Brinson Elected Chairman of National Waterways Conference

J. Ron Brinson, former port director and now special projects coordinator of the Port of New Orleans, was elected chairman of the National Waterways Conference, Inc., at the organization?s annual meeting. Brinson succeeds Craig E. Philip of Nashville, president and chief executive officer of Ingram Barge Co., who had served as chairman for the last two years.

Brinson, who served as president and chief executive officer of the Port of New Orleans from 1986, now heads the millennium port and other special projects. He previously served seven years as president of the American Association of Port Authorities. He also worked for the South Carolina State Ports Authority and as a reporter and later associate editor of The Charleston News and Courier.

H. Merritt Lane, III was named as the conference?s vice chairman of New Orleans, president and chief executive officer of Canal Barge Company. Harry N. Cook of Washington, D.C., was re-elected as the organization?s president. Fred C. Raskin of Andover, Mass., was named as first vice president. He was formerly president of Eastern Enterprises, Inc.

Elected as vice presidents of the conference were W. Scott McGeorge, president of Pine Bluff Sand & Gravel Co.; Joseph L. Meibergen of Enid, Okla., chairman and chief executive officer of Johnston Enterprises, Inc; J. Scott Robinson Muskogee, Okla., port director of the Port of Muskogee; and Michael J. Toohey of Washington, D.C., government relations director of Ashland Inc. William H. Satterfeld was named as secretary and counsel, and Glenn W. Vanselow was selected as treasurer.

Christopher J. Bresica, C. Barry Gipson, John W. Holt, Jr., Heather Hampton-Knodle and Emmett R. Neal were all elected to the Executive Committee. American Electric Power?s River Transportation Division in Lakin, W.Va., won the grand prize in the annual Waterways Literature and Promotional Materials competition. In 2002, the National Waterways Conference will hold its annual meeting on Sept. 4 to 6 in New Orleans.