JEFFREY F. DIXON
President
Jeff Dixon, a senior executive with nearly 30 years of diverse maritime experience, was named President of TOTE Services in January 2019. As President, Dixon leads a team that oversees a fleet of twenty-seven vessels and eight hundred mariners, including the world’s first LNG-fueled containerships, the nation’s first LNG bunkering barge, and numerous Military Sealift Command (MSC) and U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) vessels operating around the world.
Under Dixon’s leadership, TOTE Services is converting TOTE’s Orca Class roll-on, roll-off ships to dual-fuel (diesel-LNG) capability through an innovative program that is expected to be complete in 2023. In 2019, TOTE Services was awarded a $1.5B Five-ship contract by MARAD to manage construction of a new class of vessel – the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) – to provide world-class training for America’s future mariners.
Prior to being named President, Dixon was Vice President for TOTE Services Government and Commercial portfolio. Before joining TOTE Services, Dixon capped a 27-year active-duty career with the U.S. Coast Guard, serving as Commander, Sector Jacksonville. Dixon serves as Vice Chair of the Maritime Sector Coordination Council and holds positions on both the National Cargo Bureau and United Seaman’s Services Board of Directors.
He is a graduate of the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Economics and a Master’s in Public Administration from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
BEN CHRISTIAN
Vice President Marine Services, TOTE Services
Ben Christian is Vice President for Marine Services of TOTE Services in Jacksonville Florida. He oversees the company’s labor relations, marine supply chain services, business development, and the marine operations in the Puerto Rico trade. The Puerto Rico operations are served by the world’s first LNG powered containerships, the Marlin Class.
Prior to the move to Jacksonville, he worked in San Diego as the Project Manager of TOTE Shipholdings. He managed the Marlin Class newbuild program, the LNG conversion plans for of the Orca Class trailerships, and TOTE’s LNG fuel supply. He is a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY and the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business in Seattle, WA. His background includes sailing as a deck officer with Military Sealift Command and Alaska Tanker Company, and as a Senior Financial Analyst for TOTE’s parent company, Saltchuk Resources.
JP MARCANTONIO
Vice President, Marine Services
JP Marcantonio joined the TOTE Services team in 2019 and serves as Vice President for Marine Services of TOTE Services in Jacksonville Florida. He oversees the company’s marine supply chain services, business development, and the marine operations in the Puerto Rico trade. The Puerto Rico operations are served by the world’s first LNG powered containerships, the Marlin Class.
Prior to joining the TOTE Services team, he worked at TOTE’s sister company in the Saltchuk family of companies, Foss Maritime, for over 13 years. He directed multiple operations for Foss, including harbor services, bunker barging, offshore mooring support, regional towing, and the formation of the LNG Operations Team for the North America’s first LNG Bunker Barge, CLEAN JACKSONVILLE. JP also served as Foss’ Designated Person Ashore and was responsible for establishing the programs and culture which drove Foss towards Goal Zero (zero lost time injuries and zero spills to water).
Prior to joining Foss, JP served as a Transportation Officer in the United States Army. He is a veteran of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. He graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, with dual degrees in Marine Transportation and Marine Engineering and earned his MBA from the University of Washington.
PHIL MORRELL
Vice President Marine Operations, TOTE Maritime
Phil Morrell serves TOTE Services as Vice President Marine Operations, Commercial. He was previously employed from 2002 to 2013 as Vice President of Marine & Terminal Operations with Totem Ocean Trailer Express. At Totem Ocean Phil oversaw all aspects of Totem Ocean's marine and Tacoma terminal operations. At TOTE Services he manages all aspects of commercial management for TOTE Service’s various commercial customers
Phil has more over 30 years of experience in the shipping and transportation industry. Before joining Totem Ocean in 2002, he was employed by Todd Pacific Shipyards, Sunmar Shipping and Holland American Line Westours, Inc., where he held the positions of Marine Superintendent, Technical Operations Manager.
Phil serves on the Washington State Board of Pilotage Commission, Tacoma Youth Marine Center board and is a member of the Port of Anchorage Strategic Planning Group. He and his family reside in West Seattle.
LUIS PARRALES
Director of Safety
Luis Parrales joins the TOTE family after 24 years of honorable service within the United States Coast Guard. His previous assignments include USCG Cutter CONFIDENCE, Marine Safety Office New Orleans, Marine Safety Office Pittsburgh, Sector St Petersburg, Atlantic Area (LANTAREA), & Sector San Juan. Throughout his career Luis Parrales was involved in various high visibility events such as the TWA flight 800 incident, Deepwater Horizon, Hurricane Katrina, 911, and a joint military deployment to the country of Haiti. Of note, during his assignment to LANTAREA, he served as the Branch Chief for the International Port Security Liaison section in which he was responsible for ensuring port security compliance with all applicable international regulations for countries throughout the Caribbean, Africa, Middle East and Central America. His final assignment as Deputy Sector Commander, Sector Jacksonville, he was responsible for over 500 service members and an area of responsibility that spanned over 200 miles from Southern Georgia down to Melbourne, Florida.
Luis Parrales obtained various qualifications to include multiple Marine Inspector qualifications, Boarding Officer, Deck Watch Officer, Contingency Planner and earned a master’s degree in emergency management as well as certifying under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Master Exercise Practitioner Program. He is married to the former Melody Gill who hails from Pittsburg, PA. and together they have four children.
KRISTIN MORRISON
Business Unit Controller
Kristin joined TOTE Services in 2014 from sister company, Sea Star Line, where she held various accounting and finance positions of increasing responsibility, most recently as their Accounting Manager. Kristin has managed the General Accounting function, coordinated the monthly, quarterly and annual accounting close and played a key role in the development of the forecast and five year capital and operating plans. Kristin also brings with her strong internal control and compliance experience and has coordinated both internal and external audits.
Prior to joining Sea Star Line, Kristin held various financial positions with Melitta USA, Associated Marine Institutes and First Advantage Corporation.
Kristin is a graduate of Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, where she majored in Accounting and Business Administration. She resides in Jacksonville with her husband and son.
ANTHONY ERICKSON
Director of Ship Management
Tony joined TOTE Services in May of 2018 following a twenty year career in the U.S. Coast Guard. Prior to his retirement as a Commander, Tony served as the Program Manager’s onsite Representative and Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative for the production and development of the new National Security Cutters, a high-endurance blue water, multi-mission cutter designed for world-wide deployment.
Prior to that assignment, Tony served as an Engineer on three ships over almost eight years at sea and for five years as a shipyard project manager responsible for all facets of long-range and depot level maintenance and repair projects.
A native of Wasilla, AK, Tony holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and a Masters of Science degree in Engineering Management from Portland State University.
MIKE ROBERTS
Director of Ship Management, MARAD
Michael Roberts joined TOTE Services in 1994. He graduated from Lafayette College in 1990 with a B.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Michael has held several management positions at TOTE Services during his tenure with the company including Engineering Technician, Port Engineer, and Engineering Superintendent. He is currently assigned as the Director of Ship Management responsible for the management of ten public vessels owned by the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration.
DENNIS O'MEARA
Director of Ship Management, MSC
Dennis joined TOTE Services following a 30-year Navy career as a surface warfare officer. He served afloat in four ships—all guided missile destroyers—in a wide variety of engineering and deck assignments. Notably, Dennis was Chief Engineer in USS GOLDSBOROUGH (DDG 20) where he supervised all operations and maintenance of the ship’s 1200psi steam propulsion plant and associated auxiliaries, and he commanded USS PAUL HAMILTON (DDG 60), a gas turbine powered Arleigh Burke Class Guided Missile Destroyer. In Dennis’ final afloat assignment he commanded Military Sealift Command’s Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron Three, a squadron of 13 commercially operated ships carrying prepositioned war stocks for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Defense Logistics Agency.
Ashore, Dennis served in a variety of staff assignments including those at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, US Pacific Fleet Headquarters at Pearl Harbor, US Fifth Fleet Headquarters in Manama, Bahrain, the Navy Staff at the Pentagon and five years in the Prepositioning Program Office (PM3) at Military Sealift Command Headquarters on the Navy Yard in Washington, DC.
EUNICE CADORETTE YOUNG
Director of Ship Management
Eunice Cadorette Young is a 2001 Graduate from Massachusetts Maritime Academy. With a Bachelor Degree in Marine Transportation and an Unlimited Mates license Eunice began her sailing career promptly after graduation. She sailed on various classes of vessel during her almost 9 years afloat. During her time between sailing assignments, Eunice worked for an environmental emergency response company where she created oil spill plans and participated in numerous drills and tabletop exercises.
In 2008, Eunice came ashore after sailing two years onboard the SBX-1, a RADAR platform managed by TOTE Services on behalf of the US Government, and worked as a Port Captain with TOTE Services providing shoreside support to ensure the safe operation of numerous vessels within the TOTE Services managed fleet. In 2018, Eunice was promoted to Director of Ship Management.
