‘A bunch of overqualified guys enjoying second careers’

Sea Services North America is the definition of unique, as it is the only provider of seabed scouting and safety vessel services during the construction process that meets the stringent vessel and crew safety standards set by the industry and individual developers.

And it’s the unique collection of high-level, diverse, career credentials held by Sea Services leaders that makes it the industry model in these Tier 1 services. Each member of this team has been drawn to this work by a passion to “make a difference” rather than simply reporting to a job.

Considering their vast experience, they could earn significantly more money working as consultants in their previous fields, but each has chosen to contribute to this new field. It’s a win-win situation, providing them with meaningful, challenging work while they provide fishermen and offshore wind developers the organizational and safety expertise needed to make the relationship successful and financially beneficial for both.

“We’re a bunch of overqualified guys enjoying second careers,” is how Fleet Manager Gary Yerman puts it. “We’ve got backgrounds in nuclear technology, financial compliance regulations, jet engine contract management, and my passion for commercial fishing over 45 years. We’re a melding of lots of different experiences.”

Gary brings serious fishing credentials to his role as Fleet Manager. Though his early career had him reading blueprints and machining parts, he found his passion in fishing and made the switch early. His time on a large research vessel for a Connecticut company that developed and manufactured pneumatic sound sources opened his eyes to work on the water. Ironically, this research work involved seismic profiling used by oil companies to replace dynamite with pneumatic sound pulses that nevertheless produced an explosive sound that critics said harmed fish. He’s heard similar criticism of the offshore wind industry and responds that today this highly regulated industry must prove that it takes measures to protect marine life during construction.

Gary’s fishing career started with a few lobster pots in his spare time, and that grew into more pots and eventually dragger fishing and a new career. His relationships in the commercial fishing industry along the East Coast have helped Sea Services identify responsible fleet owners who can become partners for the benefit of all.

Chief Operating Officer Craig Devlin retired after 28 years at Fidelity Investments where he built out Fidelity’s Financial Intelligence Unit after being promoted several times within the Security and Compliance division for his work in the areas of anti-money laundering (AML) and fraud.

Among many additional responsibilities, Craig also oversaw Trading Surveillance Technology, Operational Risk Management, Due Diligence Investigations, Vendor Risk Management, Records Management, and employee background investigations. He also served as the Head of Investigations and Intelligence for Fidelity International Limited (UK-based), serving global accounts outside of the U.S. and Canada. His status at Fidelity led to his roles Treasurer and Deputy Chairman of the Board of the International Banking Security Association for many years.

Craig is a U.S. Navy veteran who held Top-Secret clearance credentials, was a shipboard division officer and department head on a fast frigate, and later served as an instructor at the Surface Warfare Officers School at the Naval War College in Newport, RI.

Operations Manager Doug VanVerdeghem spent more than 30 years in the nuclear power industry at Millstone Nuclear Power Plant.  His skills as a mechanic led him up the ladder to several positions where he was responsible for training in the delicate intricacies of reactor refueling, reactor assembly and disassembly and other aspects of reactor operations. He is OSHA-trained in general safety procedures as well as Health Safety and Environment training.

Training Manager Mike Plis held several positions at Pratt and Whitney over more than two decades, moving from the “shop floor” doing cost analysis work into preparing and managing multi-million dollar contracts ranging from sales to 25-year maintenance agreements with national and international airlines. His work with partners in various time zones across the globe prepared him well for the 24/7 staffing demands of his Sea Services work. Mike ensures that all crewmen are trained to standards required by the industry – and even higher standards established by some individual developers – before they partner with Sea Services. In that role he accounts for the credentialing of 120 to 150 active and reserve fishermen.