2025 MARITIME PERSON OF THE YEAR
The Propeller Club of Port Canaveral has named Randy May as Maritime Person of the Year for 2025. Since 1981, Randy has been an innovative leader in marine, rail, and truck terminal operations. His focus has consistently been on quality customer service while providing cost-effective services. He has an instinct for finding ways to improve operational efficiencies while prioritizing safety. His first firm was R&L May Steamship Agency, Inc., a ship agency and stevedoring firm that began in Port Canaveral, Florida. He also started a transportation company, a hold cleaning and ship repair company, a Customs House Brokerage, and ship supply company. Randy quickly saw a need at the port for a cargo terminal operator to handle freight ranging from heavy equipment exports to import and export of construction materials.
In 1994 Randy added two of his top employees as business partners. They officially renamed the business to Ambassador Services, Inc. The company quickly expanded to include ports in Jacksonville, Port Everglades, Tampa, and Philadelphia, with headquarters in Port Canaveral. Ambassador Services, Inc. grew from providing agency and stevedoring services only to include marine terminal operations, rail yard operations, warehousing, DOD contracts, and truck fleet operations. They also provided direct dockside repair and maintenance of vessels up to 74,000 GRT. Railside operations expanded from Cocoa, FL to Jacksonville, and Ft. Pierce. While expansions were achieved in support of continued cargo growth, the firm learned to react swiftly to downturns by industry, enabling them to grow beyond construction materials into agricultural products, ro/ro exports, and more. Randy is quick to give credit for ASI’s success to his workers and team members which led to an employee count of over 200.
Throughout the years, Randy led all new construction planning and design and materials acquisitions. He was also directly responsible for personnel supervision, preparing vessel charter contracts, and business development. He is well known for his service as a liaison between ship owners and/or charterers and government officials. He has assured compliance with governmental requirements in the U.S. and the Bahamas working closely with the U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, and others. Among the many firsts in his career, Randy started the non-union stevedoring movement on Florida’s East Coast. By 1983, his efforts enabled his non-union stevedoring firm to offer lower cargo and cruise ship passenger rates to their customers.
Port Canaveral is the 2nd largest cruise port in the world. Their current success is grounded in efforts of over 30 years ago when Premier Cruise Lines chose Port Canaveral as their homeport. Randy developed shoreside support services for Premier Cruise Lines offering non-union dockside services, warehousing, and ship provisioning. He also constructed and owned the 70,000 sq ft. office building that became Premier’s headquarters.
Continuing his dedication to the port and Brevard County, today Randy owns and operates multiple warehouses and office buildings both within and outside of Port Canaveral. He is also a partner in cruise related businesses in the area. In 2020 Ambassador Services, Inc., was sold and Randy became an investor in the new owner, Enstructure LLC, a cargo terminal operator which is now based in 26 ports. The Canaveral operation is their crown jewel, with the best productivity and operations.
In his personal life, Randy is devoted husband to Linda, the “L” in R&L May, and father to Linda, Donnie, and Josh and Pops to four fabulous grandchildren, Jason Sara, Kennedy, and Maxim. He is well known for his outstanding collection of artifacts, a hobby he began as a young boy. Congratulations to Randy May on this well-deserved recognition.
UPCOMING EVENTS
JUNE LUNCHEON
Join us Wednesday, June 4 at 11:30 am at Fishlips for our next luncheon. Our guest speaker will be Capt. Gus Andersson, AVP Royal Caribbean and former Captain of Utopia of the Seas and many other Royal Caribbean ships.
Register here: June Luncheon
KEVIN JOBES NAMED SOUTHEAST REGION MEMBER OF THE YEAR 2025 AND ELECTED SE REGION VICE-PRESIDENT
The Port Canaveral National Maritime Day observance was held on Saturday, May 24. The Propeller Club of Port Canaveral joined the Navy League, Cape Canaveral Council and the Space Coast Chapter, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni for this event. Navy League President Carl Cramb delivered remarks at the memorial ceremony. The Propeller Club and Navy League especially remembered our recently departed founding member Kurt Ronstrom during the ceremony. Kurt is a longtime leader in the Port Canaveral community. His wife Norma, son Karl and many extended family members were in attendance for the ceremony. Radm Wayne Justice, USCG (Ret) and Port Commission Chairman gave a harbor tour aboard Space Coast River Tour’s Blue Dolphin following the laying of a memorial wreath on the waters of the harbor. AMO (American Maritime Officers Union) President Capt. Willie Barrere gave an update on the SHIPS Act and recent executive orders aimed at the revitalization of the U.S. Maritime Industry and the much needed infrastructure renewal and renovations of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at the luncheon following the harbor tour. Thank you to U.S. Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral, E.N. Bisso & Son, Inc Towing and the Canaveral Pilots Association for the participation of their vessels.
REMEMBERING KURT RONSTROM: A LEGACY OF SERVICE TO THE MARITIME COMMUNITY
The Propeller Club of Port Canaveral mourns the passing of Past President and Charter Member Kurt Ronstrom, who passed away on January 9, just weeks before his 89th birthday. A devoted member of the maritime community, Kurt was also an active member of the Navy League, Cape Canaveral Council.
Born on the island of Gotland, Sweden, Kurt’s maritime journey began at sixteen when he went to sea, eventually becoming a Marine Engineer aboard Swedish cargo vessels. He served in the Swedish Navy for 1½ years before meeting his wife, Norma, in Miami. The couple married in 1959, and shortly afterward, Kurt was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving two years before becoming a U.S. citizen in 1961.
Kurt’s passion for ship repair led him to establish KMD Ship Repair, Inc. in Miami before relocating to Port Canaveral, where he specialized in servicing Navy vessels and cruise ships. His dedication extended beyond business—he played a key role in founding the Seafarer’s Ministry in both Miami and Port Canaveral, ensuring support for visiting mariners.
A true servant leader, Kurt was widely known for cooking lunches for visiting seafarers at the Canaveral Port Ministry, a tradition he upheld quarterly with support from the Navy League and the Propeller Club. He also led the Port Canaveral Maritime Day commemoration for over 20 years, honoring those who serve at sea.
In 2022, Kurt and Norma were recognized as the Propeller Club of Port Canaveral’s Maritime Persons of the Year, a well-deserved tribute to their lifetime of dedication to seafarers and the maritime industry.
The Ronstrom family is planning a private Celebration of Life. In his honor, the Propeller Club and Navy League will pay tribute to Kurt at this year’s Maritime Day event.
Kurt’s legacy of service, generosity, and dedication will be deeply missed but never forgotten.