Waterways Council names new President & CEO

Waterways Council, Inc.’s (WCI) Board of Directors unanimously elected Mike Toohey as the organization’s President and Chief Executive Officer.  Toohey, who has more than 30 years of federal government expertise, will replace Cornel Martin who resigned and left the post vacant earlier this year. He will assume his duties as the new President and CEO effective August 14.

Toohey most recently served as Consultant with The Livingston Group’s Transportation, Shipbuilding, Shipping and Ports practice area.  Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Government Affairs for Ashland Inc., a global chemical, energy and construction company. During his 19 years with Ashland, he served as the principle representative to the federal government and also supervised state government relations for the corporation. His responsibilities also included leadership positions as the Chair of the American Chemistry Council’s Federal Legislative Roundtable and Chairman of the Board of the American Highway Users Alliance, and board positions with WCI, and the Danny Thompson Memorial Foundation.

Additionally, Toohey served as Assistant Secretary of Transportation from 1992 to 1993 following the nomination from President George H.W. Bush and confirmation by the United States Senate. He also served as Staff Director for the Republican Staff of the Committee on Public Works and Transportation, and the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries during his 14-year tenure with the U.S. House of Representatives.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in forestry from the University of California, Berkeley.

August 2, 2011