Page 12: of Marine News Magazine (February 2020)

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INSIGHTS

As you start in your role as AWO president and CEO, what are your top priorities?

My top priority is to listen to AWO members – they are the owners of AWO and everything we do is focused on helping them survive, adapt and thrive in a constantly changing business and public policy environment. Over the next year, we’re going to go broad and listen deeply to AWO members through a variety of means, soliciting their candid feedback on how AWO needs to evolve to meet their needs, expectations and aspirations for their trade association.

Then, later this year, we’re going to “go deep” and convene a strategic planning process that draws on that feedback to shape AWO’s future directions. Along the way, we are com- mitted to delivering tangible advocacy results and safety re- sources that make a positive difference for members; more nimble, dynamic communication that is member-focused; excellent stewardship of member resources; and enhanced communication and cooperation with allied organizations to maximize results and leverage limited resources.

Jennifer Carpenter

Please give your assessment of today’s market con- ditions on U.S. inland waters, touching upon ? eet

President & CEO, numbers, supply and demand.

2019 was a very challenging year for inland barge opera-

The American tors, especially in the dry sector. As we move into 2020, we see cause for both optimism and continued caution. The

Waterways Operators tank barge sector is experiencing strong demand, and sup- ply is in a pretty good place. In the dry sector, the picture is more mixed; there is an oversupply of open and covered hop- ennifer A. Carpenter serves as President & CEO of per barges given the tonnage that’s moving today. It remains

The American Waterways Operators (AWO), the na- to be seen how weather conditions will impact planting and

J tional trade association representing the inland and harvesting and other factors, like the Phase I U.S./-China coastal tugboat, towboat and barge industry.

agreement, will impact the outlook for barge transportation

Carpenter joined AWO in August 1990 and became of agricultural products. Coal volumes continue to decline

President & CEO in January 2020. Before assuming her and that’s a structural issue, not something that’s going to current position, she worked her way up the hawsepipe improve materially based on public policy decisions. Passage from Government Affairs Assistant to Executive Vice of the US-Canada-Mexico Agreement could give a boost to

President & Chief Operating Of? cer, holding a series of domestic steel, which could bene? t barge transportation. It’s progressively responsible positions including Manager-

Regulatory Issues, Director-Government Affairs, Vice a very dynamic business and operational environment and it’s requiring companies to be very nimble as they look to capital-

President-Government Affairs, Senior Vice President-Gov- ize on opportunities and hedge against negative factors. ernment Affairs & Policy Analysis, Senior Vice President-

National Advocacy, and Executive Vice President. She

What are the most important issues that inland op- served for 13 years as a member of the congressionally au- erators face today?

thorized Towing Safety Advisory Committee. She has re-

Our industry’s survival, success and ef? ciency rely on ceived two Meritorious Public Service Awards and a Public four pillars: the Jones Act; a modern, well-maintained wa-

Service Commendation from the U.S. Coast Guard for her terways infrastructure; a consistent national framework of contributions to the Towing Safety Advisory Committee laws and regulations; and safety, which is our franchise to and the Coast Guard-AWO Safety Partnership.

operate. In terms of public policy priorities, that translates

February 2020 12 MN