Alumni
Five alumni returned to campus to participate in a relaxed panel discussion about
their careers and what present undergraduates can do to prepare for their futures.
Travis Fergola '10, Amanda Laney '10, Mike Huffman '08, Nate Bears '08,
and Marcel Muise '95 all agreed that MMA had given them good starts to their
careers and that the MMA "alumni network" was a phenomenal advantage.
Amanda Laney spoke of
having a job that she liked in
California. However, she missed
Maine. Because she had had an
internship at Cianbro when an
MMA undergraduate, she was
headhunted by Rebecca Daly
'07 of Cianbro, and soon found
herself back in Maine. Travis
Fergola '10, a Mariner football
player, was attracted to MMA's
small class sizes and close contact
with professors. He, too, found
himself in California wishing he
could be in Maine. He called an
MMA alumnus and, thanks to
that contact, is now working in
Maine. He said, "No one in this
room has to go without a job.
Just keep up your contacts with
alumni." Captain Mike Huffman Travis Fergola `10, Amanda Laney `10, Mike Huffman `08, Nate Bears `08, and Marcel Muise `95
entered MMA after he already
had his 100-ton captain's license because he wanted more varied challenges. He told the large student audience to
"look around ­ you're going to see these people throughout your careers. Every one of them will help you and you will
help them." It's part of the MMA spirit. Captain Marcel Muise '95 spent much of his time overseas because of
their marine expertise. He suggested students "get off the bridge once in awhile and get training in finance, etc." to
broaden their skills. Nate Bears '08 transferred from University of Maine to MMA because he had seven friends at
the Academy who kept telling him what he
was missing. He got a job with Celebrity
Cruise Lines where he discovered that
The Changing Face
most of his fellow engineers were either
of Commitment
Bulgarian or Greek who spoke little or no
At Moran, one way we honor our commitment
to customer service, safety and environmental
English. Nevertheless, he learned a lot by
responsibility is to continually embrace change.
From our new dry bulk ATB, the Mary Ann-
watching and listening. Eventually, he
Virginia, to our Z-drive tractor tugs with high-
bought a self-teaching language program
speed 4-cycle engines -- from biodiesel fuel
usage, to our dynamic Safety Management
to study Greek. He told the MMA audience
System -- we engineer change to ensure
excellence and responsibility.
to "listen to everyone around you. Watch
Of course, some things never change: our adapt-
faces and hands because you'll learn
ability to customer needs, for example, and our
vigilance at sea. And the big white "M" -- here
even when others are speaking Greek!"
today, here tomorrow.
To learn what Moran can do for your business,
All five panelists landed on their feet
call us at (203) 442-2800, or visit us online at
after graduation, tried out different jobs,
www.morantug.com
built their alumni networks, and found
satisfaction in their present positions.
34 MARINER 2013 - Issue 2

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