We are proud to be part of one of the oldest and respected private companies in America. Our parent company, Moran Towing Corporation has prospered for over 160 years by being an industry leader. Our business represents a wide breadth of best-in-class companies with decades of experience, service, and performance reputation. We provide services to the military, national and local governments, and hundreds of public and private companies that we proudly call our customers.
Our shared history, heritage, and success results from continually striving to do things in a way that is best for our environment, our employees, our customers, and our communities. Supporting a healthy social, economic, and environmentally safe future is an extension of our core values.
The Stewardship Program consists of Corporate Philanthropy, Environmental Sustainability, Industry Alignment, Employee Engagement and Community Impact Grants. With an enormous amount of gratitude for all of the effort and commitment of our teams across the country, we are pleased to share with you our 2022 Stewardship Report.
Corporate Philanthropy
We are committed to our long history of corporate philanthropy. We are honored to support the non-profit organizations you will learn about within this report. Our support comes through a variety of ways, by making financial contributions to community causes, providing in-kind support, holding collections, and through employee volunteerism.
Pine Castle
MER has supported Pine Castle in Jacksonville, FL, for over a decade. Pine Castle's mission is to empower adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, regardless of severity, through the Pathway to Possibilities program that offers opportunities to learn, work, and connect. This program focuses on developing life skills necessary to increase overall independence and quality of life for individuals with IDD through hands-on learning experiences. We are honored to have MER Business Development Specialist, Leslie Detlefsen, serving on the board.
Friendship Home
MER Randolph has been actively involved with Friendship Home for many years through donations, involvement in annual fundraising efforts, and volunteerism. Based in Norwell, MA, Friendship Home's mission is to enrich the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families by providing quality respite care and support services in a safe and caring environment. Friendship Home fulfills this mission by raising awareness, providing innovative programs, and advocating for the equitable treatment of individuals with disabilities and their families.
Seattle Children's Hospital
Global held its 15th annual golf tournament benefiting the Seattle Children's Hospital Foundation. Over the years, the tournament has raised over $500,000. Funds raised through the Global tournament are helping provide world-class pediatric care for kids regardless of their family's ability to pay. The Foundation is dedicated to powering hope, care, and cures for children facing complex medical conditions.
Alaska SeaLife Center
New to our Corporate Philanthropy program this year was The Alaska SeaLife Center. Based in Seward, the Center is the only facility in Alaska that combines a public aquarium with marine research, education, and wildlife response. While primarily dedicated to marine research and education, the nonprofit Center is the state's only permanent marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation facility. Our Global staff in Anchorage is involved with this vital organization, and we are proud to become corporate sponsors.
Baking Memories for Kids
In support of our Drummac employees who provide vital services for the passenger railroad industry 365 days a year; we once again had special holiday cookies sent to our employees at each Drummac location across the country, made with love by Baking Memories 4 Kids. This fantastic nonprofit foundation utilizes the money generated from cookie sales in a very special way; they make memories. From each container sold and every donation received, Baking Memories 4 Kids provides children with life-threatening and /or terminal illnesses and their families an all-expense paid vacation to ALL the theme parks in Orlando, Florida. The Drummac employees enjoy the cookies even more, knowing the proceeds are helping these children and families.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Since 2014, Moran Maritime has recognized and supported Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. In 2022, all Moran companies joined in championing the cause as we proudly showed our support on our entire fleet across North America, from tugs and barges to vac trucks and tankers. In addition to our visible declaration of support, Moran made a corporate donation to support The Donna Foundation. This Platinum-rated nonprofit's mission is to provide financial assistance and support to those living with breast cancer and to fund breast cancer research. Additionally, employees participated in walks, runs, collections, and other meaningful activities toward the cause in the communities where we work and live. It is our honor to support this annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer.
- Donna Foundation
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Making Strides–Charleston, SC. & Seattle, WA.
- Hope Scarves
Environmental Sustainability Report
The MER Corporate Environmental Sustainability program endeavors to address climate volatility and create a better world for our employees, clients, and the communities where we work and live. Sustainability is about more than just protecting the environment, although that is core to our program’s commitment. Our Corporate sustainability policies strive to make a positive impact on the environment, people, and the planet. Please review our detailed 2022 Sustainability Report below:
Industry Alignment
In-Kind Support – USS Orleck Jacksonville Naval Museum
The Jacksonville Naval Museum contacted Water Recovery (WRI) and the MER Atlantic Beach Resource Center to assist in revitalizing the ex-USS Orleck, a retired Navy ship being restored and converted into a Naval Museum. The local team immediately saw an opportunity to serve our community while giving back to the maritime industry, a principle woven into our organization's fabric, and quickly leveraged our combined capabilities to support the initiative. MER personnel removed ballast water within the vessel where it was transported to our facility at WRI, where our personnel treated and disposed of the liquid waste. We are honored to support an organization such as the Jacksonville Naval Museum.
In December the local teams were invited by the Jacksonville Naval Museum to experience the restored vessel first hand.
Operation Lifesaver
Drummac employees and certified Operation Lifesaver trainers Jeff Medor, Gina Marshall, Chad LaFarr, Alex Jones, and Daniel Cramp completed ten trainings and community awareness events in 2022 to support this critical national railroad safety program.
Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) is a nonprofit and nationally recognized leader in rail safety education. Since 1972, OLI has been committed to preventing collisions, injuries, and fatalities on and around railroad tracks and highway-rail grade crossings, with the support of public education programs in states across the U.S.
Drummac has almost a dozen trained OLI employees around the country. Our commitment to seeking out and supporting the industries where we work is an integral part of the stewardship mission. We look forward to expanding this program to more employees company-wide.
Pacific Railroad Preservation Association
The Pacific Railroad Preservation Association (PRPA) is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to restoring, maintaining, and operating historic railway equipment of the Pacific Northwest. They are the official caretakers of the SP&S 700, a 4-8-4 steam locomotive that ranks among the most significant steam engines still in operation. This organization was founded by late Portland, OR, Drummac Supervisor, Chris McLarney.
We are proud to support this industry-related organization since 2015 with an annual donation in recognition of Drummac's outstanding employee honor, the Chris McLarney Award. The 2022 recipient is Will Pough, QMP Supervisor in Tacoma, WA.
Will was chosen for his positive relationships with his clients, ongoing employee training, and willingness to assist other Drummac locations.
Employee Engagement
Earth Day
Once again, our employees stepped up and out to participate in our Company-wide annual Earth Day Challenge. It was a massive success, with many offices and locations gathering to help clean up their communities. Every day is Earth Day in our business, often in the form of protection and restoration, so we thank the many employees, their families, and friends who volunteered. See below for our 2022 Earth Day Challenge video.
2022 Graduation Recognition
As part of the tradition we began in 2020, we celebrated the accomplishments of the children and grandchildren of our employees who graduated high school or college in 2022. Please enjoy our 2022 Graduate graduation recognition presentation!
Veteran's Day
Moran Towing Corporation and its group of companies donated to the John H. Haley VA Hospital, Fisher House, based out of Tampa, FL, in honor of all our employees who have served in the U.S. Military. James Able, Veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and father of MER Creative Services Manager Michele Able, presented the donation to Sean P. Kelly, Fisher House Manager. We thank our veterans and all who have served for your service and sacrifice!
Community Impact Grants
In 2019 with our employees in mind, we launched the Community Impact Grant Program. The program is designed to support nonprofit organizations that our personnel connect with and volunteer for in the communities where we live and work. Our focus areas include:
- Environmental Stewardship: Organizations that demonstrate leadership in protecting natural resources and promoting conversation and sustainable practices in our communities.
- Good Neighbor: We strive to be good neighbors in the communities where we live and work. By actively engaging in our communities, we are positively impacting social, economic, and environmental development. We support programs and organizations that provide direct assistance to those in need near a Moran and it's holdings office, resource center, port, or contract location.
- Industry Alignment: Industry Alignment: Organizations focused on support for our companies industries – Utilities, Rail, Marine, Government, and Manufacturing.
2022 resulted in some fantastic grant programs and volunteer collaborations to impact our communities. Below is a recap of the 2022 Community Impact Grants awarded throughout our organization.
Cross the Line Foundation
Dave Denton, Vice President of Business Development, and the Atlantic Beach MER office supported Cross the Line Foundation's, Foar from Home, fundraising efforts with an Industry Alliance Community Impact Grant. Foar From Home, the ocean rowing team from Fernandina Beach, was comprised of four Veterans from each military branch: Army, Navy, Airforce, and Marines. Our Northeast Florida MER employees proudly give back to our military industry clients. Cross the Line is a not-for-profit organization supporting veterans from all service branches. Cross the Line funds are allocated directly to agencies assisting veterans with cognitive counseling, housing, employment, healthcare, and research.
Arthur S. Kling Senior Center
With a Good Neighbor Community Impact Grant monetary donation, Sarah Stasiak, Assistant Program Manager, and the Louisville team collected food items to support the Arthur S. Kling Senior Center in Louisville, KY. Since 1978, The Arthur S. Kling Senior Center has provided a safe and convenient meeting and activity center in the heart of Old Louisville. The Center's participants enjoy recreational, educational, fellowship opportunities, and meals in a safe and inclusive environment.
Mandarin St. Johns Elks Lodge
WRI supported the Mandarin St. Johns Elks Lodge by allocating funds from the Community Impact Grant to support and attend their annual Casino Night fundraising event. Over the past several years, this lodge has donated thousands of dollars to Northeast Florida charities such as Daniel Kids, K9s for Warriors, Mandarin Food Bank, No More Homeless Pets, and the Williams YMCA STEM program.
North Carolina Coastal Federal (NCCF)
Michelle Junga Murphy, Logistics Coordinator, Rich Coley, Business Manager, and the Mainstream Charleston, SC, Team received an Environmental Stewardship Community Impact Grant to support the NCCF. Mainstream Charleston has been contracted with NCCF for the past several years to remove environmentally dangerous vessels from the North Carolina waterways. This project is close to the Team's hearts for many reasons. First, it directly ties to who we are and what we do, but also because it has an essential connection to where we live and work. Over the past 40 years, the NCCF has worked alongside coastal communities to protect and restore the unique North Carolina coast.
Upton Men's Club Charity Cornhole contest fundraiser
Matt Ronzio, Account Executive - Utility Sector Leader, Randolph, MA, utilized a Good Neighbor Community Impact Grant to help establish The Upton Men's Club's first Cornhole Tournament. Matt has been a member of the UMC for the last 15 years and has served in several executive roles. The Upton Men's Club exists to provide support to the community where public funds fall short. This Men's Club gets involved in the community by supporting programs and activities like Eagle Scouts, town beautification, and food banks, both by volunteering and providing financial support. The Cornhole Tournament was a big success and raised needed funds for the community.
Pequabuck River Watershed Association
CT/NY Business Manager Mike Barden and the Newtown, CT, MER employees once again joined in the community river cleanup of the Pequabuck river. The Pequabuck River Watershed Association (PRWA) works in Bristol, Burlington, Farmington, Harwinton, Plainville, and Plymouth to promote a healthy watershed and protect our waterways through education, advocacy, outreach, and natural improvement programs. MER has supported this organization for years, emphasizing our commitment to environmental stewardship.
This year our Team removed 1.42 tons of trash from the river.
Freshwater Mollusks Conservation Workshop
Charlie Morgan, Malacologist, Mainstream Murray, KY, represented the company at the 2022 Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society's (FMCS) 12th Biennial Workshop in Chapel Hill, Tennessee. The workshop was designed to assist conservation professionals in learning or improving sampling and data interpretation techniques, to bring newer professionals up to speed with standardized data collection methods, and to allow more seasoned professionals to learn more advanced methods for freshwater mussel population and community assessment. Charlie also partnered with the company's Stewardship program with an Industry Alliance Impact Grant to sponsor the workshop.
Farm Share
Steve Williams, Driver, WRI, and the whole WRI team donated their time and facility for a food distribution event, with volunteers from MER Atlantic Beach and members of the Stewardship team on-site to assist along with many other community volunteers from the greater Jacksonville area. The Good Neighbor Community Impact Grant provided funding to support Farm Share, a Florida-based foodbank that ensures no family in their community goes hungry and no food goes to waste.
King of The Hill
The King of the Hill Surf Fest was established to support and build the local Jacksonville beaches communities. Neptune Baptist Church former Pastor Tom Bary cast a vision for King of the Hill Surf Fest, and he was the catalyst for bringing this signature event to Neptune Beach. Today this is a beach staple with 60+ local organizations participating/sponsoring the event, with proceeds allocated to local organizations, Mission House and BEAM, supporting the homeless and less fortunate in the Beaches community. Katherine Bary, Marketing Coordinator, MER, and our MER resource center in Jacksonville, FL, collaborated with the Stewardship Program to allocate funds from our Community Impact Grant to support the 9th Annual King of the Hill Surf Fest.
Matthew's Ministry Inshore Classic
Rich Coley, Business Manager, Mainstream Charleston, and the whole Mainstream family once again supported Matthew's Ministry. This year they helped sponsor the annual fundraising fishing tournament with a Community Impact Grant. Matthew's Ministry is a 501(c)3 public charity established in 2010. Matthew's Ministry is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger—currently providing food for hundreds of children in Brunswick County residing in food-insecure households. This Inshore Fishing Tournament has raised over $33,000.00 for Matthew's Ministry.
Pine Castle
A Good Neighbor Community Impact Grant submitted by Business Development Specialist, Leslie Detlefson, helped beautify the Pine Castle campus for their annual Inspiration Luncheon and 70th Birthday BBQ. The Impact Grant funds were used to buy paint, plants, and needed equipment for the campus cleanup project. This money helped to make the campus beautiful, clean, and safe for the participants and staff. Pine Castle's mission is to empower adults with intellectual and developmental differences through opportunities to learn, work, and connect.
Long Live the Kings
Long Live the Kings (LLTK) is a Seattle-based nonprofit that works to restore wild salmon and steelhead to support sustainable fishing. Through the years they have worked to improve the management of our natural environment and provide solutions for stakeholders.
Since the construction of the Hood Canal floating bridge in western Washington there have been challenges placed on steelhead trout migration. LLTK has discovered that each year, the steelhead have been struggling to pass underneath the bridge, leading to population decline. Global Diving & Salvage was contracted by LLTK to give aid in their longstanding mission, and soon became actively involved in their cause. Our team attended one of their events at Lilliwaup hatchery to show support of their mission, read all about it below.
Wolfson's Children's Hospital
Through an Impact Grant submitted by Project Accountant Supervisor, Mark Bergman, MER sponsored the Wolfson's Children's Hospital fundraising Winter Design Show featuring the cherished tradition of the Children's Fashion Show, starring past and current patients from Wolfson. In addition, mark's son, Oliver, a former patient at the hospital, participated in the fashion show. Proceeds from the event provide further awareness in the community of Wolfson Children's Hospital's services and remarkable facilities and raise funds to ensure the best healthcare for every child who comes through the hospital's doors.
Southwest Elementary PTA
Mainstream employees Dustin Wilson and Shelby Kingston utilized a Good Neighbor Community Impact Grant to support the Southwest Elementary PTA's Fall Festival. The proceeds from this event were used to upgrade playground equipment at the school to make it safe and accessible. This playground is an integral part of the community and is utilized by all local families. Dustin and Shelby volunteered their time during the festival.
Holiday Community Impact
From Alaska to California to Massachusetts to Florida and everywhere in between, our collective companies and employees showed their true holiday spirit with a record number of Community Impact stewardship initiatives in 2022. We hosted toy and food collections. We packed and delivered meals. We got involved and helped vital charities and nonprofit organizations where we work and live. Enjoy this Holiday Stewardship video report.
We are proud of the growth of our Stewardship program. We have experienced the outpouring of commitment and compassion from our employees through their involvement, direct participation, and support of the Stewardship program. Going forward we will continue to focus on the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees, customers, and communities.
Our Goals for 2023
- Maximize the Stewardship program in order to cultivate employee morale and enhance the company’s external brand image.
- Scale up the Stewardship Program to integrate all lines of business, subsidiaries, and offices through larger corporate campaigns and targeted initiatives.
- Diversify our giving programs to include new focus areas championed by our employees and industry involvement.
Have questions or want to get more involved in our Stewardship program, reach out to Stewardship@MoranEnvironmental.com