People news from OmniTRAX, CII and Ports of Indiana

OmniTRAX Inc. Economic Development Director Ashley Wolfe has earned global economic development certification by the International Economic Development Council. IEDC’s certified economic developer (CEcD) accreditation has been earned only by development professionals from three North American railroads: OmniTRAX, Canadian Pacific Kansas City and Union Pacific Railroad, OmniTRAX officials said in a press release. Wolfe’s work to grow Arizona’s Sonoran Valley Railroad with customers such as Wright Asphalt and her collaboration with Phelps County Development Corp. to attract projects including Nebraskaland Aviation’s new facilities to the Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado Railway are examples of her recent economic development projects. Certified economic developers work with public officials, business leaders and community members to create and retain high-quality jobs and community investment.

The Containerization and Intermodal Institute (CII) announced that John Nardi, president of the Shipping Association of New York and New Jersey, received the Connie Award, and Steven Rothberg, founding partner of Mercator International LLC, received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the CII's Connie Awards Luncheon held Dec. 8 at the Marriott Newark Liberty Airport Hotel. Nardi received the Connie Award for his leadership and contributions to the maritime and intermodal sectors; Rothberg received his award in recognition of nearly 50 years of work in global freight transportation, port development and intermodal innovation, CII officials said in a press release.

Ports of Indiana has hired Kent Ebbing to lead a Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) initiative supporting the growth of global trade in Indiana. Ebbing joins Ports of Indiana as Foreign-Trade Zone director, following a 27-year tenure as general manager of the Greater Indianapolis Foreign-Trade Zone. Ports of Indiana is the statewide grantee for FTZs and operates FTZs at its three ports. Ebbing joins Dexter Salenda, director of Foreign Trade and Economic Development, in the ports' new foreign trade department, which supports Indiana companies involved in global trade through developing new FTZs and container shipping services, port officials said in a press release.