Working with George Stewart in the family-controlled businesses for 30 years, Jeff understands all aspects of his dad’s model for doing business. In the early days, he concentrated on property management and land acquisition, managing apartment complexes totaling 600 units in Houston and New Orleans and later charged with the task of managing their disposition.

In the early 1990s he turned his attention to building the logistics component of The Sawyer Place Company. His first undertaking was remarketing a fleet of leased containers redelivered by the lessee. He continued to develop this business in Central and South America by working on the supporting logistics, adding additional secondhand containers and support equipment from major leasing companies and ship lines. He built his industry network traveling to most of the major ports in the Americas and transacting business with leading shipping companies as a supplier and a customer.

In his current position as President of Cincinnati Barge and Rail Terminal, Jeff oversees the marketing and customer relations for the public terminal located at mile 468.5 on the midpoint of the Ohio River. The terminal handles pig iron on its heavy-duty conveyor system. Other commodities include steel, aluminum, lumber and minerals.

Despite his focus on family business that began when he was a youngster, Jeff makes time to actively enhance his industry and the community, a principle instilled by his father, George. He is a founding board member of The Central Ohio River Business Association (CORBA). He also serves as the Ohio River Basin Chairman of Inland Rivers Ports & Terminals Inc., an industry association. Board member of Tri State Logistics Council.

Of particular interest to Jeff are the East End neighborhood – where Cincinnati Barge & Rail Terminal is located – as well as the Ohio riverfront and downtown Cincinnati. He worked with the Cincinnati Recreation Department to store the Fountain Square ice-skating rink, accommodated storage of dirt for events at Riverfront Coliseum and served on the initial planning for Pendleton Center. A longstanding member of the East End Area Council – including his office of Treasurer since 2013 – he has funded streetscape cleanup and improvement along Riverside Drive, employed locals for lot cleanup work and allowed East End neighbors to utilize family-owned property for parking or gardens.