Our Consultants
The World’s Most Trusted Team of Marine Consultants
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
NORTH AMERICAN MARINE CONSULTANTS, LLC
Capt. Casey M. Herschler first joined North American Marine Consultants in 2011 as a marine surveyor, and has since been involved in numerous marine consulting, surveying and appraisal projects for a variety of clients in the operational, financial, insurance and private sectors.
Mr. Herschler concurrently works in government regulations and relations for a small, regional towing company on the Mid-Mississippi River. Previous employment includes positions as Director of Engineering at SCF Marine and as an architect with Clayco Construction in St. Louis, Missouri.
Mr. Herschler holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Southern Illinois University. He is a licensed mariner, with Master of Steam and Motor Vessels and Master of Towing Vessel licenses upon Western Rivers. He is a candidate member of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) and Co-Chairman of River Industry Action Committee.
KEITH J. WEBER, A.S.A.
Executive Vice President - A.S.A.
Keith J. Weber co-founded North American Marine Consultants, LLC to fulfill an industry need for knowledge-based marine surveying, professional appraisal analyses and brokerage of inland and ocean-going marine assets.
Since establishing North American Marine Consultants in 2009, Mr. Weber has authored appraisals for customers including Bank of America, BB&T Equipment Finance, Crowley Marine, The Dutra Group, SunTrust, Wells Fargo, PNC Bank, People’s Capital, Firth Third Leasing, Regions Equipment Finance, AIG Financial, and many more clients in the financial, insurance and private sectors.
Mr. Weber was previously employed at Merrill Marine Services, Inc. as the Director of Appraisal Operations. Prior to that, he worked as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at ADVANSWERS (a $500 million, multi-state division of Omnicom), and Vice President and Finance Director at D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles, Inc.
Mr. Weber holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance from Washington and Jefferson College, and a Masters in Business Administration from Washington University. He is an accredited member of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA), and a member of Financial Executives International and Financial Executives Networking Group.
Steven J. Bahnsen, NAMS-CMS Vice President - West Coast Region
Capt. Steven J. Bahnsen is Vice President of West Coast Operations for North American Marine Consultants, LLC. Mr. Bahnsen has worked in the industry since graduating from the California Maritime Academy in 1981 with a degree in Nautical Industrial Technology. He has conducted surveys of marine assets in major ports worldwide, including North and South America, West Africa, Europe and Southeast Asia. He is primary surveyor on the Columbia River, for the Port of Portland and throughout the Northwest Coastal area, and manages our West Coast and Pacific endeavors.
Prior to joining North American Marine Consultants, Mr. Bahnsen worked as a marine surveyor and consultant for Merrill Marine Services, Inc. in the Mississippi Delta and along the US west coast. From 1983 to 1998, he worked for The Dutra Group in various positions including Captain of the tugs “Harry B” and “Sarah Reed”, and Port Captain at The Dutra Group’s Oakland, California facility, where he was responsible for maintenance of USCG and ABS inspected / classed vessels.
Early in his career, Mr. Bahnsen honed his marine equipment operating skills working for the Masters, Mates and Pilots Union as a ship’s officer on ocean-going vessels.
Mr. Bahnsen is certified by the National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS), and is a member of the Propeller Club and Stockton Sailing Club.
NORA A. NAES, C-ASA
VICE PRESIDENT
Nora Naes has been with North American Marine Consultants since its inception in 2009, after previously working with its founding partners at Merrill Marine Services. She has over 25 years of experience in the marine industry, both in the office and in the field.
Ms. Naes is involved in all facets of the business. She tracks, researches, maintains and analyzes market and valuation data to ensure our appraisals are as accurate and informative as possible. Her many responsibilities include client outreach, brokerage services, bid management, vessel / site and cargo inspections, and the development of market, survey and appraisal reports.
Beyond her experience in marine, Ms. Naes served as an Account Associate with AON Risk Services – Mergers and Acquisitions Group, and in process safety development for multi-national clients at Process Safety Management, Inc. in Jacksonville, Florida.
Ms. Naes holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design from the University of Missouri – Columbia.
LEE ROHLFING, NAMS-CMS
VICE PRESIDENT - MIDWEST / EAST COAST REGION
Lee Rohlfing, a Certified Marine Surveyor with the National Association of Marine Surveyors, currently serves as Vice President of Midwest and Eastern Operations for North American Marine Consultants. He joined the company in 2018 after a 12-year career as a Marine Science Technician in the United States Coast Guard, where his positions included:
• Marine Inspector – Staten Island, NY , where he managed a fleet of approximately 300 towing vessels. He regularly inspected barges, towing vessels, commercial fishing boats, foreign freight vessels, tank ships and chemical bulk carriers, with particular emphasis on the transition to Subchapter M compliance, and conducted multiple investigations into marine casualties.
• Facility Inspector – Tampa, FL, where he managed federally regulated waterfront facilities in the Port of Tampa. Here he also implemented the Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC) program, conducted approvals for Regulated Facility Security Plans, Operations Plans and Facility Response plans, and was responsible for safe transfer practices of oil and hazardous materials between foreign ships and regulated facilities.
• Boarding Officer – Manama, Bahrain, where he served as Engineer of the Watch and primary Boarding Officer on a 110 fast response patrol boat, managed and overhauled the Hazardous Waste Operations program for ships stationed in the area, and educated Iraqi Marines in vessel boarding practices and security protocols.
• Pollution Inspector – Milwaukee, WI, where he served as a pollution investigator on the western shores of Lake Michigan and supervised ballast water collection and inspection of foreign vessels entering U.S. water jurisdiction.
• Fireman – St. Petersburg, FL, where he served as a member of the Engineering Department aboard a 210’ cutter engaged in counterdrug and counterterrorism operations in the Caribbean Sea.
Mr. Rohlfing holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the American Military University. While in the Coast Guard, he earned certifications in Marine Inspector Course, Shipyard Competent Person, Commercial Fishing Vessel Course, Uninspected Towing Vessel Course, Seaport Security/Antiterrorism Course, Marine Science “A” School, and was accepted to the US Navy Deep Draft Sea Marshalling Team.
Aaron P. Foster, USCG (Ret.)
MANAGER - GULF COAST REGION
NAMC welcomed Aaron Foster onboard full time in 2024 to manage operations in the Gulf Coast Region.
Before joining NAMC, Aaron served 27 years with the US Coast Guard, including 12 years as an Advanced Journeyman Marine Inspector. During his years as an inspector and surveyor, Aaron has conducted inspections on personal, commercial and industrial vessels of all types.
While in the Coast Guard, Aaron earned a BS in Environmental Science from the University of Maryland, University College.
On June 27, 2020, we lost our President and co-founder, James "Pritch" Pritchard. Pritch worked nearly 40 years in the marine industry and in 2009, followed his lifelong dream to establish North American Marine Consultants, LLC with partner Keith Weber. He was proud to watch that dream grow over the years.
Pritch was more than a boss, more than a co-worker; he was a beloved friend, father and mentor, and his loss is felt profoundly within our company and throughout the marine industry. We will miss him greatly, and will continually strive to honor his legacy by nurturing his dream according to his principles and vision.
