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Sara Spore is general manager of Lake Michigan Carferry
Spartan News is a presentation of Mason County Central Schools in partnership with Mason County Press.
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
LUDINGTON — In December 2020, Lake Michigan Carferry Service was purchased by Interlake Maritime Services., based out of Cleveland, Ohio. At that time, LMC’s chief financial officer, Sara Spore, was promoted to general manager of passenger vessels for Interlake Maritime Services. She not only oversees management of the SS Badger but also the Soo Locks Boat Tours, which was purchased by Interlake in 2022.
“It’s an incredible experience to oversee such a legacy as the SS Badger,” Spore said.
Spore, who lives in Scottville, is a 2001 graduate of Mason County Central. She has a bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University, a master’s degree from Davenport University and another master’s degree from University of Wisconsin with majors in accounting and finance.
The SS Badger departs Ludington earlier this week.
Spore was hired as Lake Michigan Carferry’s CFO in 2018. Prior to that she had worked as an account for PCA in Manistee and had previously worked at Northwest Bank. But, the CFO job was not her first job with LMC. While going to college Spore worked in the Badger Boutique onboard the Badger for a few summers.
“I learned back then about the great team that works on the Badger,” she said. “There is so much pride on this ship. We have, and always have had, wonderful and dedicated employees. Plus, we have a great community that just loves its boat.”
Spore is actually a second generation carferry employee.
“My grandfather, Jake Huggard, worked on the carferries, which is why my family moved to Mason County,” she said.
John “Jake” Douglas Huggard, Jr., born in 1931, was working for Michigan-Wisconsin Transportation (the locally-owned company that purchased the three remaining carferries from Chessie System and operated the Midland and later Badger from 1983 to 1990) when he passed away on the carferry dock.
“I’m very proud to be part of the legacy of the Ludington carferries,” Spore said. “It’s an incredible feeling to be part of a tradition that so many people in this community can relate to. But, the people who work here are the secret to its success. We have a great crew, from every person who works on the boat to everyone in the office. It’s really a family environment.”
Spore said 2023 was certainly a bitter-sweet year with the celebration of the Badger’s 70th year and then shutting down cross lake service early due to a dock failure. But, 2024 has been a successful season.
“We have had a great season with great weather,” Spore said. “There have only been three incidences this season, to date, when we weren’t able to sail. One time was due to weather and the other two times were some unexpected maintenance that had to be taken care of. That’s not unusual. The Badger is a 71-year-old ship and any type of vessel will require unexpected repairs.”
Spore said another point of pride is an effort by LMC to use local businesses as much as possible.
“We utilize several local businesses,” Spore said. “The ship often requires customized parts and most of those parts are made by local machinists. Our electrical work is done by local electricians. Commodities for the ship are also purchased locally.”
As general manager of Interlake Maritime Services passenger vessels, Spore also oversees the Original Soo Locks Tours in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich, which operates three boats: Holiday, Hiawatha, and Bide A Wee. The service has operated since 1934.
Interlake Maritime Services also owns Interlake Steamship Co., a family-owned company that is the largest privately held U.S. flag fleet of freighters on the Great Lakes. The company has been operating for over 100 years ago. In her role, Spore sits on the company’s executive team.
“Interlake has been a great fit for the Badger,” Spore said. “The Barkers, who own the company, are a multi-generation maritime family who takes great pride in owning such an important piece of Great Lakes history. I know its mission is to keep this tradition going for many years to come.”
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