Team members are the core of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Registry. In the first half of 2025, we recognized and celebrated Sandra Menefee (Reston) on her 35-year milestone anniversary; KC Samuel (Majuro) and Scott Sisk (Reston) on their 25-year milestone anniversaries, and Mike Timmons (Reston) on his 20-year milestone anniversary.
Sandra Menefee joined the organization 35 years ago as a Seafarers’ Documentation Specialist. Over her tenure, Sandra has helped the department transition to electronic processing systems and grow from 50,000 to 250,000 seafarer documents processed annually. Colleagues noted that tens of thousands of seafarers have had their documentation processed, reviewed, and shipped by Sandra over the years.
“Simply put, our seafarer documentation production efficiencies would not be what they are today without people like Sandra,” said Captain Bob Fay, Senior Vice President, Maritime Operations who oversees the Seafarers’ Documentation Department. “She has constantly learned new technology and processes, helping others do the same, and mentoring new team members. She thrives in new environments and is a leader in our Seafarers’ Department.”
Sandra’s dedication to the team extends beyond the office. In the early 2000s, Sandra played second base for the company softball team, and her children often cheered from the stands. She’s also a regular at organizational picnics and social activities, fostering a sense of community among her colleagues.
“Sandra’s always been involved in community and company activities. When we had a softball team, she would hardly miss a game or practice, even with young children and a busy family schedule,” said Bob. “She is the kind of teammate everyone wants to have – personable, dedicated, and always looking a challenge straight in the eye.”
Another teammate, KC Samuel, celebrated 25 years in the first half of 2025. KC started with The Trust Company of the Marshall Islands, Inc. (TCMI) as a receptionist in 2000. Over the years, KC grew in her responsibilities and now serves as a Corporate Specialist working with business entities worldwide.
“KC brings ‘bigger picture thinking’ to everything she does. She not only does her best but thinks outside the box to find new solutions,” commented Baron Bigler, Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Affairs in Majuro.
“I am appreciative of the opportunities to grow and expand my role,” KC noted as she reflected on her tenure. “The management and leadership of team TCMI has encouraged me to be creative and grow as a professional.”
Senior Special Projects Coordinator, Scott Sisk, also celebrated 25 years in early 2025. Scott joined the Reston office in 1999 as a temporary employee to assist during an internal reorganization. Scott’s specialized skills, especially in handling data, have made him an asset to several different departments over the last 25 years. He built the Inspections Department database before shifting to Radio, Marine Safety, and Vessel Administration. In 2016, he moved to the marketing team, where he handles internal and external research requests, manages and analyzes data for internal decision making, and drives trend analysis for the organization. Scott also serves on the Fleet Operations Team, supporting database operations in consultation with the information technology team.
“Scott is an incredible asset to our global team,” commented Laura Sherman, Director, Marketing & Communications & Operations Technology Officer. “He navigates IRI’s huge collection of data and knows how to find the information, whether for internal research or external requests. His knowledge of our database and operational systems gives our fleet operations team, senior leadership, and other operational departments the data they need to make informed decisions.”
Also celebrating a milestone anniversary is another data focused teammate, Mike Timmons. Mike joined IRI in 2005 as a programmer, hired to build new databases and connections between existing data systems. Integral in the transition to Oracle Services, Mike also worked on coding projects for various departments, developing the architecture for today’s database systems. In 2017, he was promoted to Director of Financial Systems & Reporting where he oversees financial analysis in support of business operations. In this role Mike supports senior leadership, accounting, and financial request related to compliance with international taxation regulations, financial management, and internal decision making.
“As a company, we talk about helping our clients make informed decisions. Internally, we want to do the same thing, and Mike plays a key role in getting us the information and data we need to make those decisions,” said IRI President Bill Gallagher.
