The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority (TTWDA) has announced the hire of Betsy Young as Deputy Administrator of Business Development to lead integrated marketing, branding, and business development initiatives for the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and the broader Marine Highway M-65 corridor. Young will advance TTWDA’s outreach to shippers, ports, terminals, carriers, and site selectors—driving tonnage growth and expanding multimodal utilization across the region.

Young brings nearly two decades of industrial marketing and economic development experience. She previously served seven years as Marketing Manager at Burkhalter Rigging, an engineered heavy lift, rigging, and specialized transportation firm that executed significant project cargo and marine operations along the waterway. There, she built and managed a full-scale multimedia marketing program.

As Vice-President of Economic Development at the Golden Triangle Development LINK, Young managed projects across diverse industries, coordinating RFIs and collaborating with utility, engineering, education, and transportation partners—experience that sharpened her understanding of infrastructure requirements, logistics, speed-to-market, and how site-selection teams evaluate competitive advantages. She contributed to securing $3.8 billion in capital investment and over 3,000 jobs in the region.

“Betsy pairs waterway-specific marketing know-how with real project-management experience from economic development,” said Mitch Mays, Administrator of TTWDA. “That blend—industry messaging plus site-readiness and logistics fluency—will help shippers and site selectors see where the Tenn-Tom and the broader M-65 system reduce cost and risk while improving reliability.”

In her role, Young will lead a refreshed brand and marketing strategy for TTWDA and the M-65 Marine Highway corridor; expand engagement with shippers and site selectors in core sectors; elevate TTWDA’s digital presence; steward partnerships with industry and economic development associations; and support trade show and conference outreach.

Young holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Mississippi, the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute, and is an FAA-certified small UAS pilot.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to promote a region and a waterway that are vital to our quality of life and economic competitiveness,” said Betsy Young. “The waterway provides industry cleaner, more economical transportation, reliable barge capacity, and direct connections to Gulf and inland markets—while also supporting vibrant recreation and tourism that strengthen our communities. I’m eager to work with our partners to help tell that story.”

The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority is a four-state compact between the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee and is federally chartered by the U.S. Congress. The TTWDA is dedicated to advancing commerce, investment, and quality of life across the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and the connected M-65 Marine Highway corridor. Working with public and private partners, TTWDA promotes safe, efficient, and sustainable freight movement; supports port and terminal growth; and champions the economic and recreational value of the region’s rivers.

The Tenn-Tom Waterway opened to commerce in 1985 and has proven to be a vital transportation route for shipping raw materials and other bulk products between mid-America and the Gulf of America. It’s cost-effectiveness and energy-efficient barge service have attracted billions of dollars of new and expanded industrial development to the waterway region. An extensive development of marinas, campgrounds, and other related facilities has made the waterway corridor a major attraction for recreationists and nature lovers.