WCI Names Tracy Zea President And CEO 

Waterways Council Inc.’s board of directors has unanimously elected Tracy Zea as the organization’s new president and CEO.  He immediately assumed his new duties effective July 8.

With a broad range of Capitol Hill, policy development and government relations expertise, Zea most recently served as WCI’s vice president-government relations, advocating for WCI’s goals for authorizations and appropriations that support a modern, efficient, reliable inland waterways transportation system.  His work also enhanced WCI’s stakeholder relationship with the Corps of Engineers and the Inland Waterways Users Board.

Zea joined WCI as its director-government relations in August 2015, transitioning from the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. During his time on the T&I Committee, he assisted in Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization and Map-21 highway reauthorization and played an integral part in the enactment of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014.

Prior to joining the T&I Committee, Zea worked for Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.). Zea earned a bachelor of science degree in political science from South Dakota State University.

“We are thrilled to announce the selection of Tracy Zea as WCI’s new president and CEO.  Tracy knows WCI’s issues and membership extremely well, and he embodies the drive, creativity and enthusiasm this position requires,” said Peter Stephaich, chairman of the WCI board of directors.

“WCI’s board also expresses its thanks to Deb Calhoun, who, since February 18, served as WCI interim president and CEO until we selected a permanent president and CEO.  We thank Deb for her additional service to the organization and look forward to her working for WCI remotely from her new home in Kentucky,” Stephaich continued.