Dan stevens

President

Over more than 35 years, PCS Owner and Founder, Dan Stevens, has established an unrivaled reputation for delivering high quality service and treating his employees fairly and with respect. This has enabled him to develop trust based relationships throughout the industry.

He began his career in 1982 rebuilding diesel engines for Western Branch Diesel. This led to Dan working on large cranes at Virginia International Terminals (VIT). He developed a reputation for reliability and high quality work. This led to Portsmouth Marine Terminal (PMT) offering Dan a job as a crane technician in 1987. Working in this capacity, he honed his craft—troubleshooting and repairing cranes. He became one of the best. As a result, Dan was promoted into a management position in 1998 where he was responsible for the large cranes for the entire terminal.

As an executive, Dan identified the need for a competent local company to maintain and repair equipment at the ports. In 2000, he left his position at PMT to start Port Equipment Services (PES). Because of Dan’s positive reputation, PES immediately began working at VIT and other east coast ports. As the company’s reputation for expertise and excellent service spread, PES grew at a rapid pace. The company’s overwhelming success resulted in the Virginia Small Business Administration presenting PES the “Small Business of the Year” award.

In 2007, PES was sold to Kalmar (a European crane company). Dan accepted a position as an executive where he was quickly promoted to the position of Vice President of the Service Americas Division. Dan and Kalmar agreed to an amicable separation and Dan founded PCS in early 2015.

Heather Bennett

Executive Director

Heather began her career as Executive Director for PCS in April, 2016. She brings with her a Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from the University of Phoenix and a double Bachelor of Science in Finance and Accounting from Old Dominion University. She is also working towards obtaining her CPA License.

She has done an exceptional job understanding and implementing small business practices and operations. In her short tenure with PCS, she has been able to learn and understand the containerized shipping industry, via the Ports and Railroad. She oversees the following departments: accounting, parts and inventory, operations and sales. She facilitates and organizes logistics of new projects, large and small. She has recently taken over the responsibilities of coordinating with the Port executive management team responsible for expansion efforts at the Port of Virginia.

In 2019 Heather was accepted into the Virginia Maritime Association's Maritime Leadership Certificate Program. This program will give her a comprehensive understanding of the maritime supply-chain industry, a network of key industry stakeholders, and critical leadership skills.

Cindy Latimer

Director of Administration

Cindy’s career began in the residential building industry in 1984, where she was the Homerama and Home Show Coordinator for Tidewater Builders Association. In 2001, she joined Dan at Port Equipment Service as the Office Manager. There she was an integral part of growing the business and establishing proper practices and procedures.

After the acquisition of PES, by Kalmar, Cindy continued her career coordinating small business practices into the global corporate world of Kalmar. Cindy was recognized as the most proficient user of the newly implemented SAP program, and was promoted to the SAP Coordinator in 2015. In February 2017, she joined PCS as the Office Manager. She is now the Director of Administration overseeing and coordinating daily PCS operational functions to include: streamlining management systems, monitoring budgets, supervising managers, improving business efficiency, and analyzing financial data.

Mike Ottaviano

Director, STS Cranes and Automation

Mike began his career in 1980 at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, where he completed the Industrial Electrician Apprenticeship. Soon after, Mike obtained his Master Electrician License. He recognized opportunity with the Port of Virginia and landed a position at Virginia International Terminals as an electronic technician.

In 2006, Mike was promoted to Foreman of the Crane Shop at Norfolk International Terminal. After a 25-year career with the Port, Mike decided to share his expertise with Kalmar, a Finnish crane company. In 2011 he became the Product Support Manager for Cranes where he gained global knowledge of ports and ship to shore crane operations.

In February 2017 he joined PCS as the Director of STS Cranes and Automation. Since joining, Mike has led several large projects to include building/commissioning of 4 CRMG cranes at Virginia International Gateway and SICK anti-collision software installation for several east coast customers. Mike is also an integral person in our training efforts. He shares his expertise with our technicians via on-the-job training.

Chris drake

Project Manager

Chris started his career in 2005 when he joined Dan at Port Equipment Service working as a technician. He continued working as a technician for Kalmar with a strong focus on electric and PLC systems.

Chris was quickly promoted to foreman I 2010 and led groups of technicians on various jobs and projects. As a foreman and SAP key user, Chris played a key role in helping Kalmar implement the industries newest and first ever Hybrid drive systems used in the shuttle carrier cranes that were purchased by the Port of Virginia in 2015.

He continued managing the warranty support efforts for the Hybrid systems until early 2017 when he joined Dan again as a project manager for PortRail Crane Service LLC. As project manager and valued member of the executive management team, Chris provides specialized technical support for the PCS team and is currently working alongside Konecranes in the delivery and commissioning of eighty-six automated stacking cranes purchased by the Port of Virginia, the largest crane order in US history. Chris is a certified fiber optics installer and technician. He works hand-in-hand with Kone on the fiber optics in the new cranes. Chris was also inducted into the VMA Maritime Leadership Certificate Program in June 2020.

Terry Duncan

Project Manager

Terry joined Dan in 2005 at Port Equipment Service as a technician working on container handling equipment. After two years he had developed a strong relationship with the Port managers and shortly after the acquisition of PES by Kalmar he was promoted to Service manager. He became a vital part of the Kalmar management team where, for 8 years, he was the Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager, providing warranty and after sales support for Kalmar’s container handling equipment. His region covered the Mid-Atlantic USA and English-speaking Caribbean. He managed a team of 17 skilled technicians that at a moment’s notice would travel wherever needed to provide customer support.

In February 2017 he left Kalmar and joined Dan Stevens once again at his rapidly growing PortRail Crane Service where Terry is a Project Manager and a valued member of the Executive Management Team. He now Supports the Liftec Trailer portion of the business and oversees the refurbishment shop where PCS rebuilds Wet Disk Brakes along with a wide variety of other rebuildable components from the equipment that PCS supports. Terry also provides customer support and is involved with all other segments of PCS’s business

Eric Tilton

Parts & Service Manager

Eric joined PCS in August of 2015 coming from the construction industry. He began as a technician and through hard work and perseverance, Eric was promoted to Parts and Service manager. In a very short time, Eric established great resource channels and the ability to get what needs in our high demand industry. He is responsible for all coordination between our technicians and our customers. He is the very best with Customer relations. Eric is a valued member of our Executive Team.