Jeffrey Stenberg ’82

Major at MMA: Marine Engineering
Extracurricular involvement while at MMA: APO, Summer Sailing
Employer: William Kramer & Associates

Where has your career taken you since graduation?

I have lived in New Orleans, LA; Kobe, Japan; Sydney, Australia; Long Beach, CA; Paramus, NJ; Westbrook, CT; Southwick, MA; Frankfurt, Germany; Granby, MA; Waterville, ME; Edgecomb, ME. However, for the past year I have been living in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Where my education has taken me? Well that is a different question. I have been around the world three times. I have been on ships, drill rigs, planes, helicopters (even crash landed in a helicopter on a drill rig), and pipe sleds. I have ridden a life-ring and net from the deck of a drill rig to an off-shore supply vessel below after making the crane operator very mad during a weight-certification test on the crane (it was the fasted free fall I have ever taken)! I have seen steel, aluminum, glass, semiconductors, micro-chips, natural gas, oil, plastics, paper, chemicals, diesels, steam turbines, combustion turbines, and transformers (both AC and DC) being manufactured, built, and repaired. I have been in a rare earth mine, and seen aluminum foil flying into the air when the press failed.

I have also been scared for myself and for others, but I believe I have responded by standing up for myself and for those less fortunate or victimized (at least I hope I did). I have been asked to take assignments due to my integrity and honesty. I have testified in court actions and been called to provide expert witness opinions.

In addition, I have failed miserably (on a “few” occasions). When this happened, I stood back up, shook the mud and dirt off, and tried again and again. I have taken responsibility for my actions (or lack thereof), and even taken responsibility when others took no notice of an issue. While I had these traits within me, MMA was the place that forged and focused those traits.

What is your current title and what are your responsibilities?

My current title is Executive General Adjuster. I act as the representative for property insurance companies after large and/or high hazard occupancies suffer damages.  I adjust losses at energy, power, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and mining facilities. I am currently focusing on adjusting losses at locations in Puerto Rico which sustained damages from Hurricane Irma and/or Maria.

Prior to this career, I have been a Surveyor for American Bureau of Shipping, as well as a boiler and machinery consultant conducting insurance loss prevention and jurisdictional boiler and pressure vessel inspections. I have held various commissions and licenses for boiler inspections, welding inspector, NDT inspections, ISO 9000 series auditor, and insurance adjuster.

I graduated with a BS in Marine Engineering and a 3^rd AE Unlimited Steam and Diesel license. However in 2010, I obtained my Captains license  after deciding I was a “deckie” at heart.

What piece of advice would you give to a student going into your field?

Work hard, study, and be prepared. If you don’t know something, admit it, but then go find the answer. Have empathy toward the organizations and people you are working with. Lead the process and deliver your honest, trustworthy self at every opportunity.

How did the MMA experience prepare you for both your prior positions and your current career focus?

MMA provided me with the ability to think critically and act proactively, to see the challenges before they come.

What are your goals for the future?

My goal is to be known as a fair, honest, fun person that worked hard and had a smile for everyone.