Sutton Elected Chairman of AWO
Senior Vice President of Business Development and Planning at American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) Patrick Sutton was elected chairman of the board of directors for the American Waterways Operators (AWO). The news was announced at AWO’s spring convention and annual membership meeting, held in Washington D.C. in May.
AWO also elected Kirby Corporation Vice President of Public & Government Affairs Matt Woodruff as vice chairman.
Brian Hughes, vice president operations & sales of Hughes Bros. Inc., was re-elected as treasurer.
Sutton succeeds Kelly Teichman, executive chairman of T&T Marine.
“The tugboat, towboat and barge industry is a vital contributor to America’s economy and security, and members like Kelly Teichman and her predecessors have been pivotal to elevating this industry and telling its impactful story,” said AWO president and CEO Jennifer Carpenter. “Patrick Sutton is a strong, articulate leader whose experience, thoughtfulness and dedication will be critical to propelling those efforts forward and helping us navigate the challenges and opportunities of today’s dynamic environment. We look forward to the coming year under his leadership.”
Sutton holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering technology from Purdue University and a Master of Arts in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. He joined ACBL in 2005 and has since held multiple positions, such as industrial engineer, director of fleet and terminal operations, director of strategic planning and plant manager.
“We are living through a critical time for our industry—a time of political transition, economic turbulence, geopolitical uncertainty and constant, rapid change,” Sutton said. “Now more than ever, we need to be adaptable in ways that allow us to adjust to unpredictability and seize opportunities, and we need to speak as one unified, strategic voice as we make our case to the Trump administration, Congress and the Coast Guard.”
AWO has been a voice for the industry since its founding in 1944, taking up important issues to policymakers and federal officials. The association advocates for the Jones Act and Subchapter M enforcement.
“Operating safely must remain the highest priority for all of us, not only because it’s our sacred obligation to ensure that our mariners return home safely to their families, but also because safety inspires confidence in what we do,” Sutton said. “We must also continue to safeguard the Jones Act, the foundational law that ensures the viability of American maritime, and with it, our country’s national, economic and homeland security. And we must continue to prioritize building a regulatory environment that promotes, and does not inhibit, safety, efficiency and innovation.”
As AWO advocates on behalf of carrier and affiliate members at the federal level, the organization relies heavily on member engagement to keep initiatives moving forward.
“Staying true to our guideposts and embracing the opportunities that this changing environment affords us, that’s how we’ll continue to grow our critical industry and tell our story,” Sutton said. “But even with all these capabilities, AWO cannot be fully effective without maximum member engagement, and that’s my challenge to all our members.”
