A recent FreightWeekSTL panel highlighted how expanding awareness of maritime careers, strengthening industry partnerships and increasing access to hands-on experiences are critical to building the next-generation workforce for America’s inland waterways.
A recent FreightWeekSTL panel highlighted how expanding awareness of maritime careers, strengthening industry partnerships and increasing access to hands-on experiences are critical to building the next-generation workforce for America’s inland waterways. The session explored how industry leaders, workforce initiatives and emerging professionals are working together to connect students and job seekers with meaningful career opportunities across the river system.
The discussion featured Errin Howard, Executive Director of We Work the Waterways; Dawn Lopez, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for Associated Terminals and Turn Services; and Anthony Fleming, a diesel mechanic with Wepfer Marine. The panel was moderated by Mary Lamie, Executive Vice President of Multimodal Enterprises for Bi-State Development and head of the St. Louis Regional Freightway.
Howard discussed the industry’s primary workforce challenge. “One of the biggest challenges our industry faces isn’t opportunities, it’s the lack of awareness,” Howard said. She added that this lack of awareness is the reason We Work the Waterways was created. The organization’s mission is to help young people, along with educators, families, parents and career seekers understand the real career opportunities in the industry.
She highlighted the organization’s rapid growth as a standalone nonprofit and the increasing demand for programs
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