Page 37 - Port of Baltimore - Issue 1 - 2023

It’s all about the people. We can’t do
anything without our tug crews, so having good people in the right places is key.”
– Mike Reagoso, General Manager & Vice President, McAllister Towing of Baltimore
“Then a friend told me about the maritime academy system,” Reagoso said. “I’d been around water all my life and figured that was a way to make a career out of it.”
In 1992, Reagoso joined the SUNY Maritime College in Fort Schuyler, NY. “After I graduated, I sailed tugs in Philadelphia for a bunch of different, smaller companies,” he said. “But
the job market was kind of tough, so I came down to the Bethlehem Steel shipyard in Sparrows Point.”
Two weeks after Reagoso arrived, Bethlehem Steel announced it would close within the year. “So I ended up
riding the ship down, as they say,” Reagoso said. After a few other jobs, Reagoso landed in his current position at McAllister Towing in 2005.
“I always really loved tugs, and this job offered as much of a 9-to-5 schedule as you can get in the maritime industry,” Reagoso said, adding that for someone with a young family, it was a smart career move.
Now, nearly 20 years later, Reagoso hasn’t lost his joy for the job. “Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been fascinated by these big, powerful vessels. There was always an allure to them for me. I’m still impressed by the vessels and by the people who operate them.”
‘It’s All About the People’
Looking back on his career, Reagoso said the most important lesson
he’s learned is that “it’s all about
the people. We can’t do anything without our tug crews, so having
good people in the right places is key. That goes for the constituents and stakeholders of McAllister as well. You have to have good relations with your customers, with agents, with the Port Administration and everyone you work with. I enjoy that part of it.”
Reagoso’s enjoyment of interacting with the maritime community is
also evident in his community involvement, including the role at
the Seafarers’ Center, which aims to welcome seafarers to the Port and advocate for their rights and well- being, and the one at The American
Waterways Operators, an organization that advocates for the U.S. tugboat, towboat and barge industry.
“The McAllister family has allowed me to branch out and be part of the community, which is tremendous,” Reagoso said. “Being part of the Seafarers and helping guide them in the right direction is especially fulfilling. Taking care of the Atlantic Region for the Waterways Operators is another area where I can help McAllister grow and prosper, and help the community as a whole.”
While Reagoso feels fulfilled in his current role, he always has his sights set on new challenges. “I’d like to grow within the McAllister organization as they have roles to fill,” he said.
When he’s not busy advocating on behalf of his industry and community, Reagoso enjoys going out on the
water with his family. “It’s a big part
of our lives,” he said. “It’s a bonding experience for us as a family. I have four children, so it’s important for my wife and I to have the family together.” 
Learn more about McAllister Towing at www.mcallistertowing.com.
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