On December 11, 𝗖𝗚𝗕 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 and Cooper Consolidated, LLC once again joined the inland maritime community as major sponsors of the 25𝘵𝘩 𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘙𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 luncheon. This event is an annual celebration of the people who keep America’s waterways moving. With a record-setting 600 attendees, the energy in the room was palpable and spoke volumes about the strength and unity of our industry.
Together, we helped raise an incredible $535,000 to support The Seamen’s Church Institute. This is North America’s largest and most comprehensive mariner and seafarer service agency, providing chaplaincy, crisis response, advocacy, safety, and mariner training for our inland waterways sector. Every year, SCI chaplains visit more than 2,000 vessels, offering a lifeline of care and comfort for those who spend their lives on the water.
This year’s River Bell Award honored George Leavell, CEO of Wepfer Group, LLC — a leader whose hands-on approach and advocacy have strengthened inland waterways for decades. Wepfer is a trusted partner at multiple CGB locations on the Lower Mississippi River — from handling our boat needs for operations, to assisting in fleeting, mid-streaming, and more. We celebrate George Leavell being honored for his leadership and positive impact on the maritime community.
We’d like to especially recognize CGB’s Lance Rase, whose dedication to the River Bell planning committee reflects his deep commitment to the well-being of our maritime community. His efforts help make this event a success year after year.
“Events like River Bell reaffirm the unity of our maritime community and the vital role the Seamen’s Church Institute plays in supporting mariners and seafaring communities, and the shared mission that binds our maritime family together,” states Lance Rase. “The River Bell Awards are one way we can give back to the people who make this industry possible. These mariners sacrifice so much every day, it’s about showing up and letting them know that they’re never alone.”
If you’re interested in learning more about the Seamen’s Church Institute, visit www.seamenschurch.org.
Pictured left to right: Mitch Whelan, Lance Rase, Allen Tappan, Brandon Wallace, Dave Simpson, Eric Slater, David Hillard, Mark Cruse, Joe Olin, Josh Esper.