The Upper Mississippi Waterway Association (UMWA) elected its 2026 officer team at the Jan. 14 virtual board meeting. With newly elected officers and reelected officers, the UMWA board is set to achieve its priorities for the year ahead..
With a unanimous vote, the board approved, Zac Morris of AMI Consulting Engineers to continue serving as UMWA president for a second year. The board elected the following officers:
Vice president – Randy Carmichael of Upper Mississippi Fleeting
Treasurer – Wylie Wilson with Wylie Wilson Trucking
Chairman – Cassandra Caldwell of American Cruise Lines
Secretary – Mark Caspers
At-large – Nicole Siems of VAA and Women in Maritime Operations
“One of my goals this year is for UMWA to become even more engaged throughout the Upper Mississippi River through member events, workshops, outreach and education,” Morris said. “UMWA’s overarching goal is to ‘Preserve the Working River’ and work with everyone who is impacted by it. We have great momentum and support in accomplishing this ambitious goal, and we are really starting to move forward as an association.”
Morris said he is honored to be reelected as the president to serve the association and is grateful for the leaders at UMWA.
UMWA moves into the 2026 fiscal year with new goals and events for members. The organization is an association of waterway operators, shippers and other waterway interests working together to promote the economic and environmental benefits of water transportation in the Upper Midwest.
Siems said membership outreach will be a key UMWA initiative.
“One of my main priorities this year is getting to know our members personally,” Siems said. “I want to listen, learn about their needs and goals and use that insight to help the board make more informed, member-driven decisions.”
A focus for newly elected Chair Caldwell is the regional economic impact study for the Upper Mississippi River navigation system. The University of Arkansas’s College of Engineering’s Maritime Transportation Research and Education Center will conduct the study through a federally funded grant.
The study will investigate the regional economic impacts of the Upper Mississippi River to inform waterway stakeholders of the navigation system’s value. The study will consider multiregional economic impacts from hydropower energy generation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Operation and Maintenance expenditures, private sector investment expenditures, port activities, shippers’ activities, transportation cost savings and recreational benefits related to the area.
“My focus is going to be getting the economic impact study underway,” Caldwell said. “But also, I would like to work collaboratively, to engage in some thoughtful, strategic planning efforts that will support growth and progress and long-term success.”
The newly elected officers shared they’re grateful and honored to work with the UMWA board and Executive Director Gary Williams during the next fiscal year. Directors will gather again in February for a virtual board meeting.