Posted on May 9, 2025
The Western Dredging Association (WEDA) today announced the “Texas A&M Opening Plenary – CEO Panel” will take place Tuesday, June 24, 2025 as part of the first-day of programming of the 24th World Dredging Congress & Exposition (WODCON XXIV). The panel will feature distinguished leaders from four of the dredging industry’s most leading-edge companies, and will be presented by WEDA in partnership with Texas A&M University.
Panelists include:
- Lasse Petterson, Chief Executive Officer of Great Lakes Dredge & Dock LLC
- Eric Ellefson, President and CEO of Weeks Marine
- Fred Paup, Chairman of the Board & Executive Vice President, Manson Construction Co.
- John Sullivan, CEO/Managing Principal, Callan Marine
WEDA President Matt Binsfeld, President and CEO of J.F. Brennan Company, Inc. said, “WEDA is honored to welcome four of the most consequential dredge industry leaders to WODCON XXIV and the Texas A&M Opening Plenary. Leading a dredge company in today’s business environment is a highly dynamic and impactful position. Lasse Petterson, Eric Ellefsen, Fred Paup and John Sullivan will share their unique perspective on how their firms in particular, and the industry in general, are raising safety and operational execution standards along with their insights into the substantial investment US firms are making in the domestic dredge fleet.”
The CEO Panel will follow the Opening Plenary keynote speaker, Major General Jason Kelly, US Army Corps of Engineers Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations.
Former astronaut, Col. Michael Fossum, USAFR (RET.), will provide introductory remarks before the CEO Panel. Colonel Fossum serves as a Vice President of Texas A&M University and as Chief Operating Officer of Texas A&M University at Galveston, where he is also Executive Professor of Maritime Administration.
Erik Haun, Executive Editor – WorkBoat, National Fisherman will moderate the panel.
WODCON XXIV will be held June 23-27, 2025, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. The theme of the conference is “Dredging Towards a More Resilient Future”. Register for the event at www.wodcon.org.
WEDA is a non-profit technical and professional organization devoted to the exchange of knowledge in fields related to dredging, navigation, marine engineering and construction. WEDA is governed by a Board of Directors, and managed by Executive Director, Jessica Bridges. For more information, visit www.westerndredging.org.
