40 Under 40: Westcoff, Westrich, Williams, Wooten
40 Under 40: Westcott, Westrich, Williams And Wooten
For eight years, 40 of the industry’s young leaders have been honored at the Inland Marine Expo with the “40 Under 40” award, which recognizes individuals for their outstanding contributions to the inland marine transportation industry in a variety of fields. All 40 honorees are nominated by executives and peers for their hard work and dedication to the industry.
Over the course of 10 weeks, The Waterways Journal is featuring this year’s recipients. This week we recognize Mike Westcott, David Westrich, Clint Williams and Jeremy Wooten.
Mike Westcott
Mike Westcott, 38, is the chief financial officer for Heartland Companies Inc.
Before joining Heartland Companies, Westcott spent 10 years in the banking industry. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in finance from the University of Missouri, Columbia, Westcott went on to work in commercial banking in St. Louis. He then worked on restructuring projects in the energy sector of Houston. He later served as a vice president with Wells Fargo’s Industrials Corporate Banking group in Chicago.
Westcott began his career in the maritime industry with Heartland Companies in 2020 as the director of finance. He was promoted to chief financial officer in 2021.
“[Mike] is a true professional in every sense of the word and an exemplary leader and mentor in both his personal and professional lives,” said Brian Mueller, CEO of Heartland Companies Inc. “He is always quick to dig in to help anyone on the team with whatever they need and always does it with a positive and focused approach. I’m excited to continue to watch Mike grow in his career and am happy to have him on the executive team at Heartland Companies Inc.”
David Westrich
David Westrich, 39, is the Hebron, Ky., operations manager with C&B Marine.
Westrich began his career with Greater Cincinnati Marine (GCM) in 2005 as a barge cleaner before joining the vessel team as a deckhand. After GCM merged with Bray Marine in 2011 to form C&B Marine, Westrich moved to the position of material handler operator. With the addition of new vessels from the merger, Westrich began working in the maintenance department, where he worked his way up to port engineer.
“David’s broad range of knowledge and experience from his 20 years in the industry play a critical role in allowing C&B to continue its growth while maintaining its high operational standards,” said Randy Simmons, vice president of C&B Marine.
As operations manager in Hebron, Westrich is responsible for overseeing maintenance of a fleet of 25 vessels, drydock operations, barge cleaning, repair and the company’s warehouse.
Clint Williams
Clint Williams, 36, is the director of emergency response at T&T Group of Companies.
Williams is on call 24/7 to respond to emergency vessel salvage, marine firefighting and pollution response incidents in the United States and internationally. He was responsible for managing pollution prevention during the largest shipwreck in U.S. history, the mv. Golden Ray, which capsized in St. Simons Sound, Ga., in 2019. Williams also managed the successful refloat of the World War II-era USS The Sullivans, which sank in Buffalo, N.Y., in 2022. He has overseen multiple oil spills and ship salvage response operations throughout the Gulf of Mexico.
In February 2024, Williams was deployed to Alaska to manage response efforts to a lithium battery fire onboard the mv. Genius Star XI entering U.S. waters, an incident that was characterized by the U.S. Coast Guard as a unique, first-of-its-kind marine casualty event.
Williams oversaw Galveston response efforts when a barge collided with the Pelican Island Causeway in May 2024, causing damage to the bridge and an oil spill. Because of Williams’ exceptional management, the Coast Guard handpicked him to join the agency in presenting the case study and lessons learned.
Jeremy Wooten
Jeremy Wooten, 39, is the director of logistics at American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL).
Wooten began working for ACBL in 2013 as a traffic assistant. He spent several years in a variety of dispatch roles and eventually took the position of customer account manager in the liquids division. After moving through the company for more than a decade, he now serves as logistics director, overseeing mainline dispatch operations for both northern and southern divisions of the company. His team is responsible for coordinating boat movements across the ACBL network, managing dispatch teams and aligning tow operations with company goals. Wooten and his team work closely with crew members to ensure each move is well-planned, clearly communicated and set up for safety and success.
“Jeremy excels at leading with urgency, clarity and respect for the people doing the work,” said Jonathan Dunn, senior director of corporate communications at ACBL. “His background across dispatch, planning and customer service gives him a strong operational perspective and a deep understanding of what crews need to succeed.”
In 2018, Wooten was diagnosed with an unresectable skull base tumor. Dunn expressed that, despite his diagnosis, Wooten’s leadership and commitment to the industry did not waver.
“Jeremy is a resilient and people-focused leader whose career has been shaped by both professional growth and personal strength,” Dunn said. “He continued to lead with purpose and passion, bringing a renewed appreciation for each day and a strong commitment to the team around him. His adaptability, character and focus on communication make him a true asset to ACBL and the inland marine industry.”
————
Featured photo caption: Mike Westcott, David Westrich, Clint Williams and Jeremy Wooten
