People are the key to all trading businesses, and Ocean Solutions is no exception. Our team has the innovation, expertise and drive that we depend on to grow our business.
Matthew LaFiandra
CEO, PRESIDENT, and CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER
Mr. LaFiandra is a seasoned executive and manager with experience in commodity supply chains and logistics. Mr. LaFiandra received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of California – San Diego and a Masters in Engineering Management from Duke University.
James Ronan
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Mr. Ronan has significant commercial experience brokering derivative products, developing new markets, and managing brokerage teams. Mr. Ronan received his Bachelor’s degree from the United States Merchant Marine Academy and was a Captain in the United States Marine Corps .
George Dorsey
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, DIRECTOR (MEMBER)
Mr. Dorsey has over 40 years of experience trading physical commodities and investing in companies active in oil refining, chemicals, solid fuels, minerals, and metals. Mr. Dorsey is a founding member of WestWater LLC, a twenty year investment in the water industry, now serving government and industrial clients from offices in AZ, ID, WA, CO, and CA. Mr. Dorsey served as a group vice president at Duke Energy and Traxys where he managed the solid fuels, petrochemicals, emissions credits, and related activities. From 2008-2016, Edgewood Holdings served the Federal Government of Canada providing the senior management over all activities at Terminals (a Federal Crown Corporation), where Mr. Dorsey fulfilled the role of President and COO. During the Edgewood administration, the facility enjoyed a complete refurbishment of existing infrastructure ($240 million), developed an LPG terminal that will require $500 million dollars investment, while increasing cash reserves by more than $105 million.
Mr. Dorsey also has significant experience on Wall Street and has served as an operating advisor for a number of private equity firms. He was instrumental in the acquisition of Coffeyville Resources out of the Farmland bankruptcy by Pegasus Capital Management, the acquisition of the Traxys Group from Arcelor by a consortium of private equity investors, and other similar transactions. Mr. Dorsey has a BA from the University of Vermont and studied China in the Asian Studies Masters program at the University of Kansas. Mr. Dorsey has also participated in Harvard Business School executive courses.
Andres Duarte
DIRECTOR (MEMBER)
Mr. Duarte has over 40 years of experience trading and brokering physical commodities primarily in Latin America and the Caribbean. He has founded a number of companies including Duarte Vivas & Asociados, C.A., a trading and representation company focused on Venezuela and Latin America. In this role, he has served as a representative agent for large multinationals including DeLa Rue Group, The Royal Mint UK, and Bunge. In addition, he has served as the Consul General in Venezuela for the Republic of the Philippines. Mr. Duarte has a BA from Ohio Wesleyan, an MS in Petroleum Geology from University of Oklahoma and an MA in International Affairs from Tufts. Mr. Duarte is also a member of the board of trustees at Ohio Wesleyan University.
John M Schmidt
DIRECTOR (MEMBER)
John M. Schmidt is the President and CEO of McQuilling Partners Inc., a privately-owned marine services company delivering professional, reliable, and personalized transportation services to global clientele through 11 offices worldwide. The company was established in New York in 1972 with a vision of service and commitment to the maritime industry and has expanded to a global presence of more than 160 employees worldwide.
Mr. Schmidt is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY.
Ken Willig
DIRECTOR
Mr. Willig has been providing legal services and advice to lenders, investors and governments in the areas of international, cross-border and domestic energy and infrastructure projects for almost 40 years. Prior to forming his own boutique law firm. Mr. Willig was the Chair and/or founder of project finance and energy practices at three major international law firms and was a principal participant working with Sen. George Mitchell in the creation of DLA Piper, serving as the Global Head of its Commercial Group. His educational background in comparative law, civil law, as well as common law, has provided a unique perspective to his clients on the different aspects of legal systems and cultures outside the US, and their assessment of risk. Mr. Willig serves as an advisor to the International Journal of Law and Economics, is a former member of the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania and was a Mombusho Scholar at the University of Osaka, Japan from 1973-75. He holds a B.A. (cum laude) from Brooklyn College, a Ph.D in comparative legal history and a J.D., both from the University of Pennsylvania.
