40 Under 40 Awards: Smith, Steines, Tittle And Trosclair

For the sixth 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 Russell Smith, Jordan Steines, Sean Tittle and Lloyd Trosclair.

Russell Smith

Russell Smith (photo not available), 31, is chief operating officer at Glenn E. Daulton Inc.

Smith began working for the company in 2019 as the chief financial officer, having previously worked for a “Big Eight” accounting firm in Atlanta, Ga.

Although he had very little experience with the maritime industry, he began “quickly and enthusiastically” to learn the business and make connections within it, Glenn E. Daulton President Dan Frankum said.

The company is a family-owned, third-generation barge rental and management company focusing primarily in the deck barge market. Frankum credited Smith with expanding its focus from managing and leaseing deck, crane and hopper barges, successfully acquiring multiple new customers.

Additionally, Frankum said, Smith has played a large part in growing the company’s fleet both through acquisition and overseeing new construction.

“Russ’s ability to learn and grow within the company has been through his hard work, his quick understanding of the industry and his professional demeanor,” Frankum said. “He continues to impress me daily, and by naming him chief operating officer of a company that my grandfather started in 1938, I feel Russ is the right person with his integrity and business savvy to move GD Inc. forward for another 85 years.”

Jordan Steines

Jordan Steines, 32, is vessel operations manager for Riverview Tug Service Inc.

Steines has worked in every role within the company, from sweeping the floor to deckhand to electrical and refrigeration to captain and then being promoted from human resources manager into his current position.

“Jordan still wears many hats,” Riverview Tug Service President Jeremy Putman said. “With a small company, you still have to perform other jobs than working in an office all day. He still does all of our vessel and office IT. He still regularly operates a tug or two.”

Steines began working for Riverview in high school and stayed on through college. After graduation, he began working full time for the company.

“Jordan has helped grow this company from a single boat to the current operation we have today,” Putman said. He added that he has demonstrated the value of hard work and setting and obtaining goals.

Sean Tittle

Sean Tittle, 37, is a port captain for Southern Devall Towing.

He has been with the company for 17 years.

In nominating him, port captain Michael Ditto said Tittle is a very good leader and mentor and always contributes well to the industry.

“He comes and does the new-hire training,” he said.

Tittle has served every position on the boats, Ditto said, making his way up from mate to engineer to pilot to captain before making the transition to port captain in June 2022.

Lloyd Trosclair

Lloyd Trosclair, 36, is safety and training specialist for vessel operations for Turn Services.

In this role, he supports safety efforts by working with the vessel operations team to ensure safety aboard the company’s pushboats and crewboats.

“Although this role has many important responsibilities, such as auditing and incident investigations, one of his primary roles is to shape safe behaviors by combining his knowledge and experience of vessel operations with his drive to make Turn Services the safest company in the industry,” said Mario Munoz, president of Turn Services.

Trosclair began his career at Turn Services in 2014 as an entry-level deckhand. He advanced to a mate position while also working to become a steersman, gaining the respect of his colleagues along the way as a dedicated and experienced mariner who possesses an excellent knowledge of the company’s vessels and fleets, Munoz said. He also called Trosclair a “true leader” and dedicated to reaching the company’s safety goal of zero incidents, zero injuries and zero harm to the environment.

Caption for photo: This week’s IMX 40 Under 40 featured recipients are Russell Smith (not pictured), Jordan Steines, Sean Tittle and Lloyd Trosclair.