dock design and construction.
Steve joined Bellingham Marine in 1988 in the Jacksonville, Florida Southeast Division office as a Marketing Representative for the Florida and Gulf Coast states. In 2002, he was named Manager of Project Development for projects in the Florida, Caribbean, Eastern Mexico and Central American regions.
Prior to joining Bellingham Marine, Steve worked as a subcontractor in Texas, installing utility system in marinas.
Steve graduated from Jacksonville University in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management. Steve is active in the marine industry and holds memberships in Marine Industries Association of South Florida, Marina Association of Texas, Collier County Marine Industries Association, South West Florida Marine Trades Association, Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County, Jacksonville Marine Association, Florida Marine Contractor's Association, Coastal Conservation Association, and BOAT U.S.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Administration Corporate
Tina came to Bellingham Marine in 1983 as a member of the administrative staff following a two-year tenure as a paralegal. Until 1995 Tina held administrative positions with BMI that involved estimating, inside sales, accounts receivable, and construction documentation.
In 1995, Tina assumed the responsibilities of human resource management and contract administration for Bellingham Marine and was promoted to Manager of Administration. In 1998, Tina was promoted to Vice President of Administration, and is responsible for human resources, insurance programs, risk management, and contract administration for U.S. operations.
Tina is a graduate of Cascade Business College and received her Senior Human Resource Professional credential in 2011.