Former Jensen Maritime president
and part-owner Sue Williams, who spent more than three decades helping to shape
the direction of the company, is retiring.
Williams joined Jensen in
1980 as a front desk manager, and by 1993, she had become the company’s president
and majority owner. She maintained that role until 2005, when Jonathan Parrott assumed
the position of president.
In 2008, Jensen was purchased
by Crowley Maritime and today the two companies share an office on Pier 17 in Seattle.
Jensen is now under the direction of Vice President Johan Sperling, who Williams
helped to hire in 2001.
Throughout the changes,
Williams remained on staff and in recent years has served the company as the director
of finance and a business analyst.
“What many people don’t
realize is that Sue is truly a self-made woman. She worked very, very hard to build
the foundation for the company that Jensen is today,” Sperling said. “As one of
the few women in this industry, she accomplished an incredible amount. It’s important
for us to take the time to celebrate her contributions to this company now that
she’s retiring.”
“Sue humanized Jensen,”
said Parrott, now vice president for all of Jensen’s new vessel designs. “She installed
the ‘family feel’ for the organization and was very personable and approachable.
Not only did we all have respect for her, but she earned it from so many in the
industry, as well. We are sad to see her leave the company but are grateful for
her efforts.”
Prior to working at Jensen,
Williams was in the accounting department of a marine equipment supplier. She studied
business at the University of Washington before earning a Bachelor’s degree in organizational
management from Northwest University.
