 
        
          January/February 2014
        
        
          ■
        
        
          
            The Port of Baltimore
          
        
        
          
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            41
          
        
        
          
            ]
          
        
        
          were retired. We then transitioned
        
        
          to receiving latex via containers in a
        
        
          bladder-type bag on charter vessels.”
        
        
          The latex is sent to customers who
        
        
          make it into different items such as
        
        
          carpet backing, mattresses, adhesives
        
        
          and dipped goods. “Our farm does
        
        
          produce block rubber that is used in
        
        
          tires, but only the liquid commodity is
        
        
          brought into Baltimore,” she added.
        
        
          Tomas has been a member of
        
        
          the maritime industry ever since she
        
        
          answered a “help wanted” ad about
        
        
          10 years ago and joined Unicco, the
        
        
          contractor for Firestone Natural Rubber
        
        
          Co. She’s been working directly for
        
        
          Firestone for the past seven years, and
        
        
          has developed a very positive relationship
        
        
          with the Maryland Port Administration
        
        
          (MPA). “It’s been great working with
        
        
          Jane Dorsey, Earl Cleaver and the staff
        
        
          in [MPA] Operations,” Tomas said. “They
        
        
          have been invaluable with organizing our
        
        
          vessels when they call the Port. It’s been
        
        
          so rewarding working for Firestone and
        
        
          at the Port of Baltimore.”
        
        
          The married mother of two young
        
        
          boys said that she loves “spending
        
        
          family time together.” She is also cur-
        
        
          rently working toward her degree in
        
        
          Business Administration and is a “huge”
        
        
          Baltimore Ravens football fan.
        
        
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          RATTAPON WANNAPHAT