Ian Hirt, Ports of Indiana

Ian’s love for the Great Lakes began as a teenager racing sailboats on Lake St. Clair and watching the ships loading iron ore in Marquette MI, home of his alma mater, Northern Michigan University. After graduating with a degree in finance, Ian began his maritime career with Fednav, eventually becoming General Manager at Federal Marine Terminals, Burns Harbor. After a stint as GM at North America Stevedoring in Chicago, Ian returned to Burns Harbor as the Port Director at the Port of Indiana–Burns Harbor before joining Benchmark Marine Agency in 2022. Ian serves as the Operations Vice-President at Benchmark and also assists the Ports of Indiana in Cargo Development. Ian is an officer with the Propeller Club of Chicago and the Calumet Area Safety, Security & Navigation Committee.

Ian is married to his wife Patty and has two daughters, Lily & Molly, that have inherited his love for the water, one rowing at the University of Notre Dame and the other at St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago.