ARLINGTON, Va., May 22, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- The members of the American Waterways
Operators, the national tugboat, towboat and barge industry
association, elected a new slate of leaders last week during the
association's Spring Convention and Annual Membership
Meeting.
Kelly Teichman, Executive
Chairman, T&T Marine, was elected
Chairman; Patrick
Sutton, Chief Operating Officer, American Commercial
Barge Line, was elected Vice Chair; and Brian Hughes, Vice President Operations
& Sales, Hughes Bros., Inc., was re-elected Treasurer. Ms.
Teichman succeeds outgoing Chairman Rick Iuliucci, Vice President, the Vane
Brothers Company.
AWO President & CEO Jennifer
Carpenter commented:
"We are energized to begin this next year of AWO's 80-year
history with Kelly at the helm. We have been so fortunate to have a
succession of strong, dedicated member leaders, including our
outstanding Immediate Past Chairman Rick
Iuliucci, and I have no doubt that Kelly will continue this
successful track record in her leadership."
Ms. Teichman, AWO's first female Chairman of the Board,
highlighted the importance of fundamentals in her first remarks as
Chair:
"Over the years I have found that the importance of building a
strong foundation for a strong future rings true not just at my
company, but across our entire industry, and for AWO, our
industry's advocate, resource and united voice. It is an approach
that all of us together have collectively applied to our priorities
as an industry, and it has effectively positioned us to navigate
today's challenges and create tomorrow's opportunities."
She also underlined the industry's career pathways, which are
open to anyone willing to put in the effort, and touched on the
rising role of women:
"There is a place here for anyone who is committed to working
hard, being part of a team and having a meaningful impact on our
country and its supply chain. If you have what it takes, you are
not only encouraged to join this industry, but to rise through the
ranks and thrive within it no matter where you come from, no matter
your background. In that regard, I'm especially excited for the
continuing prominence of women in this industry, whether on the
boats or shoreside, and I look forward to contributing positively
to their experience however I can," she explained.
Ms. Teichman concluded:
"My goal is to make sure we avail ourselves of
the solid foundation we have built together, by positioning
Jennifer for continued success as our President & CEO and as
the highly effective leader of the AWO staff team; by positioning
the staff to continue to excel and draw from the range of skills
and experience of this talented group; and by ensuring all members
are heard and have the opportunity to contribute in the ways that
work best for them, because the strength of our united voice
resides in the operational diversity of our industry."
About the American Waterways Operators
The American Waterways Operators is the tugboat, towboat and
barge industry's advocate, resource and united voice for safe,
sustainable and efficient transportation on America's waterways,
oceans and coasts. Industry vessels move more than 665 million tons
of America's commerce each year on the U.S. inland and intracoastal
waterways, the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf Coasts and the Great
Lakes.
For more information about the importance of waterway
transportation, please contact AWO at (703) 841-9300 or visit AWO's
website at www.americanwaterways.com.
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SOURCE American Waterways Operators