Interviewer(s): J. Sell. Houma, LA

Affiliation: University of Arizona

A significant number of people in government and business suggested talking to Kerry Chauvin, who is chairman and chief executive officer of Gulf Island Fabrication. The interview took place at the corporate offices near the main yard at the end of Thompson Road. His office is unpretentious, considering he is CEO and chairman of the board of a NASDAQ listed company. That, and small things like the worn boots in the corner, suggest an environment at the corporate headquarters that emphasizes hard work rather than pretense. The interview was easy going and open.

Kerry Chauvin grew up in Houma, and went away to college. After receiving a bachelor's degree in engineering and an MBA with an emphasis on banking, he went into the Air Force. Upon discharge from the military in 1973, he began working for Delta Shipyard (New Orleans), which opened a division in Houma. He stayed with Delta through thick and thin, as it evolved into Delta Services and finally Gulf Island Fabrication. When the Gulf Island investor group bought Delta's fabrication assets in 1985, Kerry was named general manager. By 1990 he was president and chief executive officer, and in 2001 he also added chairman of the board to his titles.

Gulf Island is a publicly traded corporation traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol GIFI. It has three primary subsidiaries: Dolphin Services, an inshore and offshore fabricator; Southport International, which makes offshore living quarters; Gulf Island MinDOC, which develops deepwater oil and gas production structures.