Page 35: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 2018)

Siblings Peter Duclos, Carol Hegarty & John Duclos

Photo: Greg Trauthwein other, they are one unit. My father in his her is the personal connection she made aligned and it worked out.” Peter and

Meet the Family prime was amazing to watch, he had with people, whether it was an employ- Carol were still in school at the time, so

It is said that you can’t pick your fam- so much enthusiasm and charisma, and ee, a vendor or a customer. I try to do in 1983 John joined his parents at the ily but you can pick your friends. While that’s all he had when he took over the that, too, because I saw the loyalty that shipyard, located on seven acres on the the axiom likely holds true for a ma- company … plus years of experience.” it created.” deepwater Taunton River in Somerset, jority of the population, it appears that Peter is the Director of Business Devel- The personal connections at Gladding- Mass.

the shipyard sibling trio of John, Peter opment with a degree in Mechanical En- Hearn are only a part of the story, but While each of the siblings had their and Carol have gotten the best of both gineering from UMass Dartmouth and a a critical base to understand how this own path back to the family business, worlds, sharing a business connection “Masters in Catamaran” courtesy of his small Northeast U.S. boat builder has all started at the shipyard in their high and strong personal bond. The trio and world tour of shipyards when the compa- ? ourished while others have failed; an school and college years part-time, and their families all live in Westport, Mass., ny started building high-speed passenger essential ingredient that extends beyond all started with the same humbling task: on Buzzards Bay, the ? fth generation of catamarans as an Incat Designs licensee the Duclos clan to their employees and “We all cleaned the of? ce,” said Carol.

family living in the town. “The biggest in 1987; a tour to ? nd ‘best practices’ and customers alike. Today they form a formidable ship- lesson our parents taught us (to suc- bring them home to the shipyard for the It started in 1955 when George Duclos, building management team, well-educat- ceed in this business) is you have to get ? edgling business line. “When I graduat- chairman, at age 22 co-founded the yard ed and experienced with individual skill along,” said John, the oldest of the sib- ed from college I got delivered with the with Pret Gladding and Richard Hearn. sets that mesh well, rooted in humble lings and in charge of production, a grad- ? rst high speed ferry that we ever built in Nearly 30 years later in 1983 George beginnings that guide business and rela- uate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Acad- 1987, the Mackinaw Express.” bought out his partners, but before he tionships as they serve a cadre of loyal emy with a degree in marine engineering

Carol is the CFO but she, as do here pulled the trigger on the deal he called repeat customers while always scouting and a Masters in Naval Architecture and brothers, wears many hats, juggling ? - his eldest son John, who was working at new opportunities.

Marine Engineering from the University nances with human resources and regula- Bath Iron Works.

of Michigan. “If you get along, you can tory compliance, too. She has a Masters “My father called and said that the solve problems. We’re close as a family, in Finance and worked in the banking partners wanted to retire, and that he was

The Business we’re together outside of the shipyard, industry for nearly a decade before she trying to make a deal for the shipyard,” Since 1955, Gladding-Hearn has been but we try not to talk shop outside of the got the call from her mother, who was said John. “He said ‘if we do that, you’ll synonymous with pilot boats, having yard.” slowing down and needed her daughter have to come home.’” The call was ex- built more launches operating in the U.S. “My parents have an interesting rela- and her ? nancial acumen inside the fam- pected as they had talked for years about than any other shipyard. Along the way, tionship that I admire,” said Peter, “My ily business. “My mother was amazing, the opportunity to run their own busi- the company has consistently invested in parents rely on each other, they help each and one of many things I’ve taken from ness, and according to John “the stars technology, facilities and partnerships, www.marinelink.com 35

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