The American Waterways Operators - Annual Reports 2016 | Page 5

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On the safety front, 2016 was a year of transition and transformation. Members successfully implemented new
Responsible Carrier Program requirements, with 79 members undergoing successful audits. In November, the
Coast Guard formally accepted the RCP as a Subchapter M-compliant safety management system, an essential
milestone in the smooth implementation of the towing vessel inspection regulations. And, while we have more
work to do to achieve our goal of 100 percent participation in the Safety Statistics Reporting Program, carrier
member participation nearly doubled, from 32 percent to 60 percent, over the course of 2016.
On the public affairs front, we expanded our ability to tell our industry’s story using traditional and
social media. Going forward, completion of the industry economic impact study conducted for AWO by
PricewaterhouseCoopers, in partnership with the U.S. Maritime Administration, positions us to build on
these gains.
We set a high bar for member engagement and communications in 2015, and we were challenged to build on
those results in 2016’s very difficult economic climate. But, tough markets notwithstanding, we equaled 2015’s
record performance for member meeting attendance, and significantly increased non-member attendance,
which in turn led to membership gains. After conducting personal visits with all AWO carrier members
between January 2015 and April 2016, we developed a next-phase outreach program to maintain close
member connectivity in an ongoing, sustainable way. And, we made member communications improvements,
expanding our use of webinars and streamlining the AWO newsletter as recommended by members.
We accomplished these results while being careful stewards of member resources. We managed AWO under
budget and developed a 2017 budget with no increase in member dues revenues. We again achieved a clean
financial audit and completed a risk and reserve analysis to identify and prepare for future financial risks.
We instituted numerous internal efficiency improvements and improved staff recruiting and performance
management systems. And, with strong member leadership and guidance, we developed a new strategic plan,
Charting the Future, that promotes organizational sustainability and continuous improvement. The new plan
emphasizes:
■ The paramount importance of safety leadership and environmental stewardship as our industry’s franchise
to operate.
■ The centrality of member engagement to the effective execution of AWO’s strategic goals.
■ The importance of collaboration with other organizations as force multipliers and an essential tool for
deploying member resources efficiently.
■ The need for continuous improvement in our use of technology and communications media.
■ The importance of managing and governing AWO with a constant eye on organizational sustainability, to
position us for success for decades to come.
The thoughtfulness with which member leaders envisioned AWO’s future and charted a course for its
enduring success is inspiring, and your high expectations are energizing. We look forward to working with all
AWO members as together, we implement the new strategic plan and strive to deliver exceptional value for
every AWO member in 2017 and beyond.
THOMAS A. ALLEGRETTI
President & CEO
JENNIFER A. CARPENTER
Executive Vice President & COO
2016 ANNUAL REPORT CHARTING THE FUTURE