FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 14,

Contact: Emily Miller
Phone: 985-892-3216 ext. 23
E-mail: emily@sttammanychamber.org

The chamber heralded the achievements of the 2009 Community Leadership and Tammany Award winners during a premier video presentation.

Tammany Award Winner: Florida Marine Transporters, Inc.

Under the leadership of Dennis Pasentine since 1988, no other tank barge operator has built as many new barges and new push boats. On the way, FMT built a reputation as a safe and efficient operator and their family of employees has been a vital part of the FMT success story. FMT not only helps the community with philanthropic endeavors, but also with job creation, educational partnerships within St. Tammany and encouraging employees to be involved in community organizations and associations.

FMT’s ability to recruit and retain the best of the best is due to the family environment in which they work. FMT has over 800 employees and helps keep many other employees working through their partnerships in the community. One partnership that deserves special recognition is the specialized mariners training courses that many members of their staff participate in through Delgado Mariner Training School located in Mandeville.

In addition to supporting local community college efforts, FMT believes that the cornerstone of creating an economically viable, culturally rich and safe community is by being engaged within the community. Various members of the FMT staff are highly involved in community organizations and associations.

This year FMT’s staff continued to be committed to volunteer efforts and sponsored many worthwhile local organizations and causes including: Drew Brees Dream Foundation, St. Tammany Arts Foundation, Special Olympics LA, Fore Kids Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, MHS Football Boosters, MSC Boy Premier, FS Cheerleading, Saint Paul’s School, Lake Pontchartrain Foundation, American Cancer Society, Church of the King, SBBA, Turn Around Village, NBA, Ponce De Leon High School, Cub Scout Packs and The Children’s Foundation.

FMT takes great pride in having the newest most technologically advanced and environmentally friendly push boats and barges in the industry. The importance of preserving the habitat of a variety of wildlife, wetland recreation resources and the communities along the waterways has always been a focus of the company. FMT’s new tier two towboats operate with increased energy efficiency, saving fuel costs and reducing the planets green house gas footprint by approximately 5 million lbs. of CO2 per towboat per year. Their newest fleet uses additional steel in the construction process for extra protection of the cargo and to keep the community safe. FMT will have additional new barges and boats launched this year, and it expects to see growth through diversifying its business operation.