40 Under 40 Awards: Blakemore, Bland, Burge And Burke

For the ninth year, 40 of the industry’s future leaders were 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 were 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 recipients. This week we recognize Sidney Blakemore, Mason Bland, Chance Burge and Nick Burke.

Sidney Blakemore

Sidney Blakemore, 38, is the director of mariner development at Canal Barge Company.

Blakemore started at Canal Barge Company as a deckhand in 2011. Over the last 15 years, he has succeeded in roles such as facility assistant, vessel employment/safety specialist, HR generalist, training manager and general manager of safety, training and quality systems. In 2023, he was promoted to the position of general manager of quality and learning.

“Sidney is a passionate and enthusiastic teammate who loves our industry and believes in doing things right,” said Merrit Lane, president and CEO of Canal Barge Company. “He has had a very positive impact on raising the bar for CBC’s safety and quality systems and outcomes. His commitment to learning and employee development is second to none.”

Those who nominated Blakemore described him as a compassionate person who motivates and encourages others.

“(Blakemore) brings energy and zeal to everything he does and is never afraid to tackle the next challenge,” said Mason Eustis, vice president of liquid cargo operations and affreightment services at Canal Barge Company. “He will wade into uncharted waters, find his way and bring order to chaos. He is open to learning and has taken on new challenges as he has grown over the last 15 years. Sid has embraced being a team leader and manager, is compassionate about his people and is committed to positioning them for success in alignment with company goals. He is a family man, loyal father, committed spouse and active in his community.”

Mason Bland

Mason Bland, 35, is the vice president of finance at Associated Terminals and Turn Services.

Bland began his maritime career after graduating with his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Southeastern Louisiana University. He stepped into the role of financial analyst at St. James Stevedoring, which was later acquired by Associated Terminals. His 13-year career with the company has spanned five roles and reaches across terminal, fleet and shoreside operations on the Lower Mississippi.

“Over the past 13 years, Mason has been instrumental in driving the growth and financial stability of our companies,” said Yvonne Stein, director of logistics at Associated Terminals. “His strategic insight has supported expansion initiatives, optimized cost structures and strengthened partnerships with carriers and customers.”

According to Associated Terminals, Bland is often sought out by colleagues for the way he thoughtfully explains the “why” behind the numbers, invites constructive debate when it comes to decision-making and gives credit to operators who execute plans.

“Mason is exactly the kind of leader this award exists to recognize — rooted in maritime craft, fluent in finance and systems and relentlessly focused on sustainable performance,” Stein said. “His ability to bridge operational realities with financial strategy ensures he will continue shaping the future of inland marine transportation.”

Chance Burge

Chance Burge, 33, is the senior director of operations at American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL).

In his role at ACBL, Burge leads liquid operations both on the river and shoreside. He oversees the tankerman division as well as liquid boats, the Houston fleet and harbor operations.

ACBL commended Burge on the vast responsibilities he has been able to step into at such a young age. ACBL also credited the success of his team, which has included nearly 50,000 transfers, to the strong culture and high standards he sets.

“Chance leads with humility, never seeking recognition, yet consistently delivering exceptional results,” said Michael Johnson, vice president of vessel operations at ACBL. “He is a respected, visible leader whose impact is felt across the organization.”

Nick Burke

Nick Burke, 39, is the assistant vice president at The Cooper Group.

Burke began his career at The Cooper Group in 2013 as corporate accountant after serving as a senior associate at Ernst & Young. He received his Master of Business Administration degree from Troy University and his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Sorrell College of Business.

In the early years of his role, Burke helped improve vessel staging and transiting areas for Crescent Towing in New Orleans, Savannah and Mobile locations. As his role and responsibilities with the company advanced, Burke’s areas of expertise have grown to include Cooper/Ports America of Houston, Texas, CP&O of Norfolk, Va., CSA in Mobile, Ala., and Cooper Consolidated of the Lower Mississippi River.

“(Burke’s) work has resulted in the development of more efficient operations, improved service for customers and company growth, both organically and through mergers and acquisitions,” said Angus R. Cooper III, president of The Cooper Group. “(His) efforts have allowed the company to expand operations, and he’s facilitated countless transactions resulting in the acquisition of real estate, marine companies and cargo-handling and marine assets. His efforts to create data driven management teams have ushered in an era of analytically centered and agile operations across The Cooper Group’s portfolio of companies.”

Featured photo caption: Congratulations to this week’s 40 Under 40 honorees from Canal Barge Company, Associated Terminals, Turn Services, ACBL and The Cooper Group.