Face to Face
Steve Goudreau
Ballast Water Treatment Supervisor

1977—Jimmy Carter becomes president, the New York Yankees win the World Series, Three’s Company premieres, oil starts moving through the trans-Alaska pipeline system and Steve Goudreau joins the Alyeska Team. What a year.

Born and raised in Michigan, this “lifer” took an unlikely path to Valdez. Goudreau received his teaching degree in secondary education but went into construction instead. He now works as Alyeska’s Ballast Water Treatment Supervisor.

Why Alaska?

Before I came here, I worked summers in Michigan and winters in Florida. It was pretty great. But a friend and I decided to move up to Alaska and see what it was like because the pipeline was just starting. I moved to Valdez and worked construction when they built the terminal, and I moved into operations in 1977, since oil first started moving through the pipeline.

How do you like Valdez?

It has its moments. Historically, all we need is one nice day out of seven, and we can stand it! I’ve lived here since 1974, and when the sun’s shining, it’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.

The colors, even in the winter, are constantly changing. Every time you look at the mountains they look different. I wake up every morning and look out my window and there they are, 100 yards away from the house and straight up. Then there are times the snowflakes are like dinner plates, and you know you have a lot of work in front of you. 

So is retirement coming up anytime soon?

Why do you say that? I’m semi-retired right now! One week on, one week off.

Describe your position at the Valdez Marine Terminal.

Day-to-day, I oversee the daily operations of the ballast water plant. With this big project that is encompassing the plant right now, there’s a lot of oversight and review of project information. They asked me to come down and lend a hand—that way there’s a supervisor here all the time, seven days a week, week on and week off.

Work is constantly going on and you need to have someone keep an eye on it and keep it on track. That’s our main focus.

What keeps you coming to work every day?

There are a number of things, number one being that Alyeska is the type of company that allows you to grow and to try and do whatever you would like to do. It gives you the ability to move laterally, to move up and down, to spread your wings and try. In Valdez you’re able to go home every night, week on and week off.

The other nice thing about Alyeska is that it attracts quality individuals, quality people, people that enjoy their jobs and want to do the very best they can. I’ve had the chance to work with some wonderful people.