Manson Navigator Winter 2023 : simplebooklet.com

Winter 2023 | Manson Navigator1Established in 1905, Manson Construction Co. began as a small, family-owned Puget Sound marine pile driving business. Today, Manson thrives as an employee-owned company and takes great pride in our reputation for safely completing marine construction and dredging projects on time and on budget. Headquarters are located in Seattle, Washington with permanent ofﬁce facilities in Northern and Southern California, Louisiana, Florida, and Texas.Front Cover Photo: Journeyman Frank Pineda cutting the hinge of the miter gate at Manson’s LWSC Large Lock Center Miter Gate Replacement project.Photo credit: A. Leal de la Torre—Sr. Graphic DesignerBack Cover Photo:Derrick barge VALKYRIE driving production pile at Naval Base San Diego’s Pier 8.Photo credit: Pier 8 Project TeamIN THIS ISSUENEWS3Awards and MoreManson wins the AEU Safety Award and celebrates Construction Inclusion Week 2023. ETHICS & BUSINESS RESPONSIBILITY4Taking Care of People Is a ChoiceQ&A with Executive VP and COO Jim McNally.SAFETY18Supporting Employee Mental HealthManson takes steps to promote and support mental health.THE RIG REPORT5VALHALLA Prepared for Hawaii DredgingDB VALHALLA undergoes dry dock before dredge job at Pearl Harbor.LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT21Stories of LearningEmployees embark on journeys of self-directed learning. OFFSHORE9WOTAN Joins E.P. PAUP DB WOTAN returns to offshore work after a seven-year hiatus. MANSON PEOPLE23Milestones and RetirementsCelebrating years of professional achievements. MARINE CONSTRUCTION13CREWS REPLACE CENTURY-OLD MITER GATEManson removed the center gate at the Ballard Locks and is set to install a new gate in 2024. MARINE CONSTRUCTION15STABILIZING THE FUTURE AT THE PORT OF ALASKACommunication and partnership lead to ﬁrst-season success at NES-1 Project.17PREPARING THE ENGINEERS OF THE FUTUREManson’s College Internship Program exposes students to hands-on learning opportunities.RECRUITING 519Winter 2023 | Manson Navigator119Contracts & Insurance Take on the RisksThe Contracts & Insurance Group supports Manson’s operations from bidding to ﬁnal closeout. DEPARTMENT FOCUS

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Manson Navigator | Winter 20232MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTEditorial Team Publishers: John Holmes and Fred PaupManaging Editor: Jeff ArvisoEditor: Jimmie CollinsGraphic Designer: Alvaro Leal de la TorreStaff: Sarah Ness, J.Anthony Tedpahogo, Sunny T. WardContributorsThomas Barrett, Bradley Ellis (Lind Marine), Melanie Erdman, Kelly French (Granite), John D. Heckel, Alex Herlant (HDR), Hannah Huezo, Soheil Kamalzare (Condon-Johnson), Daric Latham, Kristi-lyn Levesque, Jay Mayes, Dave McPeak, Taylor McRae, Max Oviedo, Fred Paup, Laurie Pinard, Forrest Ray, Robert Ricardy, Ron Slavens, Ben Tornberg, Juan Valdez, Mike Warwick, Renee Williams. Manson Construction Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.© 2023 Manson Construction Co.MANSON® is a registered trademark of Manson Construction Co.No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or for any purpose without the express written permission of Manson Construction Co.Manson’s success and reputation as an industry leader have always been tied directly to the quality of our people, so it follows that Manson’s most important core value is Taking Care of People. As you would expect, our safety program is at the heart of how we take care of our employees. Making sure everyone goes home safely each day is our primary responsibility. Once again, Manson has received the AEU’s prestigious maritime safety award, and although we are honored to receive such peer recognition, we must continue our commitment to improving our safety culture. We have learned our safety responsibility must also include an awareness of the impacts of employee mental health, especially for our industry. In this issue, we discuss the importance of advocating for mental health in our workplaces. But Taking Care of People goes beyond our safety program. It includes creating opportunities for our employees to improve their skills and to advance their careers. We provide these opportunities for growth through our training programs, challenging work assignments and co-worker mentoring. Another important element is to provide an inclusive work environment where people feel valued and encouraged to contribute their talents and ideas. This holistic approach to Taking Care of People is what, I believe, sets our company apart and provides the greatest beneﬁt to our employees and our organization.This year Manson recorded its highest annual work volume in company history. I would like to thank all our employees for their continued efforts and commitment to our company. Our crews continue to perform their work skillfully, providing quality projects to our clients. I would also like to speciﬁcally recognize the efforts of the Offshore Group, as they successfully mobilized a second offshore operation this past season to serve the needs of our offshore clients. I hope you enjoy their story and our other features in this edition of the Manson Navigator.John A. Holmes, President Manson Navigator | Winter 20232PHOTO CREDIT | FRED PAUP—CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENTManson President & CEO John Holmes and Chairman of the Board & Executive Vice President Fred Paup take a selﬁe at the build site of the new hopper dredge FREDERICK PAUP in Brownsville, TX. (L-R) Jordan Brown, Project Manager; John Holmes, and Fred Paup.

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Winter 2023 | Manson Navigator3In October 2023, Manson received the 2022 American Equity Underwriters, Inc. (AEU) Safety Award—for the third time in the last ﬁve years.Out of 1,700 companies that partnered with AEU, Manson was named one of the top 30 companies with the most effective safety programs and safety culture in 2022.Heavy Lift and Marine Superintendent Drew Edwards accepted the award on Manson’s behalf from AEU’s Senior Vice President and Director of Loss Control Jimmy Burgin.Manson President and CEO John Holmes reﬂects on the award saying, “We appreciate our partnership with AEU and their recognition of our safety culture with this award. Congratulations to the Manson team for their efforts and continued commitment to preventing injuries.”Strengthening our employee relationships across regional ofﬁces and jobsites was the goal of Manson’s participation in Construction Inclusion Week in October. The annual week-long event encourages construction personnel to unite and build an inclusive culture that empowers innovation, communication, and connection between everyone. Manson launched a ﬁve-day interactive program for personnel to discuss important topics, including Inclusion, Belonging, Small Business Diversity, Workplace Culture, and Community Engagement. The activities sparked powerful conversations within Manson’s workforce, encouraging employees to build a supportive culture. “Construction Inclusion Week is important as it provides the opportunity to evolve our work culture by educating and bringing awareness to what inclusion and a sense of belonging means,” says Renee Williams, West Coast Regional Business Manager. “Manson beneﬁts when employees begin to feel like they have a voice, and their participation has value. This leads to better retention and everyone’s growth both professionally and ﬁnancially.”NEWSManson Wins AEU 2022 Safety AwardManson Celebrates Construction Inclusion Week 2023The BAYPORT crew are all smiles during their CIW Toolbox Talk.(L-R): Taylor McRae, Capt. Mike Coffey, Bill Virella, Caleb Beers, Roger Russell, Clint Williams, Nathan Engelhardt, Guy Hurd, Steve Paulson, and Ben HerbayThe Jax ofce hosted a BBQ lunch to wrap up Construction Inclusion Week, which included a special guest!(L-R):Donnie Smith, Eric Whiddon, Hannah Huezo, T-Bone McRibbs, Carlos Vizcarrondo, Isaac ByrdThe Richmond ofce had a team building at Tipsy Putt in Emeryville, CA, competing at mini-golf and dufe board—Alex Kolessar won both competitions!(L-R): Dylan Mendoza, Chris Schaeffer, Renee Williams, Alex Kolessar, Gus Lamen, Jeanne Semper, Alexis Cano, Brody Naughton, Kelly Blythe. Several Manson and AEU personnel stand proud, brandishing the AEU 2022 Safety Award. (L-R):John Holmes, John Heckel, Jimmy Burgin (AEU), Drew Edwards, Greg Oehling (AEU), Steve Wiper, Joe Aumell (AEU), Ryan King.3Winter 2023 | Manson Navigator

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Manson Navigator | Winter 20234Manson has three core values that guide all our decisions: Take care of people ﬁrst and always; do the right thing; and ﬁnd a better way. It is important that we treat others with dignity and respect, consider employee well-being, and foster a “speak-up” culture where everyone’s voice is heard. To bolster these efforts, Manson has hosted several thought-provoking discussions and workshops over the past few years to shine a light on ways we can take care of people. I speciﬁcally discussed our core value of Taking Care of People with Jim McNally, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Ofﬁcer, who is responsible for leading the operating areas of our company, overseeing the execution of our work, and the development and maintenance of our ﬂeet. John Heckel (JH): How does Manson live out Taking Care of People?Jim McNally (JM): First and foremost, we give people good jobs that can support healthy and happy families. That means everything from paying well, providing good health and retirement beneﬁts, and most importantly, providing a safe work environment where skilled craftsman and professionals can thrive. JH: Construction has a high incidence of mental health concerns. What is Manson doing to support the mental health of our employees?JM: Mental health is a very personal issue for me and is of course an exceedingly complex subject. Our role as an employer is to try to provide a positive work environment that hopefully is a source of satisfaction, pride, security and health for our employees but of course, life is about more than work and mental health issues can arise for many different reasons. What we can do as an employer is to try to remove the stigma by talking openly about mental health and doing everything we can to ensure our people have access to professional help when needed. We do so by messaging about the availability of our Employee Assistance Program and other behavioral health resources. JH: What can our employees do to support each other?JM: The most important thing they can do is be respectful and welcoming of one another at work. As an employer, we strive to provide a good job in a safe and positive work environment. We want all people to feel welcome and supported. As leaders, we need to foster a team environment where everyone is respectful of one another and feels supported on the job as we stay focused on the goal: To be the best company we can be. Any team functions best when all members of the team feel welcome and valued for their contribution to the cause. Maintaining this type of environment gives us the greatest chance of success because team members that feel respected, welcome and supported perform better and are willing to go the extra mile to contribute to the team goals. JH: How can Manson continue improving our workplace?JM: Manson is committed to providing employees with worksites that are safe and where each employee feels welcome as a valued member of the team. Honestly, we may not always hit the target, but that is why we work every day to improve. We each can make our own ofﬁce, our own jobsite, and our own teams a great place for every hard-working member of that team. There will always be challenges, but if we keep our eye on the ball and all pull in that same direction, we can be a great organization that is continually improving in both performance and employee satisfaction. ETHICS & BUSINESS RESPONSIBILITYTaking Care of People Is a ChoiceWRITTEN BY | JOHN D. HECKEL—CORPORATE ETHICS & COMPLIANCE OFFICER4PHOTO CREDIT | A. LEAL DE LA TORRE—SR. GRAPHIC DESIGNERJohn Heckel, Manson Corporate Ethics & Compliance Ofﬁcer, discusses what it means to Take Care of People with Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Ofﬁcer Jim McNally.Taking Care of People Is a ChoiceWRITTEN BY | JOHN D. HECKEL—CORPORATE ETHICS & COMPLIANCE OFFICER

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Manson Navigator | Winter 20236Manson’s derrick barge VALHALLA and support vessels navigated 2,344 nautical miles across the Paciﬁc Ocean this fall to perform dredging for the P-209 Dry Dock 3 Replacement mega-project at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu, HI. Before the vessels set sail to Hawaii, the VALHALLA went into drydock for regular maintenance. Readying for the JourneyPreparing a vessel for a new project comes second nature to Manson’s hardworking equipment group and crews; the maintenance of the derrick barge VALHALLA is no exception. In August 2023, the VALHALLA drydocked at the Lind Marine Shipyard in Vallejo, CA, for its interim inspection—the ﬁrst of two in a ﬁve-year span—to prepare for the dredging project in Honolulu. “The VALHALLA underwent regular maintenance at drydock, which included painting the boom of the crane, crane house, and A-Frame along with normal inspections as required by American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)and the U.S. Coast Guard,” says Port Engineer David Lubiszewski. “The bigger tasks this time were changing and repairing the structure of the counterweights and lengthening the walking spuds.”Considered critical repairs for the VALHALLA, Lind Marine Project Manager Brad Ellis collaborated with David to assemble a plan to ﬁx the compromised structure. “I worked with David and Manson’s in-house engineers to fast-track the welding phase of the counterweight structure,” Brad explains. Despite the design challenges and short delivery window, the shipyard crew completed the counterweight structure in two weeks.“It’s always a pleasure for Lind Marine to work with Manson because of the effective communication and strategic planning that goes into the work orders,” Brad says. “David and the VALHALLA crew were both accommodating and easy to work with regarding logistics, operations, and seeing the tasks through.” Manson Navigator | Winter 2023RIG REPORTA look at the VALHALLA and Lind Marine tugboat BERNICE LIND.PHOTO CREDIT | BRADLEY ELLIS—PROJECT MANAGER, LIND MARINE LLC

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Winter 2023 | Manson Navigator7Setting Sail for OahuManson’s scope of work on the P-209 project includes clamshell dredging with the help of the VALHALLA, the PETER M, and dump scows NORTHPORT and EASTPORT, with the latter requiring an international permit to go to Honolulu. “The EASTPORT’s load line needed to comply with the standards and regulations of the ABS,” says Equipment Manager Daric Latham. “David collaborated with Equipment Engineering Manager Nick Maddox and Equipment Engineer Jason Morris to fast-track international travel permits for the upcoming dredge job in Honolulu.” Once certiﬁcation and maintenance were complete, the tugboat AMERICAN CHALLENGER— owned and operated by American Marine Corporation—towed the VALHALLA and EASTPORT to Hawaii. The P-209 project team and crews are well-equipped with what they need to make sure they hit the ground running when they begin work in Honolulu, according to David. “The VALHALLA hauled the necessary equipment needed for the job, including chisels, steel curtains, and four different types of clamshell buckets for dredging, David explains. “The EASTPORT towed plenty of tires and other equipment crucial to the project. Crews have what they need to get started.” The tugboat PETER M followed the VALHALLA crew, towing the dump scow NORTHPORT out of Long Beach, CA, so it can be used to support vessels during clamshell dredging operations. The AMERICAN CHALLENGER and the VALHALLA traveled 2,344 nautical miles to reach Honolulu.PHOTO CREDIT | BRADLEY ELLIS—PROJECT MANAGER, LIND MARINE LLCRebuilt and renamed in 1997, the VALHALLA boasts a 400-ton lift capacity.7

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Winter 2023 | Manson Navigator11In addition to the E.P. PAUP—Manson’s largest offshore derrick barge—Offshore Construction Manager Brandt Stagni and Port Engineer Jay Price have choreographed and supported crews to prepare the derrick barge WOTAN, which joined the E.P. PAUP offshore for the ﬁrst time since 2016. “The E.P. PAUP’s schedule has been booked up for the last several years,” Brandt explains. “It made sense to bring back the WOTAN to help with the number of jobs in the Gulf.” A Bit of History Manson previously worked both the E.P. PAUP and WOTAN from 2010 to 2016 to decommission oil platforms for the oil and gas industry. At that time, the WOTAN living quarters had reached the end of its service life and the WOTAN was repurposed. The vessel was ﬁtted with modular quarters on the deck and provided housing for the crew of the ROBERT M WHITE cutter suction dredge on a project located in a ““The E.P. PAUP’s schedule has been booked up for the last several years. It made sense to bring back the WOTAN to help with the number of jobs in the Gulf.Brandt Stagni—OFFSHORE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER11Winter 2023 | Manson NavigatorCrews at Manson’s Houma, LA, marine yard prepared the WOTAN for the offshore season, including the installation of new living quarters.PHOTO CREDIT | DAVE MCPEAK—TOWER OPERATORPHOTO CREDIT | DAVE MCPEAK—TOWER OPERATORThe WOTAN passing through the Bayou Dularge bridge in Houma, LA.

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Manson Navigator | Winter 202312remote region of the Atchafalaya River in Louisiana. The WOTAN went on to perform several heavy lift and marine construction projects, including hoisting more than two dozen 400-ton concrete blocks during demolition at the Marine Corps Support Facility, Blount Island, Concrete Sill Removal project in Florida. Preparation Matters Before the start of the 2023 offshore season (typically May to November), members from the equipment group, business operations group, and crew from the E.P. PAUP and WOTAN collaborated to ensure both rigs received signiﬁcant upgrades for a successful season in the Gulf. New living quarters were installed on the WOTAN to offer shelter for personnel against the rough seas, extreme heat, high winds, and storms that are regular features of life in the Gulf. “It’s been a long time since the WOTAN has been offshore, and it’s taken a lot of preparation to get it ready,” says WOTAN Superintendent Nick Woods. “We had to get new living quarters to face the type of conditions that the Gulf presents and provide a comfortable and safe living space for the crew. In addition to the new quarters, crews installed several appurtenances to the WOTAN, including air lifts, a grocery box landing, a welding box, walkways, and a laundry room.”For the E.P. PAUP, Electrician Jason Johnson says that it was mostly business as usual when preparing the barge for the work season, but the preparation window was shorter. “We came back to the Houma yard in January, two months later than we usually do in November, because we had more jobs to complete last season,” he says. “It’s our responsibility to work efﬁciently and quickly to prepare the E.P. PAUP.”Of the typical wear and tear components on the E.P. PAUP that are regularly maintained or replaced, the vessel’s biggest upgrade this season was the replacement and installation of a new helideck. “To suit the needs of our clients in the Gulf, we needed to replace the undersized helideck on the vessel,” says E.P. PAUP Superintendent Ray Martinez. “The helideck is an important feature because it allows our clients to monitor the job site for marine mammals so they can let us know that it is safe to start removing the large oil platforms in the Gulf.” It’s About Our People Despite the tight deadline, the crews worked together to meet a string of milestones to prepare both rigs to head out into the Gulf. “What has made this very successful is the collaboration between the Equipment Group, the Operations Group, and some of the guys in the ﬁeld,” explains Senior Vice President and Gulf and East Coast Regional Manager John Roques. “The work we’ve completed is the culmination of the talent and professionalism of the staff and craft personnel we have here in the organization.” This season has brought back familiar faces and added some new ones to the crews of the E.P. PAUP and WOTAN, Jason explains. “The returning crews have done a good job helping new members transition into their roles.” The mix of personalities on both rigs has created a unique fellowship amongst the crews. One of the key components of success for the E.P. PAUP and WOTAN was the collective mindset of encouraging veterans and newcomers to work as one big team rather than two separate crews, according to Deck Foreman Anthony Knox, affectionately known as “Big A.” “Everybody is learning and with the new guys, it’s important to help them understand what we have to do,” Big A says. “We have to blend in and make sure these guys ‘come in with it.’ We will work with them to make sure they are safe and have everything they need to get the work done.”OFFSHOREThe WOTAN passing through the Bayou Dularge Bridge in Houma, LA. PHOTO CREDIT | DAVE MCPEAK—TOWER OPERATOR12HELIDECKUPGRADE1. The E.P. PAUP’s new helideck measures 50 ft. by 50 ft. with a 7.5-ton landing capacity, replacing the previous deck of 40 ft. by 40 ft. with a landing capacity of 2.3 tons.2. The new helideck is designed for utility helicopters, including an S-76 and Bell 412 helicopter, commonly used for Medevac aircraft.

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Manson Navigator | Winter 202314CREWS REMOVE CENTURY-OLD MITER GATEManson Construction Co. was selected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to replace the large lock center gate at the Hiram M. Chittenden (Ballard) Locks in Seattle, WA. In October, Manson crews removed the more than 100-year-old gate using the DERRICK BARGE 24. Crews will continue construction activities and will install a new miter gate assembly in 2024 that consists of two leafs, measuring 46 ft. by 60 ft. and weighing 180 tons each. The project is crucial to U.S. Commerce and vessel trafﬁc, with the Ballard Locks providing passage for more than 50,000 vessels a year and maintaining water levels for both Lake Washington and Lake Union.Fun Fact: In 1945, Manson rebuilt the shear walls at the Ballard Locks for the U.S. Government, placing a fendering system to improve the approaches of the Locks. (Source: Bridging the Generations)MARINE CONSTRUCTION Manson Navigator | Winter 2023PHOTO CREDIT | A. LEAL DE LA TORRE—SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERDERRICK BARGE 24 using specialized lifting equipment to remove the existing miter gate in November 2023.14Scan to see a short video of the DERRICK BARGE 24 lifting the miter gate.

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Winter 2023 | Manson Navigator15STABILIZING THE FUTURE AT THE PORT OF ALASKAWith the ﬁrst work season completed by subcontractors Granite Construction and Condon-Johnson & Associates, Project Manager Drew Paup and the project team at Manson’s North Extension Stabilization Step 1 (NES-1) design-build project in Anchorage, AK, are gearing up for Season 2. A high priority for the Municipality of Anchorage, which owns and operates the Port of Alaska (the Port), the NES-1 project is part of the Port’s 10-year Modernization Program, which aims to replace the aging marine structures and related infrastructure to support commercial and military vessels that serve and protect the state of Alaska. A critical transportation resource, the Port is the primary inbound cargo-handling facility in the state. The Manson project team will stabilize a vital section of the Port’s North Extension with ground improvements, removal of an existing sheet pile wall, excavation, placement of rock, and dredging more than a million cubic yards (CY) of material to realign the shoreline. “Anchorage experiences extreme seismic activity, and it is important for the Port to improve its infrastructure and achieve resiliency against the effects of earthquakes,” Drew explains. “Manson’s NES-1 project serves the people of Alaska, as 90 percent of the state’s residents rely on the Port as a vital transportation gateway in Anchorage.” Preseason Efforts Manson partnered with design ﬁrm WSP, Condon-Johnson, and Granite early to establish a cohesive project plan, exclusive partnership, and the collective mindset supporting the project’s success. The strength of the group comes from their shared long-standing history of performing infrastructure solutions in Alaska. “Being involved early during the proposal phase allowed Manson, Condon-Johnson, and Granite to address concerns and ﬁnd solutions for the project,” says Soheil Kamalzare, Condon-Johnson Project Manager. “The experience from all sides made the project more visible and the partnership much stronger.” Granite and Condon-Johnson Take the Stage In January 2023, Granite deployed its project staff and crews to remove snow and to take soil samples at NES-1, according to Kelly French, Granite Project Manager. “With Granite being the local company, Manson and Condon-Johnson understood the importance of this project and how it will beneﬁt the entire state of Alaska,” Kelly explains. “Granite did a lot of logistical and prep work during the early phases of the project. After a few months of ﬁnalizing sequencing and planning, we fully mobilized to NES-1 with Manson and Condon-Johnson in April 2023.”With the Port’s operations in full swing, Granite and Condon-Johnson began earthwork and ground improvement The experience from all sides made the project more visible and the partnership much stronger. ““Soheil Kamalzare—PROJECT MANAGERSTABILIZING THE FUTURE AT THE PORT OF ALASKAPHOTO CREDIT | ALEX HERLANT—SENIOR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTOR, HDR ENGINEERING, INC.Crews making progress with the DSM work at NES-1.WRITTEN BY | J.ANTHONY TEDPAHOGO—MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATORWRITTEN BY | J.ANTHONY TEDPAHOGO—MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

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Manson Navigator | Winter 202316work simultaneously at the North Extension location, with Drew and the Manson project team on-site to oversee and support both subcontractors. Granite initiated land-based excavation of approximately 40,000 CY of material at the North Extension. The work supported Condon-Johnson’s ground improvement phase, building a bench—a trough-like area—for Condon-Johnson to work with, and providing management of spoils and material disposal. In addition to the excavation work, Granite began hauling and stockpiling ﬁlter and armor rock to the Port. Granite crews have been rock blasting and storing the boulders and rocks for slope protection for next season at NES-1, and this work will continue in 2024 after winter passes. “Granite owns local quarries in Alaska that will provide the necessary materials to prepare for Season 2,” Drew says. “Their preparation efforts will allow the Manson team immediate access to large quantities of rock, mitigating potential delays for next year.”A Solid Ground As Granite completed the excavation, Condon-Johnson began ground improvement work to stabilize 1,400 linear feet (LF) of the inland section of the North Extension that will stabilize the future shoreline during seismic events. Using several high-powered drill rigs with augers, the Condon-Johnson team used a Deep Soil Mixing (DSM) technique to blend soil and cement which will strengthen the ground up to 52-ft. below the surface. The team performed DSM on 946 columns in the site area, with approximately half of the mixed portion of the columns requiring an alternative method due to natural obstructions. “The Condon-Johnson team went down with a drill rig and a 6-foot auger attached to mix the materials,” Soheil explains. “They encountered boulders while installing the DSM method and stopped work until a solution was provided.” The design-build team collaborated with the Port to work out concerns, which led to the alternative installation method of jet grouting—injection of mixed material at high pressures—to complete the ground improvement work. “Manson and Granite’s support created a comfortable environment for us to bring solutions to the table,” Soheil says. “It allowed Condon-Johnson Superintendents Guy Donaldson and Ray Exum to adapt and direct their team to move forward with the jet grouting method, allowing us to ﬁnish on time and complete the work for Season 1.”Season 2 PreviewWith the design, excavation, and ground improvement work complete, Drew and the Manson project team are shifting their focus to Season 2 which begins in the Spring of 2024. The upcoming work will involve several self-performed scopes, including the dredging of approximately 1.2 million CY of material, demolition of 6,200 LF of an existing sheet pile bulkhead structure, and the placement of armor and ﬁlter rock. “I’m looking forward to having all our equipment mobilized and on-site in April 2024,” Drew says. “The planning efforts that go into making that happen will be signiﬁcant. Once on-site, we can focus on what Manson does best: marine construction and dredging.”MARINE CONSTRUCTIONGranite and Condon-Johnson crews hard at work at NES-1. PHOTO CREDIT | ALEX HERLANT—SENIOR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTOR, HDR ENGINEERING, INC.Condon-Johnson crews using drill rigs to conduct jet grouting at NES-1.PHOTO CREDIT | ALEX HERLANT—SENIOR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTOR, HDR ENGINEERING, INC. Manson Navigator | Winter 2023

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Winter 2023 | Manson Navigator17RECRUITINGPREPARING THE ENGINEERS OF THE FUTUREWRITTEN BY | J.ANTHONY TEDPAHOGO—MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATORSeizing the opportunity to mold the next generation of engineers, Manson’s College Internship Program offers students the chance to learn from experts and work in several unique service areas, including marine construction, dredging, and offshore energy. The program pairs students with some of Manson’s most skilled and talented engineers, exposing students to hands-on learning opportunities in dynamic work environments across the U.S. The internship program has produced an impressive roster of engineers, with some taking the helm to guide and share wisdom with Manson’s seasonal interns. “Interns have a great opportunity to work with seasoned engineers and those in the early stages of their career,” says Dredge Engineering Manager Kyle Dickens, who leads the Gulf and East Coast Dredging recruiting efforts. “They learn from people who are receptive to new voices and hold true to Manson’s core value of taking care of people.”Manson Equipment Engineer Ross Dombrowski—who interned with Manson for two years—attributes the company’s values and work culture to why he decided to join Manson after graduation. “My journey at Manson began with a nine-month internship in 2020, where I was tasked with helping the Seattle Operations team on small works support,” Ross explains. “My internship was unique because I could assist with managing projects, purchasing materials, and even helped ﬁnd the most affordable materials for Manson’s Mukilteo Ferry Terminal project.” The Internship Program gives Manson the unique opportunity to introduce students to the niche marine construction and dredging industry, according to Melanie Erdman, Manson’s Northwest Operations Ofﬁce Manager. “Whether it is building a bridge or ferry terminal, students get to observe ﬁrst-hand the ingenuity, empowerment of safety, and cultivation of relationships it takes to build infrastructure and dredge national waterways,” Melanie says. One of the Internship Program’s most rewarding takeaways is learning about Manson’s work, according to Seattle Intern Ifrah Khalif, a senior studying Civil Engineering at Seattle University “I worked with Estimator Matt Morford to learn about estimating, including familiarizing myself with upcoming projects and the terms and meanings used in marine construction,” Ifrah explains. “My internship with Manson taught me things that a textbook can’t because I experienced real-time situations that engineers encounter.”Shaelyn Chen, a graduate student studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington, joined the Seattle ofﬁce to work with Project Engineer Brett Diener on the emerging offshore wind market. “I worked with Brett and Manson’s Team Wind to help conduct research and understand renewable energy,” Shaelyn says. “One of the rewarding things about my internship was the ﬂexibility to work on my research and learning from Brett and people like Senior Vice President and Chief Engineer Jeff Arviso about the ‘Big Picture’ of Offshore Wind, which is a major difference between learning about offshore wind in school and in real-time.”The knowledge, professionalism, skill, and integrity of Manson’s engineering workforce starts with its leadership and trickles down to the bright-eyed college students participating in the Internship Program. “Manson is on the ‘ground ﬂoor’ with students who could turn out to be fantastic engineers,” Melanie says. “We get to teach them about the organization’s legacy and core values, core services, and how Manson supports its engineers with various programs.” Seattle Interns Shaelyn Chen (left) and Ifrah Khalif (right) gear up in their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for a tour of the Seattle marine yard.PHOTO CREDIT | MELANIE ERDMAN—NORTHWEST OFFICE MANAGERPHOTO CREDIT | PRODUCTION ENGINEERING TEAM, JACKSONVILLE OFFICEJacksonville Intern Greg Howard stands with 3D models of various pieces of Manson equipment that he created as a tangible, cost-effective way for engineers to plan a job.17Winter 2023 | Manson Navigator

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Manson Navigator | Winter 202318SAFETYSUPPORTING EMPLOYEE MENTAL HEALTHWRITTEN BY | J.ANTHONY TEDPAHOGO—MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATORIn the last decade, Manson has championed safety programs to keep employees safe across the nation. Driven to take care of people, the organization is also taking steps to promote and support mental health.Mental health concerns are prevalent in the construction industry, with seasonal jobs, long hours, and exhaustion contributing to depression, anxiety, and even suicide. In a 2020 survey by the Center for Construction Research and Training, 14.3% of construction workers reported having anxiety or depression at their jobs. These health factors often go unnoticed and can unfortunately lead to severe crises. For this reason, Manson is adapting its focus to include mental health awareness, tackling a necessary topic in the construction industry.“The wellbeing of our people is important because it aligns with our core value of taking care of people,” says Jim McNally, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Ofﬁcer. “Raising mental health awareness is a deep interest for Manson because it introduces a serious topic and allows people to discuss it comfortably.”Mental Health and Safety Intersect Manson’s top priority is sending people home safe and unharmed, and this is true for both physical and mental safety, according to Matua Sablan, Manson West Regional Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Manager. Matua says Manson understands the importance of advocating for mental health and, from a safety perspective, sees the correlation between ‘checking in’ with someone and ensuring they have the proper PPE for the task. “If someone is on a job site operating heavy machinery and they become distracted because of poor mental health, they can be a danger to themselves and others,” Matua explains. “We focus on advocating for mental health just as much as we do safety. It is about the safety of Manson employees and why the importance of mental health and safety align.”Earlier this year, Jim and Matua attended a safety conference focusing on suicide prevention—the ﬁrst of its kind for the industry—to learn from mental health professionals and understand the hard facts. “Mental health awareness is still a newly discussed topic for the construction industry,” Jim says. “Suicide is a challenging issue for the individual, their friends and family, and their co-workers. I wanted to see what others in the industry were doing to support suicide prevention and the types of resources available.” Manson offers helpful resources, including counseling services, hotlines, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for its employees. Many of these beneﬁts facilitate the connection to life-saving tools and mental health experts. With resources like TALKSPACE, employees can virtually access and speak with a licensed counselor about personal and professional concerns from the comfort of their own homes. This program can serve as the ﬁrst step in providing a safe space for individuals suffering through severe crises, such as substance abuse or suicidal ideation. All in This Together Manson has supported this holistic approach in many ways, including hosting events across the country for Mental Health Awareness Month in May, such as Stress Reduction workshops. Some employee advocates have even taken it upon themselves to learn more about this important health issue. In September 2023, Northwest Operations Ofﬁce Manager Melanie Erdman received a certiﬁcation in Mental Health First Aid to identify common signs of mental and substance abuse challenges and to learn how to interact with individuals facing similar crises. “Through education about the mental health crisis in construction, continued encouragement of healthy physical and emotional practices, and better work-life balance, we can help improve other people’s lives with this support,” Melanie says. 18

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Winter 2023 | Manson Navigator19Manson’s Contracts & Insurance (C&I) Group is a well-oiled machine of experienced team members dedicated to contractual risk analysis and management, legal compliance efforts for Manson’s public and private marine construction and dredging jobs, as well as all the supporting service and supply agreements that allow Manson to operate day-to-day.“Our C&I Group plays an important role, providing support to our operations, which begins during the procurement process and continues through project execution and ﬁnal closeout,” says John Holmes, Manson President & CEO. The C&I Group’s Seattle location serves as a home base for the department, with three members working on the East Coast. The team consists of Vice President and General Counsel Laurie Pinard, Contracts Manager Kristi-Lyn Levesque, Contract Specialist Timothy Odroniec, Insurance Administrator Paula Shoudy-Roberts, Small Business Program Administrator Lindsey Williams, Administrative Assistant Brandenn Torkelson, Claims Manager Steve Wiper, and Ethics & Compliance Ofﬁcer John Heckel. Currently, Engineer Hannah Huezo is also supporting the team on a C&I Temporary Work Assignment (TWA)—a Manson training program for engineers. “The C&I Group exists as a risk management tool for Manson on a broad basis,” Laurie explains. “The members of C&I are highly capable individuals who collaborate daily to ensure contracts and insurance meet federal, state, local, maritime, and project-speciﬁc requirements and to continually improve tools and resources for our co-workers.”Navigating through legal and regulatory requirements takes a concerted effort from all members of the team, who lean on one another to get the job done. To make the process easier, weekly and monthly meetings are scheduled to keep everyone on the same page. “We are a very tight-knit group who meet monthly for our C&I Team Meeting,” Brandenn says. “Every Tuesday, a few of us meet to discuss the bid list, which is all the jobs that Manson is looking at. Our department communicates concerns well, and everyone is comfortable enough to call one another should they have questions.”Timothy Odroniec takes the lead on reviewing Owner/Client contracts at bid time and, together with Kristi-Lyn, they draft, review, analyze, and negotiate upstream and downstream contracts in support of Estimating and Operations (as well as other departments at Manson). Timothy and Hannah work closely with project teams to ensure compliance with Manson’s contracting procedures, including the preparation and review of various standard contracts in support of Manson’s operations.Much of what C&I does is behind-the-scenes but critical work for the organization, according to John Heckel, who, together with Laurie, Paula, and Steve, handles insurance placement and claims. “Our department works as a team behind the scenes to protect the company’s assets and shield the company from losses. For example, when Manson bids on a project, the C&I Group divides team members to review bid documents and project insurance requirements to identify potential issues,” John Heckel says. “If we are considering entering into a lease obligation, Laurie and Kristi-Lyn will review and suggest edits to the lease. If we have an insurance issue to solve, Paula works with our insurance brokers to ﬁnd and place the best coverage. If an accident involves bodily injury, Steve works with our insurers to provide the medical care the employee needs to heal.”Steve manages all auto, property, and work injury claims. He works with our insurance partners to ensure injured employees are compensated correctly for any lost time they incur and that they receive the appropriate healthcare they require. In addition, Steve is a resource to answer questions employees may have about the claims process. Since joining Manson in 2021, Steve has expanded his responsibilities to include assisting in the purchase and execution of Manson’s extensive insurance portfolio.CONTRACTS & INSURANCE TAKE ON THE RISKSWRITTEN BY | J.ANTHONY TEDPAHOGO—MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR““Brandenn Torkelson—ADMIN. ASSISTANTThe C&I Department is here to help; we have Manson’s best interest at heart, and we want people to succeed in the organization. Members from the C&I Group enjoying a walk across London’s Tower Bridge during an international work trip to meet with insurance partners.(L-R) John Heckel, Steve Wiper, and Laurie Pinard. PHOTO CREDIT | C&I GROUP19

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Manson Navigator | Winter 202320Paula Shoudy-Roberts is affectionately known as the group’s “Secret Weapon.” In addition to her deep knowledge of insurance and ability to efﬁciently review and explain insurance documents, she supports the group on innumerable special projects. “Paula is always ready with a ’How can I help?’ and then does just that,” Laurie says. Paula’s strong technical skills were vital in the development and implementation of the Manson Vendor Portal (MVP), in addition to various forms, templates, and important processes.Others in the department echo Laurie’s sentiments that Paula is an invaluable team member. “I depend on her knowledge and expertise on a daily basis,” Kristi-Lyn adds. “Paula’s ability to understand, explain, and evaluate complex insurance issues is second to none. She is critical to Manson’s ability to insure or ﬂow down (as appropriate) Manson’s contractual risk.”Lindsey Williams has a more public role in helping with contract compliance. In addition to supporting Estimating and Operations teams with small business compliance efforts, Lindsey attends conferences and outreach events in a continuing effort to ﬁnd small business concerns to participate in Manson’s projects. She also manages the MVP, a secure web portal where current vendors and businesses interested in working with Manson as subcontractors and suppliers provide information about their businesses. Lindsey is another key contributor to Manson’s risk management and compliance efforts.Aside from their primary functions, C&I provides training and resources including a substantial library of Frequently Asked Questions and various contracting templates, checklists, and instructional videos. The C&I Group works with the Learning & Development Department to offer training for two Manson Project Management Operations courses: Contracts & Risk Management and Federal Contracts, in addition to offering other various “just-in-time” trainings. The TWA Program, which places Manson engineers into a temporary work rotation in various departments throughout the company, including C&I, has been a tremendous success. Kristi-Lyn adapted and manages the C&I portion of this program, fostering awareness, communication and collaboration between the C&I Group and engineers who rotate through estimating, operations, and other departments. “The TWA Program is an investment Manson has made in the future of our company. It’s an added responsibility but so worth it,” Kristi-Lyn says. At the end of a C&I TWA rotation, engineers better understand the reasons behind Manson’s contractual risk management approach, how to use the tools and resources available, and when to reach out to C&I for assistance. “It’s a win-win for everyone,” Laurie says. The experience equips engineers with knowledge and experience that empowers them to approach future contracting issues with added conﬁdence.“The C&I Group is here to help,” Brandenn explains. “We have Manson’s best interest at heart, and we want people to succeed in the organization.”DEPARTMENT FOCUSPHOTO CREDIT | C&I GROUPThe C&I Group traded in their ofﬁce attire for some safety equipment on a site visit. (L-R) Zach Chester, Laurie Pinard, Kristi-Lyn Levesque, Bobby Russ.Manson Vice President and Gulf & East Coast Civil Area Manager Mark Openshaw and Kristi-Lyn Levesque visiting the BIMT Wharf Rehabilitation Phase 2 project in Jacksonville, FL. PHOTO CREDIT | LAURIE PINARD—VP AND GENERAL COUNSEL Manson Navigator | Winter 202320

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Winter 2023 | Manson Navigator21When we talk about the Manson Learning Network, we’re talking about all the ways learning happens at Manson and how all of us in the company participate and contribute to it in ways both formal and informal.It’s easy to think that training at Manson is all contained within our main programs like Safety, Project Management & Operations (PMO), and other compliance programs like Cybersecurity or Preventing Workplace Harassment. But it turns out that there are a lot of people who recognize opportunities to grow professionally and then take the plunge to make it happen, oftentimes above and beyond their usual duties at work. Here are just a few of the folks and the fascinating things they are learning to improve their capabilities and, in turn, make a bigger impact for Manson. Troubleshooting Electrical Systems If you want to know about troubleshooting electrical systems on the cutter suction dredge ROBERT M WHITE (RMW), just ask Ryan Van Hoose. Ryan is an Outside Mechanic on the RMW who has been on a mission of self-study to better understand the Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) used to operate the renowned vessel. “The electrical side always interested me because something as simple as one input or output missing from the PLC can shut down the whole dredging operation,” Ryan explains. As Ryan says about his extracurricular learning, “I think it has helped me tremendously in my job and hope it helps me to keep excelling at Manson.” Mental Health First Aid If you’ve ever met Melanie Erdman, an Ofﬁce Manager for NW Ops, then you know she cares deeply about mental health and the inherent challenges we all endure working in the construction industry. Melanie’s passion for the subject was recognized outside of Manson when she was invited to join the AGC National Mental Health Committee. This drive to make a difference moved her to earn a certiﬁcate in Mental Health First Aid from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. “My hope is to grow my own knowledge and helping others to understand the challenges of mental wellbeing in our industry, and to help promote the great resources that are available to us,” Melanie says. Vessel Networking We can all agree that building a computer and communications network onboard marine vessels is a rather complicated endeavor, especially given Manson’s sizable ﬂeet. Undaunted, IT Network Engineers Aquiles Castillo, Dirk Bush, and Edgard Bobarykin are collaborating in their own peer-learning course. Aquilles has developed a course called Building a Vessel Network from which he coaches Edgard and Dirk toward achieving the NS1, NS2, and NS3 network certiﬁcations. “I like to share my knowledge and experience with my teammates,” relates Aquilles. Dirk agrees, “The culture here in Manson IT is for us to help each other and distribute learning to any who have aligned interests. This tribal knowledge will help make us more effective and valuable employees.” Their course comprises ﬁve sessions over ﬁve weeks and covers topics related to Fortinet ﬁrewalls, static routers, and network troubleshooting. The result, as Edgard describes it, is that “we will be able to provide assistance throughout the day to help vessels with any issues in regard to connectivity and communication, which are both very important with the technology being used.” SPOTLIGHT ON SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING WRITTEN BY | LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT““ Everyone should be attempting, at least occasionally, to expand their knowledge. Even if it is just learning different ways of doing things you might know already. Training is for everyone, novice to veteran.Dirk Bush, IT NETWORK ENGINEER21Outside Mechanic Ryan Van Hoose has been learning to troubleshoot electrical systems on the ROBERT M WHITE. PHOTO CREDIT | ROBERT RICARDY—WELDER

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Manson Navigator | Winter 202322Project Management Fundamentals “This class teaches you the basics of how to run a project from start to ﬁnish from the role of a Project Manager,” explains Kurt Dever, a Project Engineer in Manson’s Northwest region. “We encounter issues just like we do on real-life projects and are taught to work through these issues and think outside of the box to come up with creative solutions in order to reduce costs and stay on schedule.” Kurt and Project Managers Drew Paup and Jeff Garcia have taken an eight-week, 64 hour project management class offered in Seattle. “Discussing construction management issues, from the class material and other people in the cohort, identiﬁes common challenges across the industry and effective ways to manage them,” Drew adds. Underscoring the importance of continual learning, Kurt reminds us, “We are in an industry that revolves heavily around what you know and how to manage things that you don’t, so the more you can soak in throughout your years of employment, the easier it is to manage work. I’ve never been one to turn down training opportunities.” Construction Management Professional learning opportunities come in all shapes and sizes. Hannah Huezo, Engineer/C&I TWA, dedicated six months to earning her Construction Management Certiﬁcate from Florida Atlantic University. The program was intensive, requiring completion of a module every 2-3 days. Topics of study included risk management, business management, strategic planning, and estimating, among many others. When asked what motivated such an effort, Hannah says, “I saw a gap in my knowledge when it came to the ﬁnancial planning and management of a project. A construction management certiﬁcate seemed to match the output I would be able to give while still working full-time.” Speaking to the beneﬁt she is experiencing after such an in-depth course, she says, “The Construction Management Program at FAU provided good foundational knowledge of the whole picture of project management. It covered budget creation, contract structure, how to interview, insurance, submittals, how to plan scopes, and more. It tied all the pieces and tasks together to view it as one system. While I think the content would have been more appropriate for me earlier in my career, I’m glad to have the experience.” The Spirit of Learning These stories highlight the terriﬁc beneﬁt that comes to us when we are motivated from within to create our best professional selves. Melanie perfectly sums up this spirit of learning. “Anytime you can get more learning, you should, especially if it’s for something you are passionate about. If Manson is willing to help someone extend their career and their interests, it’s a win-win all around and can only create a better work environment for everyone.” Hannah Huezo (left), Project Engineer Ilias Sgourides (middle), and Chris Price (right) attending the 2019 National Maritime Celebration in Port Arthur, TX. PHOTO CREDIT | HANNAH HUEZO—ENGINEER/C&I TWALEARNING AND DEVELOPMENTPHOTO CREDIT | BEN TORNBERG—PROJECT SPONSORProject Engineer Kurt Dever (center, front) and the DERRICK BARGE 24 project team and crew pose with the commercial ﬁshing boat, ALEUTIAN ISLE, after salvaging it from 250-ft. deep water in the Salish Sea.(L-R): Frank Blakely, Frank Pineda, Josh Mitton, Graydon Bennett, Kurt Dever, Jim Heather, Memo Castellon, Robin Winsley, and Gordon Hill.22 Manson Navigator | Winter 2023

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Winter 2023 | Manson Navigator25I ﬁrst met Marc Bissonnette in 1976 at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. We were both eighteen years old and were still trying to ﬁgure things out, but one thing we knew for sure was that we wanted to go out to sea. Who knew that it would lead to several decades of dredging? After graduating from Kings Point, we stayed in contact and remained good friends. One year, Marc visited me in Wyoming with his wife, Lillian, to join me on a skiing trip. At the time, Marc was a Captain on the VICTORIA CLIPPER ferry in Seattle, and he told me about the opportunities for marine jobs in the Northwest. In our conversation, he mentioned a dredging company he did relief work for, and that the work interested him. After a few years at sea, I left my job, and found that Marc was working on the NEWPORT with Manson—Marc started with Manson in 1988. After learning about my career transition, Marc put in a good word with Henry “Speedy” Hester (namesake of Manson’s boat SPEEDY) about my experience. Not long after the dredging season ended, I got a call to work on the NEWPORT. Aside from myself, Marc was responsible for bringing many people to Manson’s dredging division, including Captains Tom Bopp and Ken Penwell. Marc is smart, dependable, and well-liked by everybody. As part of the small but tight-knit NEWPORT crew, Marc was a member of the “old folks’ home”—a name given to the NEWPORT crew because of our long history together. The NEWPORT crew will miss Marc, but we look forward to reuniting in a few months to celebrate his retirement. Senior Estimator Mark Stuessy has been a key leader in marine and heavy civil estimating since joining Manson’s Southern California ofﬁce in the late 1980s. After more than 30 years with the organization, Mark ofﬁcially retired in the Autumn of 2023.In 1988, Mark joined Manson Paciﬁc—a joint venture between Manson and Crowley Maritime—in Long Beach, CA, to help the estimating department secure projects in the Southern and Northern California regions. Known for his hard work and determination, Mark established himself as a solid estimator who built strong relationships in the industry, garnering respect from Manson clients, JV partners, vendors, subcontractors, and colleagues, including current Manson President John Holmes. “Mark’s reputation of being fair and ethical has earned him high respect from his peers,” John says. As he gained experience, Mark landed the position of Senior Estimator, leading pursuits to secure high-proﬁle projects for Manson including the Middle Harbor Redevelopment Project, a multi-phase project that overhauled the Port of Long Beach into their ﬂagship model as the “Port of the Future,” as well as other large maritime projects at the Port of Los Angeles and Naval Base San Diego.In his retirement, Mark looks forward to spending quality time with his family and has plans to travel to Wisconsin and Hawaii. Fun Fact: Mark is a shareholder of the Green Bay Packers NFL football team. Mark’s great smile, friendly approach, and “Aloha Spirit” will be missed by those who worked with him for many years.A big “Mahalo” to Mark on his retirement!RetireesMARK STUESSY—SENIOR ESTIMATORWRITTEN BY | JOHN HECKEL—CORPORATE ETHICS & COMPLIANCE OFFICERMARC BISSONNETTE—2ND MATEWRITTEN BY | JAY MAYES—NEWPORT CAPTAINJen Stuessy (daughter) and Mark Stuessy enjoying the holiday festivities at the Long Beach ofﬁce.PHOTO CREDIT | LONG BEACH OFFICE25PHOTO CREDIT | JUAN VALDEZ—DREDGE OPERATIONS MANAGER.The NEWPORT crew celebrating Marc’s retirement. (L-R) Ulysses Viñarta, Matt Urquhart, Byron Rye, Chris Dolan, Dylan Gooch, Dale Sweeney, Marc, and Jay Mayes.Winter 2023 | Manson Navigator

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Manson Navigator | Winter 202326Bob Davila and I ﬁrst met when I joined the cutter suction dredge H.R. MORRIS crew as an apprentice more than 20 years ago. A long-time Manson employee, Bob was very knowledgeable in dredge operations and was my mentor early on in my career. We worked on several memorable projects at Manson, including the repowering of the H.R. MORRIS in 2009. When I took the role of chief engineer on the dredge, I called Bob daily for advice, and he answered every call. Over the years, we’ve become close friends because of our common interest in several hobbies, especially our love of motorcycles. Bob and I have had many laughs over the years, with my favorite memory being of us getting lost on the road. One day, Bob and I decided to go to a gun show on our day off. I told Bob that I would grab my Garmin GPS device so we could map out our destination, but he waived me off on that suggestion on account that he had served in the military and therefore was a “sharp navigator.” After driving for some time, I realized we were on the road much longer than we should have been. I’m not sure if it was the fact that we were both too busy talking and laughing our tails off, but when we looked up, we saw a sign that read “Canada.” We quickly looked at each other, laughed, and turned back around. Bob bought a GPS after that trip. Many people would describe Bob as ethical, dependable, honest, hard-working, smart, and an all-around good person. He’s been a close-age father ﬁgure to me, offering professional and personal guidance for as long as I’ve known him. In his retirement, Bob plans to spend the remainder of his days with his two sons, Christopher and Bobby Jr., and his granddaughters, Isla and Lucy. Congratulations on a well-deserved retirement, my friend!MANSON PEOPLEBOB DAVILA—PORT ENGINEERWRITTEN BY | RON SLAVENS—CHIEF ENGINEER, H.R. MORRIS26A few members from the Long Beach ofﬁce and crew pose with Bob Davila during Safety Week 2018.(L-R) Ed Smith, Colin Oldham, George Atkinson, Bob Davila, Victoria Portnall, and Karissa Poitras.PHOTO CREDIT | LONG BEACH OFFICEFollow us:Join the conversationFollow Manson Construction Co. on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram for updates on projects, people, regional events, and history lessons about Manson’s legacy of building the nation’s marine infrastructure and waterways.26 Manson Navigator | Winter 2023

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