Dennis Mottola is a Global Logistics Consultant based in Houston, Texas. He served as Bechtel Corporation’s global head of Logistics from 1997 until 2019. Dennis now supports shippers, logistics service providers, and other related entities by increasing knowledge, expertise and improving process and data efficiencies thereby creating opportunities for cost reduction, risk mitigation, and positive outcomes in global logistics management.

Thomas Damsgaard has enjoyed an exciting 30-year career in the shipping industry. After training with Armada Shipping, he earned his stripes in a succession of increasingly challenging roles in general and senior functional management roles for market leaders including the Clipper Group, Spliethoff Group, SAL and Scan-Trans. Damsgaard served as President of Scan-Trans before being promoted to Global Operations Director. Most recently, he was instrumental in establishing the Spliethoff Americas office in Houston, where he served as Vice President. As director at Inchcape, Damsgaard is responsible for leading the marine operations teams to excellence in North America, Central America and the Caribbean. An active member of the Houston maritime community, he fills leading roles on several boards, including the Houston Maritime Arbitrators Association.

Reiner Wiederkehr is the Chief Executive Officer of Fracht USA, part of the global freight forwarder, Fracht Group, with over 110 offices worldwide. Founded in 1955, Fracht Group started as a family owned project freight forwarder in Basil, Switzerland and has become one of the most regarded project forwarders globally. Wiederkehr believes in Fracht Group’s roots; family and service excellence. With 20+ years of logistics industry experience and holding Fracht Group’s values close to heart, is it no question how he found his way to be the CEO of Fracht USA.

Moving from Germany to the United States in 2002, Wiederkehr was essential in growing the Fracht brand in the US.  In 2004, he was promoted to Branch Manager of the Houston Branch, now the largest office in the US.  From there, Wiederkehr was appointed as COO in 2012, opening and supporting the growth of several new branches.  Today, Fracht USA has 13 divisions operating in 10 different cities across the US.  Wiederkehr believes that listening to the client’s needs creates the roadmap for Fracht’s future and drives steady growth and continual improvement.

Beyond the focus to build and develop creative solutions in air, ocean, land, rail and project cargo, he has worked strategically in supporting and developing specialized divisions and our newest subsidiaries, Solaris Global and FTS LLC, Fracht’s trucking division as well as Fracht Trade. Wiederkehr promotes innovative, tailormade solutions in answer to our client’s needs and attributes Fracht’s successes to the flexibility and dedication of his personnel to support our clients at every turn.

Fr. Sinclair is a priest of the Diocese of Beaumont, and a native of Port Arthur, Texas. He is currently the Diocesan Director of the Apostleship of the Sea, Permanent Diaconate Formation Program Director, and Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Orange, Texas. He is the Executive Director and Port Chaplain of the Port Arthur International Seafarers’ Center. He is the Chaplain to the Sabine Area Central Labor Council, and was the founder and director of the Savannah Housing Corporation from 1993-2013. As a canon lawyer, he has served a judge at the Tribunal of the Diocese of Beaumont, the Interdiocesan Appellate Tribunal of Texas and as a canonical consultant for a number of labor organizations.

He is one of the founders and is the spiritual moderator for the Catholic Labor Network, and works to revitalize the historical connection between Catholic Social Teachings and working men and women.

Fr. Sinclair is also a member of the United States Merchant Marine, and holds a merchant marine credential as AB-Limited, and holds a 100 ton near coastal master license. He sails through the Houston Seafarers International Union hall. In the summer of 2019, he signed on the Training Ship Golden Bear with the cadets of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy for 29 days.