Shipboard Project Manager Will comes to LMS and GEM from a civil engineering and construction management career. Originally from O’Fallon, Missouri, just west of St. Louis, he was tipped to the position by one of our teammates. Following some contemplation, he decided to shock himself into the culture change of Fort Lauderdale, FL, and cruise around the world.
“I honestly was not one-hundred percent sure what to expect when I jumped into this, as I had never worked in the cruise industry before,” he admits. “I can say some aspects are similar to what I expected. However, this role is unlike anything I have ever done.”
As with our shipboard teammates, he works remotely when not on board. He lives in Kansas City, getting the best of the middle of the U.S. and around the globe.
Honningsvåg, Norway
Life Aboard a Cruise Ship
As a shipboard project manager, Will supports Princess Cruises personnel and the MedallionClass® front-end/back-end systems daily. Communicating system health status to stakeholders and managing issues is part of the task.
“I work closely with many officers and crew members onboard to understand the functionality of systems and applications in place. We resolve issues and problems. We coordinate and communicate changes and facilitate day-to-day operations.”
Before his first anniversary with GEM, Will had already made it as far as Antarctica. Travel is one of the obvious attractions to taking the role of shipboard project manager. Learning new technical skills and watching a global enterprise operate every day is another.
“My second favorite part of the job is the culture. There are not too many roles that give you the opportunity to meet and work with people from all over the world. Whether it’s on the ship or out in port, I am meeting new people every single day.”
From Missouri to Antarctica
Will graduated with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and a minor in Petroleum Engineering from Missouri S&T. Before graduation, he completed engineering design and construction management internships.
He began a career in construction management after graduation and spent several years in the field. The pandemic created an unexpected opportunity for a role in engineering design, which at the time made for a better work-life balance.
“I focused on technical skills, which is what I believed I desired at the time,” Will explains. “After six months designing electrical substation structures and their associated foundations, I found myself bored and looking for something a little more exciting.”
So Far, So Good
And that’s how LMS and GEM gained a new team member. He decided to make the big move south and join the xOps team. So far, so good for Will and the team.
He’s making the most of his time with GEM and Princess Cruises, traveling and meeting new people. He likes golfing and hiking in the warm weather, but nature and particularly snowboarding in winter are his things. He’ll be able to do that up north in his free time while continuing to enjoy learning and gaining life experiences cruising around the world.
Tallinn, Estonia
Trollstigen Road in Norway
So Far, So Good
And that’s how LMS and GEM gained a new team member. He decided to make the big move south and join the xOps team. So far, so good for Will and the team.
He’s making the most of his time with GEM and Princess Cruises, traveling and meeting new people. He likes golfing and hiking in the warm weather, but nature – particularly snowboarding in winter – are his things. He’ll be able to do that up north in his free time while continuing to enjoy learning and gaining life experiences cruising around the world.