Crowley Announces Promotions in Jacksonville and New Jersey

Crowley Maritime Corporation’s Puerto Rico liner services group announced that Ken Orben is being promoted to general manager of terminal operations in Jacksonville, Fla., and Karen Dempsey is being promoted to director of port operations in Pennsauken, N.J., effective Jan. 1. 

Orben, a 27-year Crowley veteran and current director of port operations in Pennsauken, will relocate to Jacksonville and report to John Hourihan, senior vice president and general manager, Puerto Rico services. Dempsey, who has been with Crowley for 32 years and is currently manager of port administration in Pennsauken, will remain based there and report to Orben. 

Orben will be responsible for all aspects of land operations including line and staff functions, ocean terminal and related container yard and container freight station operations, stevedoring, yard, car, and gate operations, safety, security and the transition to new technology. In addition he will maintain relationships with union leadership, stewards, and employees through administration of company policies and collective bargaining agreements.

“Ken and Karen bring a wealth of experience to their new roles,” said Hourihan. “I know they are looking forward to continuing to ensure our terminals run at peak efficiency, with a focus on safety and environmental stewardship.”     

Orben joined Crowley in 1987 as manager of port operations and has held positions of increasing responsibility in the operations area during his tenure with the company. He was promoted to director of port operations earlier this year. Orben earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Norwich University. 

Dempsey joined Crowley in 1982 and served in managerial roles in port documentation and traffic until being promoted to manager of port administration in 2005. 

Jacksonville-based Crowley Holdings Inc., a holding company of the 122-year-old Crowley Maritime Corporation, is a privately held family and employee-owned company. The company has six operating lines of business: Puerto Rico Liner Services, Caribbean and Latin America Liner Services, Logistics Services, Petroleum Services, Marine Services and Technical Services.