Posted on March 30, 2026
A veteran of the dredging industry shares his vision for growth, innovation, and strengthening WEDA’s role as the industry’s knowledge hub.
The Western Dredging Association has welcomed a familiar and highly respected industry leader as its new Executive Director. With more than four decades of experience spanning global dredging operations, business ownership, and industry leadership, Stan Ekren brings both deep technical knowledge and a strategic perspective to the role.
What drew him to the position was simple: the people and the purpose.
“The dredging industry—and the people who make it work every day—are what motivated me,” he said. “There’s a shared commitment to safety, efficiency, and keeping navigation channels open for the global economy.”
A Career Built Across the Industry
Stan’s 43-year career includes 29 years with Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company and 14 years as a small business dredge owner. His experience spans port development, environmental restoration, navigation maintenance, beach nourishment, and equipment design—giving him a comprehensive understanding of the challenges WEDA members face.
His work has taken him across 25 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers districts, as well as projects in Canada, the Caribbean, South America, and beyond. That global exposure, he notes, provides valuable insight into the diverse conditions and regulatory environments shaping the industry.
A Longstanding Commitment to WEDA
Stan’s connection to WEDA dates back to 1993. Over the years, he has served on the National Board and held leadership roles as President of both the Midwest and Pacific Chapters. Notably, during his tenure with the Pacific Chapter, membership doubled—an early indicator of his focus on growth and engagement.
Today, those priorities remain front and center.
Strategic Focus: Growth, Engagement, and Efficiency
As Executive Director, Stan is focused on strengthening WEDA’s core mission through:
- Expanding membership and industry outreach
- Enhancing communication and knowledge exchange
- Supporting educational initiatives and future talent
- Recognizing excellence across the dredging community
To support these efforts, WEDA is planning to bring on a full-time Business Manager to oversee daily operations, allowing greater focus on strategic initiatives and member engagement.
Addressing Industry Challenges
Looking ahead, Stan sees maintaining a strong and unified maritime industry as one of the sector’s greatest challenges.
“A competitive global economy and a healthier environment both depend on safe and efficient navigation channels,” he noted. “Sustaining that requires ongoing commitment and collaboration across the industry.”
He also emphasized the importance of balancing regulatory processes with results-driven outcomes—an area that will continue to evolve in the coming years.
Driving Sustainability Through Knowledge Sharing
WEDA’s role in environmental stewardship, according to Stan, centers on education and the exchange of proven practices. From beneficial reuse of dredged materials to ecosystem restoration, the organization provides a platform for sharing lessons learned across regions and projects.
“Every project offers insights,” he said. “WEDA ensures those insights are shared—through conferences, publications, and collaboration.”
Investing in the Next Generation
A key priority is engaging younger professionals and expanding WEDA’s reach within academic institutions. The organization’s Young WEDA program will continue to play a central role, alongside increased outreach to universities and industry partners.
Enhancing Member Value
Recent upgrades to WEDA’s membership and conference systems are expected to improve efficiency and free up resources for expanded outreach and programming—further strengthening the organization’s value to members.
Success, Stan says, will ultimately be measured by growth, relevance, and impact:
“We want WEDA to be recognized as the industry’s center for knowledge exchange—while remaining financially strong and highly relevant to our members.”
Looking Ahead
What excites him most about the role is the opportunity to collaborate with innovators across the industry.
“From government agencies to contractors and suppliers, this industry is full of people constantly finding better ways to do more with less,” he said.
Upcoming: WEDA Summit & Expo 2026
WEDA continues to build momentum with its flagship events. The 2026 WEDA Summit & Expo will take place in Montreal at the Hotel Bonaventure Montreal, with strong support already secured from leading industry sponsors.
Stan closed the interview by noting, “ DredgeWire has been an outstanding partner to WEDA, and I’m confident that relationship will continue to grow. Its broad reach plays a key role in helping WEDA and our members advance our goals, promote our mission, and keep our stakeholders informed.”
With a clear vision and deep industry roots, Stan Ekren steps into the Executive Director role ready to strengthen connections, expand impact, and help shape the future of dredging.
