Posted on August 8, 2025
Newly appointed as Manson’s Senior Vice President and Dredging Manager, Mike Warwick looks back on his nearly 30-year career—20 of which have been spent helping shape the Gulf and East Coast Dredging (GECD) division with Manson’s leaders. This milestone is the culmination of years of dedication and growth within the company.
“I still remember my first day at Manson, stepping onto the hopper dredge BAYPORT,” Mike shares. “Meeting the captains and crew and seeing their enthusiasm for exchanging ideas about dredge operations was truly a warm welcome.”
Mike’s passion for the water stretches back to his childhood in Clearwater, Florida, where he chased his siblings along the shoreline, fished, water-skied, and spent summer days on the family’s 18-ft boat. These formative years near and on the water instilled in him a deep respect for nature.
“Once, my dad and I went fishing in weather we shouldn’t have braved, and we found ourselves navigating over 6-ft waves just to get back to shore,” Mike recalls. “That day taught me a lot about respecting nature.”
Both athletically and academically gifted, Mike excelled in school, earning varsity status in football and joining math and computer teams.
“I was always into football, but I also loved math and computers,” he says. “Compared to my teammates, I guess I was a little weird.”
Hoping to continue playing football while furthering his education, Mike applied to several East Coast universities including the U.S. Air Force Academy (AFA), University of Alabama, and University of Florida (UF), receiving acceptance to all.
“AFA was my top choice because I wanted to play football and maybe consider a military career,” Mike explains. “But at the last minute, I opted for UF to stay closer to home and pursue engineering. Plus, I wasn’t too fond of physical training in the morning before breakfast.”
At UF, Mike decided to focus on mechanical engineering, immersing himself in courses like statics, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics. Determined to gain practical experience, he secured three consecutive summer internships with Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (Great Lakes).
“Internships let students bridge the gap between theory and real-world application,” Mike says. “You can learn in the classroom, but nothing compares to hands-on experience.”
During one of these internships, he met Jim McNally—now Manson’s President and CEO.
“I was printing drawings on a plotter for an assignment,” Mike remembers. “Jim walked in, unplugged the plotter to connect his laptop, and that was our introduction.”
Mike Warwick and his son, Will, at Manson’s Jacksonville Office in 2009. Did you know?: Will worked as a yard laborer in Manson’s Jacksonville office in 2024 before starting college. Photo credit: Manson Marketing Department
Mike’s work on CAD drawings for dredging projects during his internship was valuable, but he craved something beyond the computer screen. When he learned some civil engineers had spent their day out on a jobsite, he knew he wanted to make a change.
“That was when the lights turned on,” Mike says. “I realized I wanted to work outside and I switched my degree to civil engineering.”
After graduating with a degree in civil engineering, Mike joined Great Lakes as a field engineer. His first assignment took him overseas to Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, where he tested dredging and hydrographic software at a tank farm project.
“I spent six months in Fujairah, evaluating HYPACK software for future projects,” Mike recalls. “Then I moved up the coast to Khor Fakkan for another dredging job.”
Nearly a year in the Middle East was followed by a stint managing dock construction and dredging operations in Venezuela, where he first met Michael Coakley, who is now Manson’s Gulf and East Coast Equipment Manager. Upon returning to the East Coast, Mike oversaw dredge production in New York, contributing to numerous successful projects. Eager to expand his knowledge and stay sharp in every aspect of his profession, Mike returned to UF to pursue a master’s in business administration.
“Mike built a reputation as a brilliant young dredge production engineer,” Jim says. “He’s a true dredging enthusiast who is always engaged with the technical side of equipment and continuously learning from every book and publication on the subject.”
In 2005, Mike took a position with a New Orleans dredging contractor, but the role was cut short by Hurricane Katrina. After a temporary relocation to Florida, he met Dan Hussin, Manson’s Vice President of Business Development, during a project walkthrough in Jupiter, Florida.
“Dan told me Manson was planning on opening a Jacksonville office,” Mike recalls. “My company planned to return to New Orleans, but given the state of the city, I discussed options with my wife and decided to apply to Manson.”
Mike joined Manson in late 2005 as a production manager supporting the dredging division.
“The Jacksonville office wasn’t ready yet, so I worked out of a field office on the Longboat Key Beach Nourishment project,” he explains. “That project introduced me to many great people at Manson, who welcomed my ideas and fostered open communication.”
By February 2006, the Jacksonville office opened becoming Mike’s permanent base. He began building a skilled team, advancing Manson’s GECD estimating and dredge production to win new work.
“Mike interviewed and hired me as a field engineer in July 2006,” says GECD Estimating Manager Kyle Howell. “He quickly became my mentor, guiding me to estimate dredging projects and making it my mission to help secure work for our dredges.”
Mike’s leadership has enabled the team to provide comprehensive support for marine construction and dredging projects nationwide. Many of these engineers have gone on to advance through the company into management positions, especially for Project Sponsor Zach Chester, who recalls being recruited by Mike and Survey Engineer Donnie Smith at a career fair at Florida Tech 20 years ago.
Mike Warwick (second from left) aboard the cutter suction dredge ROBERT M WHITE with several members of Manson’s leadership team in 2018. Pictured (L-R): Brandt Stagni, Mike, Joe Gonzales, Jim McNally, John Roques, Henry Schorr, John Holmes (retired), and Jeff Arviso. Photo credit: Manson Marketing Team
“From 2006 to 2013, I had the opportunity to work directly under Mike in several roles, including field engineer, project engineer, project manager, and eventually engineering manager. Even after moving on from his direct supervision, I’ve continued to view Mike as a mentor and often turn to him for advice when facing challenges.”
Over the next two decades, Mike has made it his mission to attract talented engineers and shape the GECD Estimating team and the Production Engineering group. Absorbing a great deal of knowledge from Jim (who later joined Manson in 2009) and Special Projects Manager Henry Schorr (formerly GECD Manager), Mike has helped to maximize dredge production by training engineers and dredge personnel on the theoretical and practical aspects of dredging, which covers estimating, cutting, pumping, coverage rates, and cycle times—the scientific backbone of dredge project planning. This collaborative approach has been especially valuable in expanding the division’s project portfolio along the Eastern Seaboard.
In 2012, Mike was appointed Vice President – Dredge and Engineering Manager. He later assumed the role of Chief Engineer of Dredging in 2021.
In the summer of 2025, Mike was promoted to Senior Vice President and Dredging Manager. This role oversees all of Manson’s dredging operations, combining Henry Schorr’s GECD Manager role and Jim McNally’s West Coast Dredging role.
With increased responsibility, Mike is optimistic about the organization’s future as he continues to mentor and shape the next generation of engineers and dredge professionals. These individuals will help drive project success for years to come.
“Mike has built a fantastic team in our Jacksonville dredge estimating and engineering group,” Jim says. “I’m excited to see him bring his technical and team-building expertise to his new coast-to-coast role. He’s got big shoes to fill as Henry Schorr prepares for retirement, but I have every confidence Mike is ready for the challenge. I look forward to working closely with him in the years ahead.”
