40 Under 40 Awards: Salgado, Sasfai, Schmitz and Seely

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 ten weeks, The Waterways Journal is featuring recipients. This week we recognize Sol Salgado, Joshua Sasfai, Tod Schmitz and Paul Seely.

Sol Salgado

Sol Salgado, 32, is the commercial asset manager at Maritime Partners, LLC.

Salgado began his career at Maritime Partners in 2022 as a senior accountant. Throughout the last four years, he has proven to be an invaluable member of the Maritime Partners team. Now as the commercial asset manager, Salgado manages a portfolio of over 1,500 vessels chartered through the company. He has been intrinsic to establishing new charters, renewing the charters of hundreds of vessels and in financing the Maritime Partner’s portfolio.

Maritime Partners specifically commended Salgado on his performance in 2025, a year in which the company said he excelled across all areas of his role and demonstrated a strong work ethic to pursue the best commercial results.

“Sol is a leader who has a bright future in the inland marine industry,” said Eric Livingston, chief operating officer of Maritime Partners.

Joshua Sasfai

Joshua Sasfai, 37, is the president of R. J. Brown River Towing

Sasfai entered the maritime industry after taking the helm at R. J. Brown River Towing, following in the footsteps of his grandfather. In the last 16 years, Sasfai has expanded the company from a single vessel to a fleet of three with the accompanying support of barges and equipment. As a licensed captain, marine contractor and president of the company, Sasfai oversees all operations of the business, bringing deep mechanical and administrative experience to the role. Known for his unwavering commitment to safety, craftmanship and operational excellence, Sasfai is known as an experienced leader and role model in the Pittsburgh region.

“Capt. Sasfai has become the face of Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers for many who live and work along the waterfront,” said Patrick Kelley at Kelley Maritime. “His name is synonymous with professionalism, integrity, and a deep understanding of river commerce. Whether collaborating with government agencies, private industry, municipalities, or waterfront property owners, he brings practical knowledge earned through decades of experience on the water.”

Tod Schmitz

Tod Schmitz, 39, is the head of dispatch claims and maintenance at Ceres Consulting, LLC.

Schmitz got his start in the marine industry in 2009 as a deckhand. Since he began at Ceres Consulting, LLC, Schmitz has shown himself to be kind, driven and passionate about his work. Schmitz makes his customers his top priority, ensuring that he is always available for their questions and concerns. His experience on the river has made him attuned to rapidly changing conditions, and he will do everything he can to ensure that customer needs are being met and that barges are still moving. Schmitz’s colleagues describe him as an easygoing person who is quick to help others even in high-stress moments.

“Tod is a great person, a family man, a smart worker and an advocate for his customers,” said Rodney Green, director of operations at Ceres Consulting, LLC. “He is important to Ceres, the industry and to everyone he comes in contact with.”

Paul Seely

Paul Seely, 39, is the operations manager at TowWorks.

As operations manager, Seely oversees company initiatives that are necessary for client performance and organizational growth. Prior to joining the TowWorks team in 2019, Seely was the assistant fleet manager at San Jacinto River Fleet in Channelview, Texas, for eight years. His hands-on experience in vessel scheduling, workforce coordination and operational logistics gave him first-hand knowledge of the pressures fleet operators face, and the experience needed to comprehensively and knowledgably address their needs.

Seely is known for his proactive approach to addressing complicated situations and future struggles, asking questions and preparing his clients and team for possible outcomes before they arise. He is known to have a client-first mindset who is also supportive of his team, stimulating a culture of accountability and improvement.

“Paul Seely exemplifies the qualities recognized by the 40 Under 40 award: innovation grounded in experience, leadership built on trust and a commitment to elevating the industry he serves,” said Laura Lewis, sales manager at TowWorks. “By bridging maritime operations with modern technology and advancing rapidly through demonstrated performance, he represents the next generation of forward-thinking leadership in the maritime sector.”

Featured photo caption: 40 Under 40 Awards: Sol Salgado of Maritime Partners, Joshua Sasfai of R. J. Brown River Towing, Tod Schmitz of Ceres Consulting, LLC, and Paul Seely of TowWorks for their leadership, dedication and contributions to the industry.