IANA to honor Branscum, Wilson with Silver Kingpin Award

The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) announced yesterday that Steve Branscum and Michael Wilson will be honored next month with the 2019 Silver Kingpin Award.

The Silver Kingpin recognizes an individual's long-term contributions to intermodalism. The award was initiated in 1977 by the National Piggyback Association. Branscum and Wilson will receive their awards during the Intermodal EXPO in Long Beach, California, on Sept. 16.

Branscum is a retired executive with BNSF Railway Co., where he spent most of his career creating and improving the Class I's intermodal network, IANA officials said in a press release. He previously served BNSF as group vice president of the coal business group, group VP of consumer products, VP of intermodal marketing, and general director of intermodal planning and control. He began his career with the former Santa Fe Railway in 1980 in the industrial engineering department.

Among his achievements, Branscum prioritized the Southern Transcon route, promoted the growth of intermodal logistics parks, and collaborated with eastern railroads to provide direct service to Atlanta and Northwest Ohio.

Outside BNSF, Branscum's contributions included board roles at IANA, where he served as chairman and vice chairman, and as chair of the University of Denver's Intermodal Transportation Institute.

Wilson is chief executive officer of Consolidated Chassis Management LLC (CCM). A former IANA chairman and board member, he has more than 39 years of experience in international shipping, more than 25 of them in executive level positions.

In addition to CCM, Wilson has worked for United States Lines, Crowley Maritime, United Arab Shipping, Atlantic Container Line and Hamburg Sud. He also is a past board member of the New York Shipping Association, has been an active member on the NYNJ Council on Port Performance, and participates in the Federal Maritime Commission's Supply Chain Innovation Team.

In 2018, Wilson was honored with the Connie Award presented by the Containerization and Intermodal Institute.

"The dedication Mike and Steve have shown to advancing intermodal throughout their careers deserves to be recognized," said IANA President and CEO Joni Casey. "We are grateful for their contributions to the industry and to IANA."