Page 129 - Rukert - 100th Anniversary

attention to detail. According to Yvonne, regular communication with customers about their specific needs and preferences is the key to earning their ongoing trust and praise.
As it approached 40 years in service and discharge of over 35 million tons of cargo, the sturdy PECO bulk unloader crane at Pier 5 received some essential maintenance and updating. In 2019, after a complete paint job and replacement of some steel components, Rukert Terminals hired Richmond Engineering to upgrade the crane’s drive and intelligence systems. These upgrades allow the Crane Crew to monitor and troubleshoot issues on a laptop by remote, rather than making middle-of- the-night trips to Canton.
In late 2019, five years after acquiring it from the MPA, Rukert Terminals sold Pier 1 on South Clinton Street to Talton Marine Terminal,
a privately-owned company that specializes in layberthing of government and commercial vessels. Vice President Jason Loveland is credited with bringing Talton Marine to Rukert Terminals, initially for a short-term layberth lease for one vessel. When Talton Marine expressed interest in
a long-term lease to dock additional vessels, Vice President Shaun Rukert suggested that Rukert Terminals sell the pier to them instead. This was an unorthodox proposal for a company that had only sold two properties in its history and had never sold property in Canton. The executive team identified several advantages to selling the property. Rukert Terminals had no plans to use Pier 1 as an active cargo terminal. It had purchased the property
in 2014, primarily to keep it from commercial developers. However, the zoning code adopted
by the city in 2016 designated the property for maritime industrial use only, making it less crucial that Rukert Terminals own it. Above all, the sale
PART II BRINGING THE WORLD TO BALTIMORE
to Talton Marine transferred the pier maintenance costs to the new owner, allowing Rukert to focus on its cargo-handling operations. In the deal, Rukert Terminals retained the surrounding half-acre of waterfront property.
On December 30, 2019, Evan Nastalski was promoted to Vessel Operations Manager and Matthew (Matt) Miller was promoted to Terminal Operations Manager. Evan and Matt had joined Rukert Terminals in 2015 as Management Trainees. They are part of the company’s future management group that will also include Brody Blessing and Andrew Gray.
Master Electrician and former Crane Department Manager Joe Ey retired on May 22, 2020, after 39 productive years at Rukert Terminals. Joe’s handiwork is on display throughout the terminal; he took the lead on running wire and installing lights at Lazaretto and in several Rukert warehouses. Joe will always be linked with the PECO crane, key to the company’s exponential growth over the last four decades.
June 1, 2020, marked Chief Executive
Officer Norm Rukert’s 60th year with the company. Exactly one year later, he celebrated his 80th birthday. Like his grandfather did and his father hoped to, Norm was still planning and building at 80. But unlike Cap and Norman Sr., Norm always avoided the limelight. He downplayed both major milestones, packed a sandwich, and just showed up for work. Nonetheless, Norm’s achievements deserve celebration. He has been a principal contributor to six decades of prosperity, during which time sales increased 2,000 percent.
Norm’s living legacy is visible on both sides of South Clinton Street. Since being promoted to Vice President in 1972, Norm has been involved in the construction of 18 warehouses along that stretch. He has also overseen the building of offices, sheds,
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