President Chris Carr
Chris Carr is the managing partner of SBSB Eastham’s Chicago office. Since joining the firm in February 2015, his practice includes workers’ compensation, employer liability defense, subrogation, and general liability.
Chris values teamwork, a virtue from his time as a student manager for the University of Michigan football team under coach Bo Schembechler. He earned his Juris Doctorate from DePaul University and has handled all litigation steps, achieving an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell.
He is admitted to the State Bar of Illinois and the U.S. District Courts for Northern, Southern, and Central Illinois. Chris also serves as president of the Chicago Propeller Club and maintains a strong presence in the Chicago maritime community. His depth of experience in practice and leadership makes him a significant resource to the firm and his clients.
Vice President Ben Pinnington – Marketing
Ben Pinnington is a trained newspaper reporter and founder of Polaris Media, an international PR firm.
A married father of two based in Lake Forest, Chicago Ben has more than 25 years experience in the media including 17 years in maritime PR. He has worked with more than 70 maritime businesses in the US, UK, Europe, India, China and the Middle East. He has built Polaris into a multi award winning international maritime specialist consultancy expanding from Liverpool UK to Chicago in 2022.
Since arriving in the US he has helped revive the Chicago Propeller Club with the board attracting many of the leading organisations and businesses on the Great Lakes. He has a BA degree in Politics from Leicester University UK and post graduate NCTJ journalism qualification from Cornwall College.
Before setting up in business Ben worked as a press officer for the Conservative Party and head of comms for the business pressure group the Forum of Private Business (FPB) campaigning for the UK’s 4 million entrepreneurs.
In 2021 Ben published the Amazon best selling book ‘Making Waves: PR strategies to transform your maritime business’ with Rethink Press.
Vice President Tara Pappalardo – Membership
Tara Pappalardo is a Technical Underwriting Manager with RLI Corp. and specializes in ocean cargo/stock throughput coverages. She manages the Midwest and Mountain territories while working with agents and brokers to assist with their marine placements.
In 2013 when starting her insurance career, she landed in marine by chance. Through the people she’s been fortunate enough to work with it became clear that marine was the space she wanted to stay.
Tara believes strongly in giving back to her community and makes it a priority to volunteer with organizations like the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation. She is also a big fan of hiking, running, and cuddling with her dogs.
Secretary Ian Hirt
Ian’s love for the Great Lakes began racing sailboats and then watching the ore ships in Marquette MI. where he attended Northern Michigan University and earned a degree in finance. Ian began his career with Fednav, eventually becoming GM at Federal Marine Terminals before assuming the same role at North America Stevedoring. Ian next served as Port Director at the Port of Indiana–Burns Harbor before joining Benchmark Marine Agency in 2022, where he serves as Operations Vice-President and still assists the Ports of Indiana in cargo development.
Ian is married to his wife Patty and they have two daughters.
Treasurer Erik Varela
Erik Varela has been the Executive Director of the Illinois International Port Authority since September 2021. Before this, he was Senior Director of Public Affairs for Union Pacific Railroad, overseeing legislative and community relations in Illinois and Wisconsin. He also chaired the Illinois Railroad Association and served on several advisory councils.
Erik’s background includes 15 years in local government, small business ownership, and restaurant management. A DePaul Law School graduate, he began his career as an attorney with the Cook County Public Defender. He later worked for Cook County Board President as Government Affairs Lead and with the Forest Preserves of Cook County and Chicago Park District in legal and governmental roles.
Chad Cailteux
Chad Cailteux is the owner of 5R Enterprises, LLC of Morris, Illinois. After more than 20 years in the heavy equipment business, Chad has 5R on the fast track to becoming one of the country’s leading entities in the river and material handling rental and sales business. Chad has been on the Illinois River Basin board for Inland Rivers, Ports and Terminals, LLC, since 2012 and brings several years of experience in the scrap, port, and bulk material handling businesses.
Of joining the CPC board, Chad said: “The Propeller clubs around the world, have a great history in promoting the maritime industry. Without our inland ports and waterways, including the Great Lakes, and the ability to fund and maintain those long-term, commerce gets backed up and is delayed getting to market. We must preserve the waterways to keep the US economy thriving.”
Jason Brown
Jason Brown served in the United States Marine Corps before working with the US Army Corps of Engineers prior to joining Lakes & Rivers Contracting. He has 20 years of experience in the civil and marine construction industry and serves on the Board of Directors representing the Great Lakes Basin for IRPT.
Of his role within CPC, Jason says: “I look forward to bringing together professionals from across the industry here in Chicago, the Great Lakes and the Inland Waterways of the Midwest to build strong and lasting relationships in the maritime industry.“
Past President Warren Marwedel
Warren was born in Chicago, Illinois. He is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, and received his law degree from Loyola University of Chicago.
Admitted to practice before Illinois State Courts and U.S. Federal Courts; including the U.S. Supreme Court, Court of Appeals for the Second, Sixth, Seventh, Eight and Eleventh Circuits and District Courts in several states. He also maintains an active U.S. Coast Guard master’s license.
He has been an active member and leader in several prestigious maritime and legal organizations, including the Maritime Law Association, the American Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association. His contributions have earned him recognition for his dedication to the maritime industry and law. He served as Propeller Club, Port of Chicago President from 1989-1990 and Regional Vice President 1990-1991.