On The Move: Mary Lamie, Jeff Steiber, Ronald A. Dragg
Mary Lamie, who has led the St. Louis Regional Freightway for 11 years, is stepping down. In an email to colleagues and associates, she said she is leaving November 2 to take a consulting position with regional engineering firm Lochmueller Group. She said her colleague Greg Linhares, Bi-State Development’s chief legal counsel, will take over her duties at Bi-State and Freightway. Lamie said she would “remain actively engaged in that evaluation process and help Greg and (Bi-State CEO Taulby Roach) guide the Freightway through this transition”.
The St. Louis Regional Freightway is an enterprise of Bi-State Development created to coordinate freight infrastructure, planning and economic development across an eight-county bi-state area in Missouri and Illinois. It acts as a single point of contact and authority to optimize the region’s freight network, advance industrial site selection and champion infrastructure projects (such as bridge upgrades and multimodal terminals).
Lamie has been with the organization since its inception in 2014, initially as executive director, later as executive vice president of multimodal enterprises at Bi-State Development.
During Lamie’s tenure and under her leadership, the Freightway has grown from a new Bi-State Development enterprise into a nationally recognized regional freight initiative. “All of you who have engaged with us have been central to that success,” Lamie said. “Your support has helped strengthen the St. Louis region’s position as a premier multimodal freight hub. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to work with all of you in delivering those results.”
A core Freightway achievement has been the annual Priority Projects List (developed with the Freight Development Committee), which identifies top freight infrastructure needs and advocates for funding. The list has expanded significantly; earlier lists were in the low billions, about $2.75 billion for 2022 with 21 projects, versus more than $3.8 billion for 2023.
On the port and terminal side, Lamie oversaw the campaign that marketed a 70-mile stretch of terminals in and around St. Louis as the “Ag Coast.”
Among its many achievements, the Freightway has highlighted and supported manufacturing/distribution GDP growth of 33 percent (2020–2025) in the region, plus major investments in targeted sectors (advanced manufacturing, chemicals, food and agtech, metals — more than $3 billion with nearly 2,000 new jobs in recent reports). Aerospace has seen particularly strong growth (job concentration nearly 4 times the national average; more than $5 billion in planned investments creating demand for ~1,000 jobs), leading to the 2024 launch of the St. Louis Regional Aerospace and Aviation Task Force for workforce and coordination efforts.
Lamie received the Transportation Club of St. Louis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2026, which cited the Freightway’s collaborative model, project pipeline and investments under her leadership.
J.F. Brennan
Jeff Steiber, government relations officer and small business liaison officer for J.F. Brennan Company, has been appointed to the U.S. National Commission of the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC USA).
Steiber began his four-year term October 1. He is one of eight appointed commissioners serving on the governing body of PIANC USA, which provides direction for the organization’s U.S. section and fosters collaboration among government, industry and other waterborne transportation stakeholders.
Steiber brings 34 years of heavy marine construction experience to the commission, including extensive work related to the nation’s inland navigation system. His technical contributions include U.S. patents for innovative navigation gate systems.
“I’m truly humbled to have been nominated and appointed to this role,” Steiber said. “I look forward to sharing my knowledge of inland maritime infrastructure while learning from and collaborating with experts from around the world.”
Founded in 1885, PIANC is an international organization of professionals involved in the planning, design, construction, maintenance and operation of waterways, ports and other maritime infrastructure. PIANC USA was organized in 1902.
Kirby Corporation
Ronald A. Dragg, 62, Kirby Corporation’s vice president, controller and assistant secretary, informed Kirby October 6
that he intends to retire in the first quarter of 2027 following the filing of the company’s annual report December 31.
According to Kirby’s filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Dragg will continue to serve in his current positions during the transition period and will assist the company in ensuring an orderly transition of his responsibilities.
Dragg is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and holds a Master of Science in Accountancy degree from the University of Houston and a degree in finance from Texas A&M University. He has served the company as vice president and controller since January 2007.
He also served as controller from November 2002 to January 2007, controller – financial reporting from January 1999 to October 2002 and assistant controller – financial reporting from October 1996 to December 1998.
Prior to joining the company, Dragg was employed by Baker Hughes Incorporated. Dragg has been with Kirby for 30 years.
