Beers/Wood honored with 2024 Rosenblatt-Michigan award

Beers/Wood Honored with 2024 Rosenblatt-Michigan Award

Gregory Beers, P.E. (MSE 95, BSE 94) and Cory Wood (BSE 93), esteemed alumni of the University of Michigan College of Engineering, have been awarded the 2024 Rosenblatt-Michigan Award.

Cory Wood received his BS in NAME in 1993 and Greg. Beers was right behind a BS in 1994 and MS in 1995. Cory and Greg are the founders and Principles of the Bristol Harbor Group, Inc., formerly FG Marine Design, Inc. Located in a boatyard on the harbor in Bristol, Rhode Island, the company was formed in a dorm room at the University of Michigan by Cory and Greg and two other college friends in 1993. While students in the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department, Cory and Greg formed their company to design a passenger vessel. That entrepreneurial spirit drove them to incorporate Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. in 1995.

Recent and current projects include the design and engineering of North America’s first LNG bunker barge and a number of tasks through an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Cory and Greg also run The Shearer Group, Inc., in Houston, Texas. The Shearer Group, Inc. was formed in 2010 when Cory and Greg bought the assets of Shearer & Assoc., Inc. from Ed Shearer, P.E., President of Shearer Assoc., Inc. Their entrepreneurial spirit, their passion for boats and their dedication to the NAME department are highly regarded. These admirable characteristics form the basis for selecting subsequent recipients of this distinguished award.

Gregory Beers: President and Principal Naval Architect
Gregory Beers, PE, is the President and a Principal Naval Architect at Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. and The Shearer Group, Inc. His career includes significant work at sea and at the helm of a design office. He has over twenty-five years of extensive design and engineering experience, as well as project management and construction oversight experience. He has been a key figure in various maritime organizations, including SNAME and ASNE. Beers is recognized for his strategic vision and technical excellence.

Cory Wood: Vice President and Principal Naval Architect
Cory Wood is the Vice President and a Principal Naval Architect at Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. and The Shearer Group, Inc. With over twenty-five years of design experience, Wood’s career spans roles in naval architecture, shipyard engineering and project management. He has served as Chairman of the New England Section of SNAME, contributes to the Landing School of Boatbuilding’s Design Program Advisory Committee, and is a Member of the Webb Institute Industry Advisory Group. Wood’s leadership and commitment to innovation are evident in his influential work.

About the Rosenblatt-Michigan Award
The Rosenblatt-Michigan Award, presented annually by the University of Michigan College of Engineering and the Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, honors alumni who exemplify excellence, innovation, and integrity in ship design. Established in memory of Lester Rosenblatt and his father Mandell, pioneers in naval architecture, the award reflects the enduring legacy of their contributions.

Ceremony
Beers and Wood received their awards at the University of Michigan Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Alumni Dinner on October 13th, during the SNAME Maritime Convention (SMC) in Norfolk, Virginia. This recognition underscores their significant impact on the industry.

Recipient Statements
Greg Beers expressed his gratitude, noting, “I am grateful to the University of Michigan, particularly the Department of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering, for the exceptional education that has led to my rich and rewarding career. It is truly an honor to receive such a distinguished award from an organization that means so much to me.”

Cory Wood added, “The University of Michigan has played an invaluable role in shaping me into the professional I am today, and for that, I am truly grateful. It is a privilege to receive the 2024 Rosenblatt-Michigan Award for Excellence in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.”

Beers and Wood’s achievements continue to inspire excellence and innovation in naval architecture, setting a high standard for future engineers.