Jessica Bridges Named WEDA Executive Director

The Western Dredging Association (WEDA) announced May 3 that Jessica Bridges is the organization’s new executive director. Bridges joins WEDA with more than  20  years of experience in industry advocacy and association management.

“I’m delighted to serve the dredging and marine industry as the new executive director of WEDA,” Bridges said. “The level of volunteer commitment to the organization is truly impressive. WEDA’s leadership and members have done an outstanding job of building the organization into a thriving resource for the industry and its partners. I’m excited to take the WEDA leadership baton in this next stage of the association’s development.”

Bridges has served in leadership roles with a number of national trade associations and nonprofits. She was previously CEO of the Triangle Coalition for STEM Education, the U.S. CHP Association and the Rural Wireless Association. As a consultant, Bridges advises association executives and boards of directors on strategic planning, communications strategies and membership development.

Bridges holds a master of public administration from American University in Washington, D.C. She completed the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management and received her IOM designation in 2004, and she earned her Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the American Society of Association Executives in 2005.

“My goals are to increase information sharing to and across our membership, enhance our education programs to be optimally responsive to industry needs and produce additional programming and content that support business development across all sectors of the dredging and marine construction industry,” Bridges said.

“The work our industry performs in supporting our economy, improving our environment and in enhancing resiliency along our coastlines is as important today as ever,” said Matt Binsfeld, WEDA president. “We welcome Jessica to WEDA and are excited to grow the organization’s support for the dredge and marine construction industry under her leadership. We are likewise grateful and thankful to the outgoing executive director, Tom Cappellino, for his years of service and dedication. The organization has grown under his leadership, and we wish him well in his next endeavor.”