CRAIG LEONARD
Written by | Steven Kiel—Controller
Tax Manager Craig Leonard will retire in May 2022 after 15 years at Manson’s Seattle office. Craig has dedicated his career to everything taxes, earning the position of IRS Enrolled Agent before joining Manson in 2007. During his 15 years at Manson, Craig has made significant improvements to how we manage taxes as a company and has made it a goal to look for ways to save taxes whenever possible.
In his retirement, Craig will spend his time watching sports and rooting for the Seahawks, hiking, snorkeling, and traveling. He looks forward to moving to Hawaii and living out the rest of his days on the Big Island.
We wish Craig the best in his retirement!
DANA GRINDSTAFF
Written by | Esther Chung—IT Help Desk Supervisor
After seven years at Manson, SharePoint Administrator Dana Grindstaff retired in early 2022. Before joining Manson, Dana worked as a Microsoft contractor in 2007 and was instrumental in facilitating and implementing SharePoint when he joined Manson in 2015. His dedication to streamlining the application for Manson personnel has improved and encouraged interdepartmental collaborations across our region. Dana’s professionalism and skill allowed Manson to usher in a new era of technological applications for strategic communication within the company.
In Dana’s last email as a Manson employee, Dana wrote “I’ve always felt respected and valued at Manson, something that I can’t say about other placed that I’ve worked.” Manson, and especially the IT Department, is thankful for all the work that Dana has done with, and for, the company.
In his retirement, Dana and his wife, who recently retired from teaching, will enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Northwest at their Ocean Shores beach house with their dog and three cats.
We wish Dana the very best in his retirement.
ERIC FARIA
Written by | Mark Epping—West Coast Operations Manager
Operations Manager Eric Faria has become a familiar face at Manson’s Southern California operations since the early 1990s. After 30 years of service with the company, Eric announced his retirement in early 2022.
Eric joined Manson in 1991 as a welder and deckhand aboard the cutter suction dredge MR. MANSON. In 1995, he took the role of dredge captain on various clamshell dredges including the HAAKON, VULCAN, and NJORD. In 2000, he took on several projects with the VALHALLA.
After gaining 20 years of operational field experience, Eric took on the managerial role of SoCal Civil Operations Manager. His wisdom, sense of humor, friendly approach toward others, and strong work ethic will be dearly missed by everyone who has had the chance to work with him.
Since retiring, Eric and his family relocated to Tennessee to enjoy the natural beauty of the Great Smokey Mountains.. He also just became a grandfather!
We wish you all the luck, Eric, and we may even allow you to remain in our fantasy football league!
DON EZELL
Written by | Michael Coakley—Gulf and East Coast Equipment Manager
Don Ezell retired from Manson’s purchasing department in the Houma office in October 2021.
Don grew up in Southeast Mississippi in an area called “Rattlesnake Crossing,” a place well-known for its local foraging and its collection of diamondback rattlesnakes. Don’s upbringing contributed to his hard work ethic and helped him develop a “first one in, last one out” mentality. Prior to Manson, Don spent many years in the oilfield as a salesman, fabricator, and business owner so making the transition to the “I need it now” pace of the dredging industry was practically seamless.
Always willing to help, it didn’t take him long to develop relationships with Manson crews and vendors from the east to west coast. Well versed in sports, Don was my go-to guy when it came to everything Louisiana State University (LSU) as well as the whole athletic Southeastern Conference (SEC). Whenever I needed the inside scoop on any upcoming games, I would drop on by to Don’s office to learn about the latest matchups.
Closing out 13 years at Manson, Don has made plans to move full-time to his residence in Magnolia, Mississippi to live out his days a true country gentleman. In his spare time, Don will enjoy spending time with his family and friends, keeping his catfish pond healthy, and having an occasional glass of Kentucky Bourbon.
Enjoy your retirement, Don!
AMADO "MUDD" SHUCK
Written By | Sarah Ness—Estimating & Proposal Coordinator
After 22 years with Manson, Crane Operations Trainer Amado Shuck is retiring. Known affectionately to many at Manson by his fun nickname, “Mudd,” Amado first worked as a deck engineer on the DERRICK 24 before becoming a crane operator for the DERRICK 6 in 2003. Amado operated the DERRICK 24 from 2004-2014 for various heavy lift jobs throughout Manson’s Northwest region, including the Manette Bridge Construction project in Bremerton, Washington, and SR520 Evergreen Point Floating bridge project in Seattle, Washington. Decades of experience led him to play a vital role in the construction and upgrades to a variety of Manson vessels which include the construction of the VALHALLA; and major upgrades to the NORSEMAN, VIKING, SCANDIA, DERRICK 24, H.R. MORRIS, ANDREW, and SOUTHMAN.
In 2014, Amado made the transition from the field to working out of the Seattle corporate office and was instrumental in developing Manson’s Crane Management Procedures and internal training program. He is incredibly knowledgeable on all aspects of marine equipment and is a tremendous public speaker; he recently worked with Manson’s Learning and Development Department in providing an educational workshop for Seattle’s Maritime High School, providing students with insight into the marine construction industry. We will miss seeing his smiling face at the office every day, but we know he will keep us updated on all the fun trips and projects he and his wife Lisa Haug already have planned!
Congratulations, Mudd! We wish you all the best in retirement!
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