Crowley makes changes in Alaska Management

Crowley Maritime Corporation says it has restructured its petroleum distribution and contract services group, consolidating all Alaska operations under VP Craig Tornga.

Mr. Tornga will remain in Anchorage and will continue reporting to senior VP and GM Rocky Smith. But he will now manage tanker assist and escort services in Valdez and Prince William Sound and North Slope energy support services while continuing to manage Alaska's petroleum distribution and fuel sales.

Reporting to Craig Tornga are Bob Cox, VP of sales, marketing, supply and distribution for petroleum distribution and fuel sales; Mike Mendenhall, manager business processes; Charlie Nalen, VP, Valdez; Bruce Harland, VP, commercial functions related to energy support services including marine and all-terrain transportation (CATCO) within Alaska and on the North Slope; Alex Sweeney, VP operations, terminals and marine, for petroleum distribution and energy support services on the North Slope.

In addition to Mr. Tornga, others reporting to Mr. Smith are Chris Peterson, VP contract and West Coast marine operations; Scott Hoggarth, GM, ship assist and escort; Eric Evans, director, finance and planning and John Ara, VP, contract services.

According to Mr. Smith, the realignment of the Alaska management team "is in line with our statewide business strategies."

"We are leveraging our management talents across all lines of business in Alaska in order to promote a one Crowley vision and presence in our Alaska markets," he says.

The changes in Crowley's Alaska management come within weeks of the grounding of the136-foot Crowley tug Pathfinder on Bligh Reef resulting in the breach of two of the tug's centerline diesel fuel tanks.