Blue Sky Maritime Coalition members
recognize the need to address
global economic and emissions challenges
Coalition of the Willing
North American maritime has a deep history
defined by collaboration and hard work
Blue Sky members continue this tradition
of binational cooperation and determination
The organizations and individuals committed to the Coalition are willing
to roll up their sleeves, volunteer their time,
and build a stronger, more resilient future, together
Board of Directors
Blue Sky's Board of Directors and Workstream Leadership Teams bring practical viewpoints to the economic and emissions challenges facing our industry
Board Leadership
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Rich Byrnes is Blue Sky's President & CEO
He has been engaged with
Blue Sky since the
Coalition's inception in 2021
Prior to joining as staff in 2026,
Byrnes served on Blue Sky's Board
through his role at Port Houston
Rich Byrnes
President & CEO, Blue Sky Maritime Coalition
Executive Committee Member
Julie Ferland is Vice President Shipping & Maritime, Americas at Shell
She has been a member of Blue Sky's Board of Directors since 2025 and currently
serves as Vice Chair
In 2024, Ferland led the Policy, Regulatory & Incentives Workstream
Julie Ferland
VP of Shipping & Maritime Americas, Shell
Blue Sky Board Vice Chair
Executive Committee Member
Merritt Lane is President & CEO of Canal Barge Company
Lane has been a member of Blue Sky's
Board of Directors and has
chaired the Nomination Committee since the Coalition's inception in 2021
Merritt Lane
President & CEO, Canal Barge Co.
Blue Sky Board Member, Nom. Comm Chair
Executive Committee Member
Ted Tregurtha is President of Moran Towing
Tregurtha has been a member of
Blue Sky's Board of Directors since the Coalition's inception in 2021
He was the Board Vice Chair since 2021 and was elected to Board Chair in 2026
Ted Tregurtha
President, Moran Towing
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Blue Sky Board Chair
Executive Committee Member
Board of Directors Members
Dr. Craig Philip is a Research Professor of
Civil & Environmental Engineering at Vanderbilt University
Dr. Philip has been a member of Blue Sky's Board of Directors since 2025
and has led various strategic initiatives within the Coalition
Dr. Craig Philip
Res. Prof. Civil & Enviro. Engineering, Vanderbilt
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Blue Sky Board Member
Karrie Trauth is Executive Vice President of Shipping & Maritime at Shell
Trauth has been a member of Blue Sky's Board of Directors since the Coalition's inception
She was elected to be the Coalition's first Board Chair in 2021 and served until 2026
Karrie Trauth
EVP of Shipping & Maritime, Shell
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Blue Sky Board Member, Frmr. Board Chair
Executive Leadership Team
Jessica Mahaffey is the Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications, and Chief Marketing Officer at ABS
Mahaffey has been engaged with Blue Sky and served as the Communications Director since the Coalition's inception in 2021
Jessica Mahaffey
Chief Marketing Officer, ABS
Blue Sky Officer, Communications Director
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Megan O'Leary is Blue Sky's
Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
O'Leary has been engaged with
Blue Sky since 2021
when she was a Graduate Fellow through
Middlebury Institute of International Studies
Megan was hired as Blue Sky's
second full-time employee in 2022
Megan O'Leary
VP & COO, Blue Sky Maritime Coalition
Blue Sky Board Officer