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March 24-25, 2026
Hilton University of Houston
Houston, TX

Archive for the ‘Speaker’ Category

Randy Giveans

Posted on: March 2nd, 2026 by Vlad Bibik No Comments

Randy Giveans was appointed Executive Vice President of Navigator Gas US and Head of Investor Relations and Business Development in North America in April 2022.

Prior to joining Navigator, Mr. Giveans was the Senior Analyst and Group Head of the Energy Maritime Shipping Equity Research Group and a Senior Vice President at Jefferies. He covered 32 energy maritime shipping companies that transport crude oil, refined petroleum products, LNG, LPG, dry bulk commodities, and containers.

In 2019, 2020, and 2021, he was named to Institutional Investor’s (I.I.) All-America Research Team, and in 2018, he was named an Institutional Investor All-America Research “Rising Star.” In 2021, Mr. Giveans was a Top 5 stock picker across all sector analysts according to TipRanks, and in 2018, he was ranked as the #1 Stock Picker for Shipping in the Thomson Reuters Analyst Awards. Prior to joining Jefferies in 2011, he worked as a Senior Financial Analyst in the Corporate Finance department at Continental/United Airlines.

Mr. Giveans received a Bachelor of Science in Finance/Economics from Spring Hill College and an MBA in Finance with an Energy Specialization from the Freeman School of Business at Tulane University.

Dr Beatriz Canamary

Posted on: March 2nd, 2026 by Vlad Bibik No Comments

Dr. Beatriz Canamary is a strategic advisor specializing in maritime, port, and infrastructure operations. She co-founded the American Maritime Industrial Coalition (AMIC), which leads the U.S. Maritime Revitalization Agenda — coordinating shipyards, investors, and workforce programs to accelerate execution of national maritime policy.

As COO of Seatrain, she is advancing autonomous submersible cargo transport from concept toward commercial deployment. She leads ZESTA’s contributions to the IMO Maritime Safety Committee on the Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) Code, providing direct engagement with the regulatory framework for autonomous shipping.

Dr. Canamary previously served as Executive Director at a $6.5 billion steel and port complex and led negotiation of a joint venture with the Port of Rotterdam across three jurisdictions. She holds a Doctorate focused on sustainability innovation in U.S. ports and an M&A certificate from Harvard Business School.

Amb. LYNN YOUNG

Posted on: March 1st, 2026 by Vlad Bibik No Comments

Ambassador Lynn Young is a mechanical engineer, former diplomat, and infrastructure leader with more than four decades of experience in energy, utilities, and national development. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of the West Indies and an MBA from the University of Western Ontario.

Mr. Young served for over 30 years in senior leadership at Belize Electricity Limited, including 12 years as President and CEO, and later led Belize Electricity Company (BECOL), the country’s largest power generator. From 2021 to 2025, he served as Belize’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States, and non-resident High Commissioner to Canada.

He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the Port of Belize, where he is guiding modernization efforts focused on efficiency, climate resilience, digitalization, and sustainable port operations. He also serves as the Chairman of the Boards of Hydro Belize Ltd. And Belize Electricity Ltd.

Arturo Vasquez

Posted on: March 1st, 2026 by Vladimir Bibik No Comments

With over a decade of experience in the Maritime Industry and more than 35 years in Banking, Finance, and Technology, Mr. Arturo Vasquez brings a wealth of expertise to his role as CEO of Port of Belize Ltd. Having held Senior Management positions across diverse sectors, including Telecom, Banking and the IT industries, Mr. Vasquez is known for his leadership in driving operational and financial efficiency and safety at the port.
His extensive career also includes serving on several prominent Public and Private Sector boards, with notable past leadership as a 2 Term President of the Belize Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Mr. Vasquez specializes in management and operations and is dedicated to ensuring the growth and sustainability of Belize’s maritime sector through close collaboration with national and international stakeholders.

Jan Hagen Andersen, P.E.

Posted on: February 24th, 2026 by Oleksandr Korostashivets No Comments

Jan Hagen Andersen serves as Decarbonization Business Development Director, DNV Maritime Region Americas, with more than 30 years of experience in the maritime and shipping industry.

He started his career at a marine engineering and service company in Seattle. In 2005, he joined DNV in the Machinery Section of the Maritime Technical Advisory Group based in Norway. The Advisory group provides consultancy and non-class support services to ship owners, shipyards, manufacturers, designers and other stakeholders. In 2010 he moved to the DNV office in Houston, Texas.

Andersen currently serves as Business Development Director for DNV Maritime, Region Americas. In this role, he focuses on decarbonization, alternative fuels, environmental compliance, energy efficiency, digital and new technologies. He is a member of the SNAME M-16 Panel on Propulsion Shafting and is on the North America Environmental Protection Association (NAMEPA) Board of Directors.

Andersen is a graduate of the University of Washington with an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He completed the DNV Top Tech Executive Education at University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business in 2013.

Eric Vanderhorn, PhD

Posted on: February 24th, 2026 by Oleksandr Korostashivets No Comments

Eric VanDerHorn is Director of Technology for the Digital Research team at the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), where he advances maritime digital transformation through the application of digital twins, robotics, visualization technologies, AI/ML, and OT cybersecurity. He has more than 15 years of experience in the maritime and offshore industry, spanning in- service technologies, digitalization, decarbonization, and product management, and has contributed to key initiatives across ABS and ABS Wavesight.

Eric holds BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis and a PhD from Vanderbilt University.

Robert Sinkler

Posted on: February 24th, 2026 by Oleksandr Korostashivets No Comments

Robert “Bob” Sinkler is currently the Executive Director for the Corn Belt Ports, the inland ports within the Corn Belt’s Lock and Dam System.

Previously, Bob was the Water Resources Infrastructure Director for The Nature Conservancy’s North America Freshwater Program. In this position, he and his team focused on implementing interagency integrated water resources management in large watersheds, —particularly with the nation’s largest river systems, and delivering water infrastructure projects. Prior to joining the Conservancy, Bob served as principle strategic advisor to the Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), where he assisted the Commander in setting the strategic direction for USACE, the world’s largest public engineering, design, and construction management agency.

Bob has served as the federal representative on the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East Coastal Advisory Committee, the Illinois River Coordinating Council, and the Iowa Water Resources Coordinating Council. He serves, or has served, on the executive boards of the National Waterways Conference, America’s Watershed Initiative: Charting a Course for the Future of the Mississippi River Watershed, and the Upper Mississippi, Illinois, and Missouri Rivers Association. Since 2013, Bob has been a Senior Advisor at Dawson & Associates, the nation’s premier firm for resolving complex challenges involving Federal water resources and environmental regulatory policy and procedures.

Charles (Bob) Brettell

Posted on: February 24th, 2026 by Oleksandr Korostashivets No Comments

Mr. Brettell is the Managing Partner of The Prosody Group and leads the firm’s economic development and management consulting practices. Mr. Brettell’s 20 years of project development, revitalization & resolution experience includes site selection & negotiation, government, debt & equity financing, due diligence, merger integration, human resources and compliance services for projects valued at over $20 billion dollars.

Along with Prosody’s project development experience on behalf of clients, Prosody recently divested an equity interest in a multi-state solar development entity, MAP Energy Solutions, LLC, for which it provided commercial origination, structuring and management services. Prosody has also utilized its own personnel, experience & capital to invest in & revitalize a registered securities broker-dealer, Brooklight Place Securities, Inc.

Prior to founding The Prosody Group, Mr. Brettell was a founder of Energy Asset Advisors (EAA) & Energy Asset Solutions (EAS) and held executive posts with Tyr Energy and Aquila. As a co-founder and Managing Director of EAA & EAS, Mr. Brettell was involved in the due diligence, financing and development of renewable energy and technology projects, as well as providing a variety of support services including investment banking, commercial origination, project management functions and decision support/option analysis for a diverse base of clients. As Senior Director with Tyr, Mr. Brettell was responsible for asset acquisition & merger integration, third-party crisis management and advisory services for renewable and conventional power generation facilities & companies, including investment banking & lender clients as well as private equity firms. During his tenure at Aquila, Mr. Brettell’s leadership spanned strategy, competitive intelligence, business development, legal, regulatory and human resources for multiple wholly-owned subsidiaries

Mr. Brettell has also worked as an attorney in private practice handling business & litigation matters and holds Series 7, 24, 27, 52, 53 and 66 securities & life, health and variable contracts insurance licenses.

Mr. Brettell earned a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Maryland, a joint Juris Doctor & Master of Business Administration (Finance) degree from the University of Kansas, and a Master of Laws (Tax) degree from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

Peter Noble

Posted on: February 18th, 2026 by Oleksandr Korostashivets No Comments

Peter Noble is naval architect and ocean engineer with a wide range of expertise and experience in the marine and offshore fields over a career spanning more than 60 years

Peter undertakes consulting and advisory assignments and supports student and young professional activities on a global basis. He is past president of SNAME and is an active member of a number of advisory boards at several of universities and research institutions. His work has been recognized through awards including the SNAME Admiral Jerry Land Medal, the OTC Distinguished Achievements Award for Individuals, and election as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.

His current interest includes clean shipping, floating offshore wind technology development, the use of nuclear power in the maritime sector and the study of indigenous naval architecture.

Mark Daugherty

Posted on: February 18th, 2026 by Oleksandr Korostashivets No Comments

With 21 years of Dynamics 365 Business Central experience and over 30 years of IT experience, Mark brings a broad range of knowledge & experience to DSWi. Mark has worked for consulting firms and for Business Central customers and has implemented Microsoft Business Central through the world with projects Central and Western Europe, Australia, Singapore, Brazil, Canada, and the US.

Mark is passionate about organization change management and using technology to enable organizations to enhance their effectiveness through modernization.