RiverWorks Discovery, Inland Marine Expo to host waterways career fair
ST. LOUIS – A partnership between RiverWorks Discovery and the Inland Marine Expo will provide employers in the river sector, along with prospective employees, with a unique opportunity to network with each other on May 24.
RiverWorks Discovery will host a “Who Works the Rivers” career fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24, at IMX 2017, in the Dome at America’s Center.
“Who Works the Rivers” educates prospective employees on skilled labor jobs available to them in the maritime industry, from non-profit to military.
“The inland waterways is a rather humble, often overlooked industry with well-paying jobs and great benefits. Some of the most in-demand positions (such as barge washers, deckhands, etc.) require minimum education while still offer the salary range around $40,000 to $56,000. That’s almost unheard of anymore,” said Aimee Andres, executive director of Inland Rivers, Ports and Terminals Inc. based in East Alton.
The St. Louis area alone has hundreds of port and terminal operations in need of personnel, Andres said. “Further, many of the employers offer scholarship assistance for pilot and/or mate training to advance individual careers.”
The career fair is free for prospective employees, and offers them a unique opportunity to interact with potential employers and even take part in some of the tasks that would be a part of these jobs. This event is for adults only (graduating high school seniors or older). Industry experience is valued, but not required.
Inland Marine Highways move commerce to/from 38 states throughout our nation’s heartland, serve as transport ramps to industrial and agricultural centers and facilitate imports/exports at gateway ports to the Coasts. Examples of careers that will be represented at this event include:
• Towboat careers: deckhand, mates, captains, pilots, cooks, mechanical engineers (captains and pilots make over six figures a year)
• Mechanical engineers
• Welders
• Crew dispatchers
• Logistics
• Government agencies – USACE and the USCG
Companies already confirmed include:
• AEP River Transportation Division
• American Commercial Barge Line
• Amherst Madison
• Artco/ADM
• Coast Guard Saint Louis Greater Area
• Crounse Corp.
• Ingram Barge Co.
• Marquette Transportation
• McNational Inc.
• Newt Marine
• Seamen’s Church Institute
• St. Louis – Kansas City Carpenters Regional Council
• TPG Marine
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – St. Louis District
• St. Louis Admirals R/C Model Boat Club
• America’s Central Port
• West Kentucky Community and Technical College
• Mountwest Maritime Academy
• Aquarius Marine LLC
• Tulsa Port of Catoosa
• Heartland Barge
• J.F. Brennan Marine
• VAA, LLC
To register as a career fair attendee for the IMX 2017, visit www.inlandmarineexpo.com. Contact Errin Howard at (513) 403-9312 or errin@riverworksdiscovery.org with questions.
IMX is the annual trade show for the inland and intracoastal marine transportation industry. At the show, you will find equipment and services that are critical in the transportation of goods along U.S. inland and intracoastal waterways.
RiverWorks Discovery is an education outreach effort of the National Rivers Hall of Fame, located at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa. RWD has more than 150 co-sponsors and 40 non-profit partners nationwide who make it possible for RWD to provide free educational materials and presentations to the public. RWD is an effort that brings together the river industry, community leaders, museums, nature centers, educators and the general public to recognize the important role rivers have played throughout history.
— From the Illinois Business Journal
