Navigating Project Cargo’s Complex Evolution

By Liesl Venter

From Issue 5, 2025 of Breakbulk Magazine

(5-minute read)

The multimillion-dollar project logistics sector is grappling with unprecedented regulatory complexity and energy market volatility — challenges that demand both technical expertise and operational agility, according to Houston-based industry veteran Geanean Ordonez.

As project logistics manager at Technip Energies, Ordonez oversees cargo operations where a single delay can trigger cascading cost overruns across entire energy infrastructure projects. Her 15-year logistics career now positions her at the intersection of America’s evolving energy landscape and increasingly complex trade regulations.

“You’re dealing with cargo that isn’t easy to reroute or replace,” Ordonez points out. “You can’t just fly it in or warehouse it anywhere you want. It can’t simply take a different route or make an unexpected stop. It’s a complex industry that operates within very strict parameters.”

Regulatory Uncertainty Compounds Project Risks

The sector faces mounting pressure from shifting import requirements, customs documentation changes and fluctuating tariff structures that can fundamentally alter project economics mid-stream.

According to Ordonez, one of the biggest hurdles today is navigating the complexities of import requirements and customs documentation. “For years, the process was predictable. You knew what was needed and how to get shipments cleared. But now, everything’s changing constantly,” she says. “Everyone is having to learn what the new rules are today because they are very different from what they were yesterday and probably will change again tomorrow.”

These regulatory shifts particularly impact oversized and heavy cargo movements, where alternative routing options are limited and specialized equipment requirements are non-negotiable. Not only has the process become more complicated with constantly changing documentation and tariff requirements, but in the project sector, delays come with a high price tag.

Wind turbine components exemplify the challenge: blade lengths continue increasing while transportation corridors remain constrained by infrastructure limitations. “Today’s turbine might weigh 200 tons; tomorrow’s could be 400. Wind turbine blades keep getting longer. Nothing in project logistics stays static,” Ordonez notes.

She acknowledges that the current uncertainty across the freight sector, from shifting regulations to new tariffs and documentation hurdles, makes things even more difficult. “Dealing with today’s unpredictability isn’t easy, especially from a project perspective,” she says. “But it’s also what keeps us engaged. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution in this field. Every day brings a new challenge that demands a fresh solution.”

Energy Sector Transition

Political shifts have significantly impacted project development timelines across both traditional and renewable energy sectors. Much of Ordonez’s current work is centered around energy, both traditional and renewable.

“Political shifts have impacted how and when projects move forward. Under the previous administration, there was a strong focus on clean energy. Now, with a different political focus, some of those projects are seeing delays, funding questions or even reconsideration,” she explains.

While that uncertainty has slowed progress on some initiatives, Ordonez anticipates a more balanced pipeline going forward. “Right now? Projects are being awarded and they’re moving along, but the focus is definitely not on clean energy projects the way it was. We have opted for a wide range of projects in our portfolio from traditional LNG to newer clean energy initiatives, which does help to spread the risk.”

This diversification strategy reflects broader industry adaptation to policy uncertainty. Energy companies maintain project portfolios spanning conventional and renewable technologies, allowing operational flexibility as regulatory frameworks evolve.

She expects to see a definite slowdown in certain renewable projects and a potential ramp-up in more conventional energy work. “But the players in the energy sector are incredibly adaptive. They always have contingency plans and backup strategies, just like we do in freight forwarding. It’s all about flexibility and staying ready.”

From Broadway Dreams to Heavy Cargo

Ordonez’s pathway into this specialized sector began far from the ports and pipelines of Texas. When you meet someone managing multimillion-dollar logistics projects, you don’t necessarily expect them to start their story with Broadway dreams and studies in psychology.

“I grew up in Houston and went to school there, ultimately studying psychology for about two years,” she says. As is often the case, life had other plans. For Ordonez, that meant falling in love and getting married at 21.

“My husband, an immigrant from Guatemala, was adamant that I needed to get out of Texas as I’d lived there all my life,” she recalls. “He had family in New York and I had always dreamed of being on Broadway. I grew up singing, it was my passion, so New York seemed like the perfect next step.”

In August 2001, they made the move, full of hope and ambition. But just two weeks after arriving in the city, 9/11 happened. “That whole New York fantasy was suddenly in a tailspin,” she says. “We loved the city, but the economy had collapsed. We decided to move to Los Angeles to try and make a go of things there.”

It wasn’t the easiest time, Ordonez admits, but it became a period of tremendous personal growth, one that would eventually lead her into logistics. But, like many in the industry, her path wasn’t a straight line.

“I tried my hand at a couple of things, trying to figure out what truly resonated with me. I get bored easily with repetitive, menial tasks,” she says. “A lot of jobs out there are just the same thing every single day and I knew I didn’t want that.”

She worked as a paralegal at a law firm, then moved into insurance, followed by stints as a personal assistant, executive assistant and even tried marketing. “None of it felt right. I just couldn’t see myself doing any of this long term.”

Finding Project Logistics

That pause in her career, however, led to an unexpected turning point. Her sister-in-law, a seasoned customs broker based in Houston, had a client in Huntington Beach looking to hire. “She asked if I was ready to go back to work and told me she thought I would like the logistics industry. It proved to be a defining career move for me.”

For Ordonez, it opened up an entirely new world, one that was dynamic, fast-paced and constantly evolving. “Every day was different. There was very little time to get bored,” she says.

Her first role in California was with a small freight forwarder focused heavily on compliance, CTPAT consulting and industry education. “The owner had written several books on the subject and hosted regular seminars. I was learning from someone deeply invested in the business,” she says. “It was the perfect introduction to logistics, full of opportunity to learn.”

Her responsibilities were rooted in general freight, including small airfreight shipments and domestic trucking. “I barely touched ocean freight at that point. But it gave me the building blocks—how cargo moves, what countries ship what, where ports are located. It laid the foundation.”

It was only after moving back to Houston that she found herself employed by a forwarder specializing in project logistics. “They were happy to take me on and teach me. I quickly realized this was the cool stuff. It was awesome!”

Specialized Expertise Commands Premium

The technical complexity of project cargo operations creates distinct competitive advantages for logistics providers with deep sector knowledge. From there, the road became more focused. Ordonez joined UTC Overseas, where she worked her way up before being placed in-house at Technip Energies, the company she now works for, managing project logistics and procurement.

“Because of my background, I’m able to see both sides, the freight forwarder perspective and the EPC perspective,” she explains. “I understand the ‘why’ behind the decisions, not just the ‘how’.”

What made project logistics different from everything she had tried before were the challenges and the constant learning. “At first, coming from a general cargo background, you think you understand how freight moves and how it all fits together,” Ordonez says.

“But you quickly realize just how much planning is involved and how many different groups of people you have to coordinate to get a job done, especially when you’re dealing with oversized, heavy cargo.”

This dual expertise becomes crucial when coordinating multiple stakeholder groups across international project sites. Equipment specifications vary significantly between shipping lanes, while regulatory requirements differ substantially between origin and destination countries.

“The way you handle shipments is not the same from one country to another. Different regulations, different carriers, different equipment. Even the same equipment won’t work for every lane or cargo type,” Ordonez emphasizes.

Building Relationships, Finding Solutions

Her approach from day one has been to approach her job with curiosity and humility. Success in project logistics depends heavily on established relationships with ground-level operators across global shipping networks. These connections become critical when standard procedures encounter unexpected obstacles or when projects require creative problem-solving approaches.

“You have to be comfortable saying, ‘I don’t know,’ but also be the person who says, ‘Let me find out.’ I learn something new all the time,” she says.

She emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships, making sure to connect to people on the ground. “You might move similar items, but every project brings new challenges and requires fresh solutions.”

This relationship-driven approach proves essential when managing the coordination requirements inherent in oversized cargo movements. Multiple agencies, specialized equipment providers and infrastructure stakeholders must align timing and capabilities across often complex international shipping routes.

For Ordonez, that’s the heart of the work: staying agile, building relationships and finding ways to keep the cargo moving. “It’s the challenge that keeps us all here.”

Cautious Optimism

As the conversation turns to the future, Ordonez readily admits she’s probably one of the more optimistic people in the industry. “I like to have something to hope for,” she says, smiling.

The premium placed on specialized knowledge and established networks suggests continued consolidation opportunities within the project logistics sector, as smaller operators struggle to maintain the comprehensive capabilities required for increasingly complex cargo movements.

Despite current market uncertainties, Ordonez maintains optimistic projections for sector growth driven by continued infrastructure investment needs across both traditional and emerging energy technologies.

As we wrap up our conversation, I can’t help but ask about her life outside of work. “I’ve been married to an entomologist for 26 years. He’s the scientist among us, and I’m the realist,” she smiles. Together, they’ve raised two sons, now 20 and 16, and built a home life that’s as steady as her professional one is fast-paced.

“When I’m not working, we’re big into music,” Ordonez says. “We go to shows, concerts, plays, or we’re just singing karaoke at home.” That shared love of music is one of the ways her family stays close, even as life gets busier.

It is that sense of purpose, and the relationships that fuel it, that continue to drive Ordonez. Whether she is singing karaoke with her family or navigating global freight routes moving oversized project cargo, she brings the same energy to it all: present, passionate and prepared to learn.

Want to know where the project cargo market is heading? At Breakbulk Americas 2025, shippers will share their insight at the “Inside the Project Pipeline: Shipper Market Outlook” main stage session on Wednesday, Oct. 1 from 1:45pm-2:30pm.