This award recognizes men and women under the age of 40 who have made significant contributions to the inland marine transportation industry and collectively promise to play a big role in shaping its future.

Awards will be presented to young professionals working on towboats, passenger vessels, or other commercial craft, as well as those working shoreside at a port, terminal, shipyard or fleet. Those providing professional services to the industry, such as surveyors, freight or equipment brokers, engineers, and consultants, also qualify.

The 2025 nominations will be available on November 12, 2024.

View the past winners >

James Adams
Logistics Manager
Marquette Transportation

Jake Altfillisch
Senior Manager – Western Rivers
Michels Construction

Michael Armfield
CEO
MobileOps

Drake Arnold
NOBT Terminal Manager
Associated Terminals

Jacob Ballard
Site Operations Manager
Yager Materials

Dan Benken
Director of Operations
Parker Towing Company

Paul Berendes
Director of Asset Management
J.F. Brennan Company Inc.

Bradley Blackmon
Fleet Maintenance Manager
Golding Barge Line

Captain Bubby Boutian
Captain
Turn Services

Harrison Brann
Engineering Manager, Sr. Naval Architect
The Shearer Group Inc.

Ryan Brown
Director of Vessel Operations
T&T Group of Companies

Mark Cain
Port Engineer
Industry Terminal & Salvage Company

Bridget Carbary
Associate General Counsel
Upper River Services

David Chacon
Director New Construction
Southwest Shipyards, LP

Michael Craig
River Superintendent
Shamblin Stone, Inc.

Nick Craycraft
Port Captain
Hines Furlong Line

Donald Davey
Manager – Vessel Maintenance, River Operations
Campbell Transportation Company

Anthony David
Port Captain
Enterprise Marine Services

Jeremy Deibert
Sr. Manager – Supply Chain
Campbell Transportation Company

Randall Frost
Director – Systems & Analysis
Canal Barge Company, Inc.

Gregg Greaves
Senior Director of Boat and Barge Planning
American Commercial Barge Line

Joshua Henkemeyer
Port Captain
River Salvage Company, Inc.

Bryant Killen
Deputy Director
Lake Providence Port Commission

Shannon Kroll
Executive Vice President
Midwest Tankerman

Josette Kuphall
AVP of Logistics and Customer Service
Ingram Barge Company

Dustin Marino
Shipyard Supervisor
Industry Terminal & Salvage Company

Jason McCoy
Marine Mechanic
Amherst Madison

Miles Merriman
Vessel Manager
ARTCo

Adam Nunally
Port Captain
ACBL

Justin Penrod
Captain
Okie Moore Diving and Marine Salvage LLC

Wesley Rhoden
Operations Specialist-Vessel Compliance
Marathon Petroleum Corporation

Kyle Rosenwald
Operations Manager
Ingram Barge Company

Max Scafidi
Marine Surveyor/Appraiser
Sabine Surveyors

Meghan Marshall Schimpf
VP of Administration
Chem Carriers

Khouri Spencer
Human Resources Director
Parker Towing Company

David Staines
Director of Marketing, Dry Cargo Services
Canal Barge Company, Inc.

Phillip Steely
Captain
Southern Devall

Josh VanMeter
Barge Repair Coordinator
Waterfront Services Co.

Ryan Villareal
Project Manager
Kirby Corporation

Taylore Wagner
Senior Human Resource Generalist
Marquette Transportation Company LLC