In Changes Simonelli is President of Dredging Operations at GLDD; Lowry Leaves Company
On April 20 Great Lakes Dredge & Dock announced that the position of chief operating officer had been eliminated effective immediately. A new position president of Dredging Operations was created with responsibility for all aspects of domestic and international dredging operations.
David Simonelli has been promoted to president of Dredging Operations and Richard Lowry who was chief operating officer has left the company.
Simonelli joined the company in 1978 as a field engineer and since then has served as project manager for domestic and international dredging projects. He was named a vice president in 2002.
He was involved in putting project cost improvements into place and especially in the establishment of the company’s incident and injury free (IIF) safety culture.
Simonelli holds a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Rhode Island and is a member of the Hydrographic Society the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Western Dredging Association.
As a result of the strategic restructuring Richard M. Lowry who has been chief operating officer of Great Lakes since 1991 has left the company. The board and management thanked him for his many years of service during which he played a major role in the growth of the company’s domestic dredging business and its reintegration into international dredging markets.
Doug Mackie president and chief executive officer stated “The growth we have achieved in our dredging business particularly in recent years by increasing operational capacity has been impressive. We also have expanded our customer base by penetrating new international markets. Our demolition services business NASDI and our sand and stone supply business Amboy Aggregates have enabled the company to diversify into markets not subject to the same operating dynamics which characterize our core dredging business.
“Our strategic vision is to seek growth opportunities in our existing markets while exploring new opportunities outside of our existing business base. Each of the operating presidents will continue to report directly to me with accountability for all aspects of their operations. The combination of the high level of talent in our operating groups coupled with our ability to finance expansion when returns meet our risk-adjusted threshold provides an opportunity for each of the group presidents who are seasoned leaders to opportunistically pursue growth in new and existing markets.
“I am confident this restructuring will enhance the entrepreneurial spirit which we strive to instill in our organization. The company and all its stakeholders stand to benefit considerably from this change and can be confident our group leaders exhibit the collective knowledge experience and expertise necessary to generate continued growth for our company.
“Finally I personally want to thank Richard Lowry for his many years of service and contributions to the company. Richard and I worked together for many years enjoying many successes. I wish Richard the best in his future endeavors.”
