40 Under 40 Awards: Gillespie, Heflin, Hicks And Hughes
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 Jordan Gillespie, Blake Heflin, Ryan Hicks, Timothy Hughes.
Jordan Gillespie
Jordan Gillespie, 33, is the operations manager at C-River Logistics.
Gillespie graduated from the University of New Orleans with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. He joined the team at C-River Logistics in 2021 as an assistant operations manager. As operations manager, Gillespie coordinates barge movements throughout the inland river system and works closely with customers, carriers, terminals, vessel agents and surveyors. Gillespie attributes his background in computer science for his ability to develop the technology needed to improve visibility and efficiency.
“One of the things I enjoy most about this industry is that no two days are the same,” Gillespie said. “Every day brings a new challenge, whether it’s river conditions, lock delays, vessel schedules or finding solutions to keep cargo moving safely and efficiently.”
The team at C-River Logistics commended Gillespie for his hard work and dedication. He exceeded company expectations as a new hire and was vital to ensuring company operations continued to run smoothly when a colleague was diagnosed with cancer.
“(Gillespie) stepped to the plate to make sure the company continued to operate under normal conditions,” said Pamela Cascio, president of C-River Logistics/SSA Marine. “As a computer science graduate, he took on the role of learning the entire shipping industry and excelled in all aspects of our business. He deserves kudos for all he does.”
Blake Heflin
Blake Heflin, 39, is the director of marketing of deck cargo services at Canal Barge Company.
Heflin’s career in the maritime industry began as soon as he received his Bachelor of Science degree in maritime administration from Texas A&M University in 2009. In 2014, he joined Canal Barge Company as a project manager in deck cargo services, where he specialized in large-scale industrial projects for marine transportation.
As director of marketing, Heflin oversees revenue-generating activities, manages expenses, guides risk managements decisions and directs capital planning for deck barges, including owned and managed assets. His position has given him experience with tug and barge pricing in the Gulf and South America, blue water brokerage and chartering as well as comprehensive project management.
“Blake is becoming a true leader and industry expert,” said Merritt Lane, president and CEO of Canal Barge Company. “It has been great to watch him build successful relationships and expand his scope of responsibilities. We are fortunate to have him leading our deck barge business unit.”
Ryan Hicks
Ryan Hicks, 38, is the continuous improvement manager at Magnolia Marine Transport Company.
Hicks began his maritime career as a deckhand, after which he worked up to the position of mate. After five years, Hicks transitioned shoreside, where he served as a shore tankerman for another five years. In 2022, Hicks was hired as the assistant facility manager at the Magnolia Marine Transport facility in Wood River, Ill. In that role, Hicks managed day-to-day operations of area vessels, coordinating dock arrival times, loading and discharging support of barges, managing crew changes, delivering supplies to boats and barges and acting as a company representative with customers, regulatory agencies and area third-party vendors.
As continuous improvement manager, Hicks is responsible for identifying operational efficiencies, implementing cost-effective solutions and enhancing productivity, safety and sustainability throughout the company’s marine operations.
Timothy Hughes
Timothy Hughes, 38, is the vice president of Hughes Bros., Inc.
Hughes is a sixth-generation bargeman. He began his career at Hughes Bros., Inc., 15 years ago as an entry-level bargeman. Hughes eventually worked his way through roles such as port engineer before ultimately leading the development of Hughes Bros.’ shipyard operations. He has personally crawled, inspected and repaired nearly every barge in the company’s 100-barge fleet.
In his role as vice president, Hughes manages approximately 30 employees and oversees repairs to approximately 20 to 30 vessels annually within the shipyard as well as newbuild and other major repair projects. His team recognizes him as having played a critical role in transforming the company’s shipyard from concept to a fully operational, three-dock facility. Hughes spearheaded the initial planning and design, the hiring and training of staff and the development of operational procedures among other notable responsibilities.
Hughes is known for his attention to detail, his dedication for safety and his unwavering sense of leadership.
“Tim Hughes represents the future of the inland maritime industry: technically skilled, safety-driven, environmentally conscious and deeply rooted in maritime tradition,” said Robert Hughes, vice president of Hughes Bros., Inc. “His career to date demonstrates not only professional excellence, but a genuine dedication to ensuring the industry remains strong, safe and sustainable for generations to come.”
Featured photo caption: The Waterways Journal continues its ninth annual 40 Under 40 series by recognizing four emerging leaders making an impact across the inland marine industry: Jordan Gillespie of C-River Logistics, Blake Heflin of Canal Barge Company, Ryan Hicks of Magnolia Marine Transport Company and Timothy Hughes of Hughes Bros., Inc.
