West Gulf Maritime Association

Overview

The West Gulf Maritime Association (WGMA) is a nonprofit organization established in 1968 as a Texas nonprofit corporation. It was formed to unite steamship owners, operators, agents, stevedoring companies, and terminal companies across Texas ports and the Port of Lake Charles, Louisiana. WGMA is designated as a 501(c)(6) organization, which focuses on improving business conditions for its members but does not qualify for tax-deductible donations[3].

Mission and Activities

The primary mission of WGMA is to represent and advocate for its members in the maritime industry. It plays a crucial role in negotiating and administering multiemployer collective bargaining agreements with the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) in West Gulf ports[1][2]. WGMA also coordinates with various governmental entities to address industry issues collectively[4].

WGMA offers a range of services to its members, including:

• Payroll and Labor Services: Administration of payroll, grievance processing, training, and other labor-related activities[4].
• Communication and Advocacy: Coordination with governmental entities and representation of members on important industry-related activities[4].
• Informational Services: Providing a Daily Industry Update Report to keep members informed about news, events, and concerns affecting the maritime industry[4].
• Community Engagement: Organizing member meetings for networking and updates on industry developments[4].

Structure and Leadership

The organization is led by a team of key employees and officers. As of recent filings, Shareen Larmond serves as President, with Chelsea Egmon as Senior Vice President of Labor Relations and Niels Aalund as Senior Vice President of Maritime Affairs[3]. Other roles include Vice Presidents of IT, Accounting, and various directors contributing to the governance of the association[3].

WGMA operates under a board of directors, which includes several individuals from various sectors of the maritime industry, contributing to its strategic direction[3].