Captain Jay Mayes
Written by: J.Anthony Tedpahogo and Marc Bissonnette
After more than 25 years with Manson, NEWPORT Captain Jay Mayes caught the crew boat in for the last time in January 2024.
Jay’s maritime career began in 1976 at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY, where he met longtime friend and future Manson crew member, Marc Bissonnette.
“Jay and I met standing next to each other when we were assigned extra duty,” Marc recalls. “Extra duty is given to students when they get in trouble, so Jay and I met early on under funny circumstances.”
After graduating from the academy in 1980, Jay found work with the International Organization of Masters, Mates, & Pilots. Not long after, he took up the role of chief mate, delivering oil and chemicals for the Amoco Corporation between Texas and Tampa Bay, Florida.
In 1989, after two years of working on Manson’s hopper dredge NEWPORT, Marc told Jay about job opportunities in the Northwest, convincing him that he could take on a similar role on the dredge.
“Back in those days, it was difficult for the unions to find people for crew rotations,” Marc says. “I was working with Manson part-time and thought it would be a good idea for Jay to hop on.”
After taking some time to consider, Jay resigned from his role at Amoco and joined Marc and the NEWPORT crew, keeping the captain’s seat warm for the next 25+ years.
According to Marc, Jay will spend his retirement playing 18 holes of golf in Fort Meyers, FL, and visiting his family in the Northeast.
“For anyone that knows or worked with Jay, he’s a man that doesn’t keep still!” Marc exclaims. “He still has the energy of a high school kid—always on the move to go skiing, golfing, or attending a concert. He is who he."
Senior Network Engineer Danny Coleman
Written by: IT Department
Danny Coleman, now-retired senior network engineer from Manson’s IT department, left an indelible mark on the team. His wit, intelligence, and dedication made him a beloved figure among colleagues.
Danny joined Manson in 1997, working with former long-time IT Director Joe Hussin. Over the years, Danny helped build the IT team and implemented crucial technological capabilities that continue to benefit our organization today. His foresight and adaptability were essential during the challenging times of 2020, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic forced us all to work remotely.
Danny was not just a network engineer; he also played the role of a patient teacher. He took the time to explain technical solutions in detail, ensuring that everyone understood. His willingness to share knowledge made him invaluable to the IT department. People like Paul Massee, Robert St. Joseph, Danny Warner, Aquiles Castillo, Nikone Xaylavong, Ian Basco, and even current IT Director Kerly Olivares—who were all interviewed by Danny Coleman during their hiring process—enjoyed working with him.
During stressful meetings and calls between the members of the IT department, Danny always lightened the mood with his creative ideas. Picture this: He used to show up with a hat with two big horns! The entire team would burst into laughter, momentarily forgetting our worries. Danny’s ability to inject humor into serious discussions made him a cherished colleague.
Danny now enjoys retirement in Texas, spending quality time with his wife and his son and his family. His love for Thai food and musical talents—playing the bass guitar in a band—keep him busy. Although he is no longer troubleshooting network issues, his legacy lives on in the IT Department.
Port Engineer Gary Ketterl
Written by: J.Anthony Tedpahogo
After ten years as Port Engineer at Manson’s Seattle warehouse and yard, Gary “Deep Sea” Ketterl retired in April 2024.
Before coming to Manson, Gary had spent decades working as chief engineer on a cargo ship for a nationwide maritime company—thus earning the nickname “Deep Sea” from then-Vice President of Equipment Shawn Hillis when Gary joined Manson in 2014.
Gary was an integral part of Manson’s Equipment Group—maintaining, repairing, and upkeeping marine vessels and floating equipment, including the hopper dredge WESTPORT, tugboats GLADYS M, HARRY M, and PETER M, and derrick barges DB24, SCANDIA, VIKING, and SOUTHMAN.
An interesting character, Gary’s colleagues will miss his amusing approach to “Doughnuts on Thursdays” —which consisted of Gary taking a bite of a doughnut just for the taste and discarding the rest of it in the trash.
On a more serious note, Gary’s insights on setting others up for success in the workplace will also be missed by his coworkers, according to Seattle Equipment Managers Daric Latham and Ken Feldhacker.
Gary will spend his retirement riding his bicycle around Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park in Issaquah, WA. He is also considering renewing his chief engineer’s license to work aboard Mercy Ships, which provide free surgical care to underdeveloped nations.
Happy Retirement, “Deep Sea!”
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