(WASHINGTON) — As its annual meeting and board of directors meeting in Cincinnati on Nov. 15, the Waterways Council Inc. (WCI) named Tim Parker, president of Parker Towing of Tuscaloosa, Ala., as its chairman of the board. Parker succeeds Merritt Lane, president and CEO of Canal Barge Co. of New Orleans.
Parker serves on the board of directors of Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc.; as past chairman of the board of the Alabama State Port Authority; past member of the Inland Waterways Users Board; past president and certified member of the Alabama Chapter of the American Society of Transportation and Logistics; past president of the Tennessee/Tombigbee Waterway Development Council; and a past board member of Regions Bank of Tuscaloosa.
“I look forward to working with WCI and its coalition of waterways stakeholders as we continue to educate those on Capitol Hill, in the Trump administration, in the news media, and the general public about the critical need to maintain and modernize our nation’s ports and inland waterways infrastructure,” said Parker. “WCI expresses its tremendous thanks to Merritt Lane, who tirelessly led us over the past two years to improve the condition of the industry. We are grateful for his sage advice, time and energy."
The Waterways Council Inc. is the national public policy organization advocating for a modern and well-maintained national system of ports and inland waterways. The group is supported by waterways carriers, shippers, port authorities, agriculture, labor and conservation organizations, shipping associations and waterways advocacy groups from all regions of the country. For more information, visit www.waterwayscouncil.org.
