Gary Poirrier: 25 Year Anniversary 

Associated Terminals and Turn Services has been a leader in the maritime industry as we have provided outstanding services throughout the past three decades. This is all thanks to our team of highly skilled and experienced professionals and our top-quality vessels and equipment. While each one of our team members is essential, we recognize that much of our company’s growth can be attributed to our leaders! That said, we would like to give thanks and celebrate Gary Poirrier for his 25 years of dedication to the Associated Terminals. 

Gary received a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Louisiana State University and passed the Certified Public Accounting examination after graduation. Prior to joining the Associated Terminals team, he held the positions of Commercial Lender and Vice President team at Bank One.  

Associated Terminals was founded in 1990 by David Fennelly and Danny Barker who grew the company exponentially over the years with continuous acquisition of barges and cranes. In 1997, David had asked Gary Poirrier to help him put together a financial plan to purchase two large Manitowoc 4600 cranes—Associated Terminals’ first major acquisition. Gary then joined the Associated Terminal team as a co-owner in 1998. He moved on to become Vice Chair of the Company following the Turn Services acquisition in 2004. The purpose of this partnership was for the Group’s marine service offering to include towing, fleeting services, and barge-related services. Today, Gary holds the role of co-owner and chairmen for Turn Services.  

Gary’s dedication to Associated Terminals and Turn Services has paved way for us to become the premier providers of marine services in the Gulf South Region, with its primary concentration being the Lower Mississippi River from the mouth of the river up to and including Baton Rouge, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway the Houston area. When Gary joined Associated, our team consisted of about 30 members. Today we have a team of 1,000 members. Presently, we own and operate 14 Gottwald Cranes, a floating midstream grain elevator, and many crew boats and pull boats through Turn Services. and are known as a premier provider of marine services in the Gulf South region. 

Gary has been a determined yet optimistic leader for the companies over the past two and a half decades. He has helped the team persevere and adapt through Hurricane Katrina, the 2008 recession, and the Covid-19 pandemic. Gary has led the Associated team to not just overcome and recover, but to take such challenges as an opportunity to evolve and improve. Gary’s hard work has been recognized in the Top 20 Port & Maritime Power List 2023 by New Orleans City Business! 

Gary remains committed to upkeeping safety protocols, growing and evolving with our team, and maintaining Associated Terminals and Turn Services’ stellar reputation as the lead operator of the Lower Mississippi River. Thanks for all you do, Gary. Congratulations on this milestone anniversary!