Interviewer(s): Jason Theriot

Affiliation: University of Houston

Mark Foret is yard supervisor for Chet Morrison Contractors (CMC) fabrication division in Houma, Industrial Canal location. He has worked in the fabrication industry for 30 years. His father was a welder and he grew up in the industry. Began in fabrication at Delta Services Industries as a helper and worked his was up. After the bust, he was self-employed, later worked for Dolphin Fabricators and then came to CMC.

Company significance/history: CMC was one of the first companies to try the refurbish construction for shallow water marine construction and they have succeeded. Sixty percent of their business in refurbishing old equipment. They have attempted to lessen the labor shortage and support their expansion operations by setting up a training facility at their Vera Cruise, Mexico yard to bring in skilled laborers into Houma, of which 60 percent of workforce in Houma is Mexican. Vera Cruise is a city of 60k people who have the drive to learn fabrication but no industry to work in. CMC depends on migrant workers for their growth and stability; they have safety meetings in Spanish and utilized translators. Currently CMC at the Houma Industrial location is building six structures with 120 personnel.