VMA's International Trade Symposium

Brian Barber

Chartering Manager

AdvanSix 

Panel: “Dry & Liquid Bulk Shipping: Mature & Emerging Markets, Renewables, & Securing the Supply Chain”

Brian Barber joined AdvanSix in early 2019 where he oversees Vessel Chartering, operations and all other waterborne supply chain requirements.  Prior to his time at AdvanSix Brian spend 7 years in logistics roles for Oil Refiner PBF Energy including Chartering and Biofuel Scheduling.

Robert Braithwaite

Senior Vice President Marketing & Sales

Consol Energy Inc. 

Panel: “The Evolving Landscape of U.S. Coal Exports: A Spotlight on Market Trends and Challenges”

CONSOL Energy Inc. is a Canonsburg-based producer and exporter of high-Btu bituminous thermal and crossover metallurgical coal. It owns and operates some of the most productive longwall mining operations in the Northern Appalachian Basin. Our flagship operation is the Pennsylvania Mining Complex, which has the capacity to produce approximately 28.5 million tons of coal per year and is comprised of 3 large-scale underground mines: Bailey, Enlow Fork, and Harvey. The company also owns and operates the CONSOL Marine Terminal, which is located in the port of Baltimore and has a throughput capacity of approximately 15 million tons per year. In addition to the ~767 million reserve tons associated with the Pennsylvania Mining Complex, the company also controls approximately 1.6 billion tons of greenfield thermal and metallurgical coal reserves located in the major coal-producing basins of the eastern United States.

David Chenowith

Director of Agency

Host Agencies 

Panel: “The Bulk Shipping Ecosystem: Aligning Challenges, Needs, and Solutions”

Highly skilled in Maritime Operations, International Business Developments, Commercial maritime knowledge. 40 years in the Maritime business from the ground up, starting as a maritime clerk working to achieve positions of Regional Operations Manager, VP Sales, VP of operations, President. Skilled in CRM, P&L , account management, Have held and still hold various port boards, Honorary Consulate to Finland. Travel both domestic and internationally. Background in cargoes of coal, grain, fertilizers, maritime logistics.

Michael Coleman

President & CEO

CV International/Capes Shipping Agencies 

Panel: “The Connected Port: Optimizing Bulk Movement Beyond the Dock”

Mike serves as President & CEO of CV International and Capes Shipping Agencies, a family-owned, global logistics and vessel agency service provider. He started working at CV International in 1996 in ocean freight documentation and, after working in various capacities within the organization, was named president in 2006. In 2018, he was named CEO.

In his current capacity, Mike is responsible for the overall management, direction, and growth of the company.Mike has served in leadership positions on multiple trade boards.  He currently serves as Chairman of the Virginia Maritime Association (VMA) and board member of the Hampton Roads Shipping Association. Mike previously served as 33rd President of the VMA and president of the Hampton Roads Global Commerce Council.

In 2019, Mike was appointed to the Commonwealth of Virginia Board for Branch Pilots; a board that oversees the licensing and regulation of harbor pilots in Virginia. In 2021 he was appointed by the Virginia Secretary of Transportation to the Virginia Freight Advisory Committee (VFAC) to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

In June 2022, Mike was appointed by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin to the Board of Commissioners of the Port of Virginia.Mike received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond and his juris doctor from Louisiana State University where he was a member of the Louisiana Law Review. He is a licensed customs broker and is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Charlie Gottbrath

Director, Non-Grain Freight & Logistics

Cooper Consolidated 

Panel: "The Connected Port: Optimizing Bulk Movement Beyond the Dock"

Charlie Gottbrath is a Director of Freight and Logistics at Cooper Consolidated, LLC with experience in various roles such as Charter Barge Marketing at CGB Enterprises, Southwest Region Terminal Manager, Facility Manager, Logistics Manager, and Grain Merchandiser/Milo Trader. Gottbrath graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Agriculture Economics.

Benjamin Harper

Director

Oldendorff Carriers 

Panel: "Dry & Liquid Bulk Shipping: Mature & Emerging Markets, Renewables, & Securing the Supply Chain”

Each year, Oldendorff Carriers carry about 380 million tons of bulk and unitised cargo around the world. We perform 15,000 port calls in 118 countries. On average, we operate about 700 chartered and owned ships at any one time.

Jonathan Healy

Director of Sales & Marketing - Export Energy

CSX Transportation 

Panel: “The Evolving Landscape of U.S. Coal Exports: A Spotlight on Market Trends and Challenges”

Jonathan Healy is based out of Metro Jacksonville and works at Csx as Director of Sales and Marketing, Energy - Export and River.

CSX Corporation, together with its subsidiaries based in Jacksonville, Fla., is one of the nation's leading transportation suppliers. The company’s rail and intermodal businesses provide rail-based transportation services including traditional rail service and the transport of intermodal containers and trailers.

Overall, the CSX Transportation network encompasses about 20,000 route miles of track in 26 states, the District of Columbia and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Our transportation network serves some of the largest population centers in the nation. Nearly two-thirds of Americans live within CSX’s service territory.

Dan Horn

Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

Alpha Metallurgical Coal Sales 

Panel: “The Evolving Landscape of U.S. Coal Exports: A Spotlight on Market Trends and Challenges”

Daniel E. Horn has served as executive vice president and chief commercial officer since January 2022. He was previously executive vice president of sales for the company and president of Contura Coal Sales, LLC. Mr. Horn previously held a similar role at Alpha Natural Resources, where he served for over a decade and had responsibility for domestic and seaborne metallurgical sales.

Previously, Mr. Horn led the coal and coke procurement team at Bethlehem Steel Corporation after serving in various engineering and operating roles at Bethlehem’s underground coal mines. Mr. Horn holds a bachelor of science degree in mining engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a master of business administration degree from St. Francis University. He is a registered professional engineer and a licensed underground mine foreman.

Kevin Humphreys

President & CEO

Attender 

Panel: "The Future of Bulk Shipping: Innovations and Opportunities"

Kevin is President & CEO of Attender, a tech platform transforming services procurement in the maritime and offshore renewables sectors.

Kevin has 35 years of experience as a senior executive and manager in a variety of fields including private equity and venture capital backed start-ups, OEM, software, international shipping, and government. Among his significant previous positions, Kevin served as President of Lloyd’s Register Americas, General manager of Market Innovation at Wartsila Inc., CEO and Chief Operating Officer of Fifth Street Development, and Senior Vice President of Engineering & Business Development at Marorka USA. Before entering the private sector,

Kevin was a Special Agent with The Federal Bureau of Investigation, sailed as a licensed Chief Engineer in the merchant marines, and served as an officer in the US Naval Reserve.Kevin is a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering Systems, holds a Chief Engineers License Unlimited steam and diesel, and has a Masters of Arts degree in the Philosophy and Theology of Science from Biola University.

Ted McNair

Vice President of Business Development

Metro Ports 

Panel: "The Connected Port: Optimizing Bulk Movement Beyond the Dock"

Ted McNair has a diverse work experience spanning over 15 years. Ted started their career at Syngenta, where they worked as a Distribution Manager from October 2006 to December 2007. Ted then joined CP Briquetting as General Manager from May 2008 to May 2011. Following this, Ted worked at South Carolina Ports Authority as a Commercial Manager for Bulk, Breakbulk & RoRo from August 2011 to September 2017. Since September 2017, they have been with Metro Ports, initially serving as Director of Business Development and currently holding the position of Vice President of Business Development.

Ted McNair attended Clemson University from 2000 to 2004, where they earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Environmental Science. Ted then pursued further education at Clemson University from 2004 to 2006, completing a Master of Science (MS) degree in Economics.

Cate Moran

Chartering Manager

NYK Bulkship (Atlantic) 

Panel: "The Bulk Shipping Ecosystem: Aligning Challenges, Needs, and Solutions"

Cate Moran is Senior Chartering Manager for NYK Bulkship (Atlantic) NV, a subsidiary company within the NYK Group of companies. NYK is a global logistics solution provider offering ocean, land and air transportation, and is on a mission to contribute to the well-being of society through the safe and responsible movement of goods. NYK aims  beyond the present scope of our enterprise to co-create future value with stakeholders based on ESG management. Cate started her career in shipping with a degree in Marine Transportation and International Business, followed by a several year stint at sea as a deck officer on both multipurpose vessels and product tankers. She started in the operations department at NYK and has grown through various operational and commercial roles. At NYK she’s responsible for chartering within the Atlantic, particularly focusing on the handy-ultramax sector as well as forest. She also is one of NYK’s ESG Navigators, whose role is to advance ESG management, supporting both bottom-up and top-down initiatives.  

Capt. Nitin Nayyar

Vice President - Energy Business Unit

MOL (Americas) 

Panel: "The Future of Bulk Shipping: Innovations and Opportunities"

Capt. Nitin Nayyar is the VP of Energy Business Unit and oversees various LNG, Offshore & tanker related business development activities in North and South Americas. He also supports Commercial Operation for the MOL Gas fleet calling US & South American waters. He’s spend last 6 years with MOL developing and expanding various gas related projects & MOL’s foray into alternative fuels.

 Nitin has more than 19 years of deep sea sailing experience on Oil, Gas (LPG & LNG tankers). He in his previous roles have worked with regulatory authorities, Oil and Gas major organizations and worked with various working groups & panels with OCIMF & SIGTTO. Nitin holds a British Master Mariners License from MCA-UK, was a SIRE Category 1 Oil, Gas, Chemical Inspector. An OVID inspector and a lead TMSA & MTMSA auditor. He’s also a Project Management Professional and a member of PMP.

Doug Newton

Newton Commodities 

Panel: “Dry & Liquid Bulk Shipping: Mature & Emerging Markets, Renewables, & Securing the Supply Chain”

Newton Commodities' mission is to become a leading energy trading group. We seek to achieve this goal by creating value through energy off-take, storage, transportation and distribution, and through problem-solving, determination and strong relationships. At Newton we aim to find new ways to create sustainable, long-term value.

Niels Rasmussen

Chief Shipping Analyst

BIMCO 

Panel: “Charting the Course: A Look at 2024 Trends, Tonnages, and the 2025 Market Outlook in Bulk Shipping”

Niels Rasmussen joined BIMCO in 2022 as Chief Shipping Analyst.

Joining Maersk as a trainee at 19, he spent 24 years with the container giant before moving to the shipbroking industry. There he headed up the market research team at a major shipbroking company.Niels focuses on explaining and predicting supply and demand developments in the major shipping markets.

Paul Reagan

Chairman of the Board

Sampling Associates International, LLC 

Panel: “The Evolving Landscape of U.S. Coal Exports: A Spotlight on Market Trends and Challenges”

Paul Reagan is the Chairman of the Board of Sampling Associates International based in Hampton, Virginia, USA.  SAI is a company specializing in the mechanical sampling of coal and coke and currently operates and maintains the mechanical sampling systems at multiple export terminals in North and South America.

Paul is a graduate of Brown University and has been with SAI since 1985.  He has many years of hands-on experience in the sampling and analysis of coal. Paul is a member of the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) and currently serves as the chairman of the Task Group on the Mechanical Sampling of Coal and Coke - as well as the Chairman of ASTM Subcommittee D05.27 on Solid Mineral Fuels.

Paul represents the US as the Head of the American delegation to ISO Technical Committee 27 - and serves as one of the group’s sampling experts.  In January of 2018, he was appointed to the Chair of ISO Subcommittee 4 on Sampling. In 2008, Paul was given the R. A. Glenn Award – the award from ASTM Committee D05 on Coal and Coke for “individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the development of ASTM standards related to coal and coke”.   He is also the author of numerous technical articles on the sampling of coal and coke.

Kishan Shenoy

VP - International Merchandising

Perdue AgriBusiness 

Panel: “The Bulk Shipping Ecosystem: Aligning Challenges, Needs, and Solutions”

Kishan Shenoy joined Perdue AgriBusiness in 2014 with more than 20 years of global commodity sales and merchandising experience and is responsible for managing the company’s International Merchandising efforts.

In 2006, Kishan began working with Bunge North America in St. Louis as a senior trader and was subsequently transferred in 2011 to Bunge in Geneva, Switzerland, where he was directly responsible for marketing Bunge’s product portfolio in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Prior to Bunge, Kishan worked with The Rice Company in Roseville, CA, and in India with both Louis Dreyfus Inc. and Cargill Inc. in merchandising positions.

Kishan holds a bachelor of engineering degree from the University of Bombay, India, a master’s degree in international business from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in New Delhi, and a master’s in business administration from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Kishan enjoys domestic and international travel with his wife, Shruti and children Zoey and Neil. He also despairs over the fortunes of his favorite soccer team, DC United.

Mike Steenhoek

Executive Director

Soy Transportation Coalition 

Panel: “Dry & Liquid Bulk Shipping: Mature & Emerging Markets, Renewables, & Securing the Supply Chain”

Mike Steenhoek is executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition (STC), an initiative established in 2007 and comprised of the United Soybean Board, the American Soybean Association, and fourteen state soybean boards.  The Soy Transportation Coalition exists to promote a cost effective, reliable, and competitive transportation system that serves the agriculture industry.  

As executive director of the STC, Mike’s responsibilities include communicating the initiative and the importance of transportation issues to soybean growers and processors; establishing and executing the organization’s strategic direction; and building collaborations with other effected industries. 

Mike is a member of the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Freight Advisory Council – currently serving as chairman.

Prior to his work on the STC, Mike worked for United States Senator Charles Grassley (Iowa) for eight years – both in Washington, DC, and most recently in Des Moines, Iowa.  In Washington, DC, Mike served as the Senator’s scheduler and frequent speechwriter.  In Des Moines, Mike served as Senator Grassley’s director of economic development.

Mike received both his undergraduate degree and his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Iowa. 

Kate Torpey

Association of Ship Brokers & Agents (ASBA) 

Panel: “The Bulk Shipping Ecosystem: Aligning Challenges, Needs, and Solutions”

Kate Torpey has served as the Executive Director of Association of Ship Brokers & Agents (USA) Inc. (ASBA) since January 2022.

ASBA is a professional association serving ship brokers and ship agents in the USA and Canada since 1934. Prior to joining ASBA, Kate spent her career in sales and marketing in the print manufacturing industry.  This expertise and her combine with her workflow and supply chain efficiency experience is beneficial in continuing ASBA’s support of membership and the maritime industry.   

> 1996 – 2011 Sale Manager Quad/Graphics
> 2011 – 2016  Director of Business Development Alliance Shippers
> 2016 - 2022  Director of Sales & Marketing InfoSeal LLC

Kate is active in several local charities.  In addition to the ASBA Educational Foundation, she has Board positions with Nyack Hospital Foundation Board, St. Dominic's Family Services, Rockland Country Club Foundation,  and SHARE Africa. 

Vasanth Venkatachalam

Vice President, Commercial Director of Operations

Mid-Ship Group 

Panel: “The Bulk Shipping Ecosystem: Aligning Challenges, Needs, and Solutions”

A veteran of the dry cargo shipping industry, Vasanth Venkatachalam brings 29 years of extensive experience, combining technical expertise with strategic insight. He holds an MBA in Operations from the University of Wales and a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Mechanical Engineering from National Institute of Technology, Trichy, India and is a proud member of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, London.

Philip Wagner

Associate Director of Research and Analysis

OPIS, A Dow Jones Company 

Panel: "The Future of Bulk Shipping: Innovations and Opportunities"

With a career spanning over two decades, Philip Wagner is currently the Associate Director of Research and Analysis at OPIS, A Dow Jones Company, where he specialize in coal, natural gas, electric power, market analysis, and forecasting. Previously, he served as a Principal Research Analyst at both OPIS and IHS Markit, honing his expertise in client relations, public speaking, and market modeling. His analytical background includes significant roles at Doyle Trading Consultants and Alpha Natural Resources, where he focused on market strategy and corporate finance. Additionally, Philip has experience in business development at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital and market analysis for the energy sector at Lafarge. He hold a BS in Marketing from York College of Pennsylvania.