Mike Loeffel
CEO
M: +1 832 696 5052
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I graduated with Honors from SUNY Maritime College in 2007 with a degree in Marine Transportation. I began my career sailing onboard Chemical Tankers as a Third Mate and completed Stolt-Nielsen’s prestigious Operations Trainee program. I advanced through the ranks of Ship Operator, Senior Ship Operator, and Assistant Ship Broker at Stolt-Nielsen, where I gained valuable technical, regulatory, operational, and commercial knowledge during my 5.5years at the company. 

In 2012, I left Stolt-Nielsen to join Louis Dreyfus Commodities (LDC) in Wilton, CT where I was placed in charge of Global Ethanol and Molasses Chartering. In addition to procuring freight, overseeing operations and demurrage, and negotiating storage and thru-put agreements, I played an integral role in the trading of LDC’s domestic and international Ethanol position and helped grow their water born physical Ethanol movements from forty-thousand tons per annum to over a half a million tons per annum in just over a year. After 2.5 years at Louis Dreyfus Commodities, I moved to Houston, TX. to join Tricon Energy LTD. as Global Chartering Manager.

In April of 2016, I partnered with Tricon Energy Ltd. to found Lighthouse Chartering LLC, where I continue to work with the most dedicated, fun, and driven maritime professionals I ever had the pleasure to work with. 

I am the proud father of three young children, and I have the most awesome and supportive wife a husband could ever ask for. I love travelling, snowboarding, and pretending I am a professional DJ at least once a year. #DJ PaPa LoeFFeL. I am excited about continuing the growth and expansion of Lighthouse Chartering business, and I can’t wait to see where the future takes us. The journey has only just begun!!!

Melusina de la Cerda
Administrative Director
M: +1 832 891 3151
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With more of 15 years in the office management. I got my bachelor degree in Psychology and started my career in Monterrey, Mexico working for a multinational franchise, traveling to different cities and countries. In 2006 I moved to Cancun, Mexico to work for a 5 diamond hotel as operations manager position.

In 2007, I moved to Ulm, Germany to study the language and after 1 year I moved to Florence, Italy where I got married and opened my own business. In 2013, our family moved to Houston, Texas. My career on the shipping business started with Lighthouse being part of this amazing company!

As Lighthouse Administrative Director, I am in charge of all the accounting and billing, Directeur de Ski (for the annual ski trip), event coordinator, HR, Approval-Mamma and all day-to-day function of the office! (Latin Mamma in the end 😊)
I feel very proud to see the growth of the company and be part of this hard-working team!

Lover of coffee (only 100% arabica beans) and animals (all kinds), Hardcore Crossfitter! Love to spend my free time with my family and my 2 little dogs, shopping, traveling and cooking.

Josh Reicks
Senior Ship Broker - USA
M: +1 713 553 3634
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I Graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 2012 before going to sea as a third officer on U.S. flagged vessels. During my 6 years at sea, I sailed on various types of vessels to include offshore supply vessels, containerships, product tankers, and roll-on roll-off carriers.

Before coming ashore to work for Lighthouse in 2017, I had obtained my USCG Chief Mate License for unlimited tonnage and had sailed as a Chief Officer for 2 and half years

I started at Lighthouse working in operations assisting in the handling all post fixture matters. I later moved into more of a commercial role by managing all of Lighthouse’s Contracts of Affreightment (COA’s), and now I have transitioned in to working as broker on our chartering team while still commercially handling many of our COA’s.

I have really enjoyed my time at Lighthouse and love being a part of the hardworking, fun, and one of a kind culture that Lighthouse provides.

In my free time, I enjoy traveling, playing soccer, fishing, boating, and spending times with friends and family.

Bridget Shannon
Operations
M: +1 832 306 1474
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I started in the shipping industry in 2000 as a boarding agent with Biehl & Co working in Galveston – Texas City and later Mobile, AL 

While in Texas I concluded my maritime degree, and in 2007 I graduated from Texas A&M in Galveston with a Bachelor of Science in Maritime Administration degree. 

 My introduction into liquid shipping started with GAC Shipping in Pascagoula, MS and Houston, TX where I performed Hub handling and auditing for BP Shipping. 

In 2012, I began working for brokerage Clarksons Platou Shipping as COA Coordinator and Operations.

 In fall of 2020 I was there to take up the opportunity to work with the Lighthouse team and look forward to being a part of this energetic and dedicated group of people.

In my personal life I am an avid dog person with two English Bull Terriers that I train and handle in confirmation shows. When not working and playing with the dogs, my husband and I love to go camping and hiking. 

Scott Havard
Operations Manager
M: +1 713 553 1575
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After earning a B.B.A. with a concentration in Finance from Loyola University in Maryland in 2010, I started my shipping career with Colonial Navigation in New York City working in both operations and chartering roles. In 2015, I accepted a job with Laurin Maritime which brought me to Houston.

From 2015 to 2020 I was a vessel operator for Laurin and subsequently Team Tankers after they purchased Laurin Maritime.

Since January 2020, I have been working for Lighthouse Chartering in commercial operations. Lighthouse is a great place to be. Everyone knows how to work hard and have fun as well.

In my free time, I enjoy exercising, grilling, travelling and spending time with friends and family – especially my wife and our young daughter Lillian.

Jorgen Heje
COO
M: +41 (0) 79 512 3929
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I started my career as the Trainee on the chartering desk at Litasco in Geneva, Switzerland in 2002. Working as a Charterer I focus on chartering in and managing the company’s fleet in the clean and dirty tanker market. In 2009 I joined Barclays Capital in London, UK and worked under their shipping arm Pendle Shipping managing their MR time-chartered fleet. After 3 years at Pendle, I wanted to shift focus and broaden my horizon, so I took a year “off” to complete the Master of Shipping and Trading and Cass University in London while getting married and having our first child the same year.

In 2013 we moved to Singapore in order to get some experience of working in Asia and worked for Norgas Carriers. After a few years we wanted to come back to Europe so in 2015 we moved to Zurich Switzerland after being offered the position at Trammo AG overseeing liquid chartering activities for the group which largely consisted of Sulfuric Acid and UAN shipments. In 2017, I was lucky enough to be asked to establish Lighthouse Chartering Europe in Zurich. 

In my spare time I love skiing with my family in the winter and hiking in the mountains in the summer.

Nicolai Eger
Operations - Europe
M: +47 9763 3819
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After completing my degree at Maritime Business at Southampton Solent University UK in 2012, I started my career in Shipping.

My professional career started with Odfjell Tankers AS in Bergen as an Operations Trainee. After 1 year I became an Operator responsible for ships trading in SAFR, India and Middle East. After 5 years in Odfjell’s offices in Bergen Norway,  I started my work in Lighthouse Chartering Europe and been there since.

On my spare time I am a dedicated hobby chef and I enjoy hunting and fishing.

Lonneke Yntema
Senior Ship Broker - Europe 
M: +41 79 863 7376
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I started my shipping carrier 5 years ago and where better than in one of the biggest European ports, Rotterdam.

After finishing my Master’s degree in Maritime Economics and Logistics, I started working at Stolt Nielsen as a trainee with the end goal of becoming a ship broker. After gaining experience within the company, I was sent to Houston for over a year, where I expanded my network and knowledge working in different trade lanes. I knew by then that I was in this industry to stay. 

After 4 years at Stolt, I was hired by Clarksons in 2018 with the purpose of returning to Houston, this was just for a short year until Lighthouse contacted me to join their team in Zurich. The job felt as a perfect fit for me hence, since February 2019, I became a Lighthouse Keeper and started my new life in Zurich. Lighthouse Chartering has great potential and an incredible hard-working team, which I am very proud and happy to be part of.

The Helvetic city, besides the job, offers all the outdoor activities such as biking and hiking in the mountains, skiing, swimming in the lake… which I love. In addition, I am conveniently located to travel to my family living on Mallorca and back in The Netherlands. A perfect fit !

Yogesh Yeolekar
General Manager - India
M: +91 82910 13485
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My journey in the shipping industry started in the year 2010 when I was doing my Post Graduation from NMIS.

Got my initial first entry into MOL back office and then within few months in 2011 joined a well-established agency house as Jr executive operations, soon was promoted to Operations head level and continued there till 2016.

Then got an opportunity to work with Owners/Operators in 2016. After working with them for almost 18 months joined Tricon in Sept'2017 in Operations where I got a humongous opportunity to excel in my career.

And now in 2021 with great pleasure came on-board with Lighthouse with 10 years of experience in shipping which covers work experience at Agency house, Owners shop, Charterers desk.

In my free time I enjoy watching investigation series, always curious to learn new things.

All time pet lover.

Rajesh Kshirsagar
Operations-Mumbai
M: +91 88798 70680
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After my Graduations in Bachelor of Commerce from Mumbai University, I started my Shipping journey in the year 2006 with Custom House Agent as a Documentation/Office Assistance.

Next year, I got an opportunity to get more knowledge through training program about Shipping Industry from Berlian Laju Tanker,  Jakarta which helped to understand the basics of Commercial Shipping.

Post training next assignment was Intra Trade Projects Limited (Agency Division) in August 2007. Role was more about handling and managing smooth operation of vessels across the major India ports for various Principals. While working I perused Post Graduation Diploma in Shipping Management from Narottam Morarjee Institute Of Shipping, Mumbai (NMIS).

After 9 years at Intra Trade, in 2016 joined - GAC Shipping India. In GAC, while being assigned to handle operations of tanker vessels according to my past experience, got an opportunity to learn about LNG & Dry-Bulk vessel operations and the most exciting part was to getting involved in handling of Cruise vessels in Mumbai port.

Upon completion of successful 6 years in GAC, got an Opportunity to be a part of Post fixture team at Lighthouse Chartering in May'2022 and indeed it's a pleasure to come on board to work with most experience shipping Team.

In my spare time, it is always first choice to spend the time with family. I also like to explore new places