The Upper Mississippi Waterway Association (UMWA) has tabbed Gary Williams to lead the organization. Williams comes to UMWA with 35 years of experience in transportation, business development and merchandising of commodities.

“We’re excited to have Gary on board as executive director,” UMWA President Jeremy Putman said. “He has a wealth of experience on the waterways and will help lead the strategic change of our association.”

Williams’ experience includes barge, vessel, rail, truck, and containerized freight, trade, and logistics in the eastern and western corn belts, the Pacific Northwest, and Canada. He also served on the National Grain and Feed Association’s waterborne commerce committee. Williams has a degree in agriculture economics from Ohio State University.

“I look forward to getting to know the membership better and understanding the challenges and opportunities facing the industry,” Williams said.

In addition to Williams, UMWA is requesting ideas for strategic planning from its membership. The board is looking for member input, including a request for member profiles.

“We want to connect with our membership and understand the challenges each faces as they go about their work on the waterways,” Putman said. “This is an exciting time to shape this organization and serve our membership for years to come.”

UMWA member profiles

So, what does a member profile look like? UMWA board members simply want to know your business and you better. The more the board understands its members, the better the strategic planning.

Simply send a couple sentences, or paragraphs, to [email protected] explaining who you are, what you or your business does, and why you’re a member of UMWA. UMWA will take care of the rest.