Geno Marconi is the Director of Ports and Harbors for the state of New Hampshire. His responsibility includes monitoring vessel traffic through a narrow and winding channel on one of the world’s fastest rivers, the Piscataqua River. Podcast producer Roger Wood spoke with him in the aftermath of the Baltimore Maryland bridge collapse. He talked about the safety of New Hampshire’s only port.
A native of the New Hampshire seacoast, Captain Marconi grew up working in the commercial fishing industry with his family. He has owned and operated commercial fishing vessels engaged in the harvest of lobster, ground fish, and northern shrimp. He began his career in service of the marine industries as the Portsmouth Harbor Master in 1975 and expanded the position in 1979 to include management of the state-owned Portsmouth Commercial Fish Pier.
Captain Marconi holds a license as a United States Merchant Marine Officer for Master of Mechanically Propelled Motor or Steam Vessels of less than 1600 Gross Tons endorsed for Master of Towing Vessels. He has sailed as Captain aboard various classes of vessels, including coastal cruise ships and towing vessels throughout the Pacific Northwest, Southeast Alaska, the Great Lakes, the Atlantic Canadian Maritimes, and the Caribbean.
Captain Marconi holds the Accredited Maritime Port Executive (AMPE) certification from the International Association of Maritime and Port Executives and is on the Board of Directors for the North Atlantic Ports Association. Additionally, Captain Marconi has served on several New Hampshire State Commissions. He has been an active member on the Advisory Committee on Marine Fisheries since 1987, chairman from 2002, and has been a member of New Hampshire’s Offshore Wind Energy Study Commission.
Roger Wood is an award winning radio, podcast, newspaper and television journalist, with over 50 years of experience in the media. Roger has spent his entire professional career in New Hampshire. Roger currently serves as associate publisher and podcast producer at InDepthNH.org. In 2021 and 2022, he was recognized by the New Hampshire Press Association for his work in news podcasts. He is the 2022 winner of the NHPA lifetime achievement award. Prior to that he was honored for his work in broadcast radio news and public affairs. He has produced news and special feature reports for InDepthNH.org, New Hampshire Public Radio, NPR, and other public and commercial radio stations. He also has produced spot news for CBS Radio. He has produced and narrated some 50 audiobooks and has written three novels. Roger has also moderated political forums for Seacoast Area Chambers of Commerce in Senate, gubernatorial and congressional races. He has also facilitated public policy discussions locally and statewide. He has three adult children and four grandchildren. Roger and his wife Elaine, reside in Portsmouth.with their cat Maura.
