Intermodal pioneer Donald C. Orris will be honored Oct. 2 at the Containerization and Intermodal Institute’s Connie Awards event in Long Beach, Calif.
Orris, who helped build stacktrains into the driving force of intermodalism, will be honored in addition to Matson Navigation Co.’s Chief Executive Officer and President Matthew Cox, who is receiving the Connie award.
Orris retired in 2001 as chairman and CEO of Pacer International, which he founded in 1997. He will be unable to travel from his Colorado retirement location, but is “excited to be so recognized,” he said.
Orris spent his 45-year career paralleling the development of containerization in positions at APL, Southern Pacific, Denver and Rio Grande Western Railway and, finally, Pacer.
“While others doubted the veracity of double railcars stacked on each other and then moving around the country delivering cargo, Orris realized the economy of scale on a heavily capitalized industry,” CII said.
The CII Connie Awards dinner is $225 per ticket and seating is limited. Sponsors for scholarship opportunities and tickets are available. For more information, contact Barbara Yeninas, executive director, at (732) 817-9131 or by email.