MEDIA ADVISORY

For Immediate Release

Contact: Elizabeth Fox

Telephone: (202) 366-0091

Seaway Employees Receive U.S. Dept. of Transportation Secretary’s Award

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg honored employees from the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) at the 54^th Annual Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary’s Awards Ceremony. At the virtual event held yesterday, the Secretary recognized individuals and teams across DOT who performed their duties in an exemplary manner to meet the Department’s strategic goals and accomplish its mission.

The GLS was privileged to have a team of its employees receiving a Transportation Safety Award. The Vessel Inspection Team, comprised of Matthew Trego, Derek Dostie, and Bryan Wood, received the award for partnership with Canadian counterpart (SLSMC) to implement measures to the Seaway’s Joint Enhanced Ship Inspection (ESI) program for foreign ships.

The Paint Crew Team, comprised of Lawrence Greenwood, Matthew Nichols, James Hewitt, and Jonathan Chapman, received the Creativity and Innovation Award for researching, testing, and implementing a new coating system for Stop Logs, that saves time, money, and reduces Volatile Organic Compounds in the environment.

The Team Award was presented to the Operations Service Technicians Team was recognized for decreasing the time of lockage to warp full size vessels with three units instead of two units and avoiding environmental oil spills. The team members were Jacque Leduc, James MacDonald, Christopher McCuin, Tyler Tynon, Michael Childs, Richard Loffler, Darrin Oakes, and Roger Paradis.

Christina Jacot, Human Resources Specialist in the GLS’s Massena, NY office, was presented the Secretary’s Excellence Award, which is granted to employees who have achieved outstanding performance in all aspects of their work and deserve special commendation. Christina is receiving this award for excellent performance in the functioning of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Human Resources Department.

Secretary Buttigieg awarded a Meritorious Achievement Award (Silver Medal) to Carrie Lavigne, for preserving the financial integrity of the Seaway International Bridge (SIB) while protecting U.S. interests in how the bridge is governed. This is the second highest award bestowed by the Secretary in recognition of exceptionally meritorious service to the Department or Federal government.

GLS Deputy Administrator Craig H. Middlebrook said, “We are all proud of the accomplishments of these GLS employees and pleased that the Department of Transportation is recognizing their superior performance. The GLS’s workforce is comprised of professional and dedicated civil servants and these Secretarial awards recognizing their exceptional achievements, in both routine and emergency situations, are well-deserved.”

###