​Containerport Group Announces Passing Of President And Co-Founder Russel A. Graef

December 2017

ContainerPort Group, Inc. announced that its President and long-time company veteran, Russel A. Graef, passed away on October 26, 2017.

It is with great sorrow that we share the loss of one of the intermodal industry’s founders, pioneers and collaborators.

Since CPG’s founding in 1971, Graef held executive positions in all divisions of the business, including terminal operations, sales, logistics, fleet safety, trucking, depot/CY and M&R operations.

Graef’s leadership, dedication, and ability to get into the day to day details helped bring the company to its leadership position in the market.

Stated by Senior VP Midwest Jim Kramer “Russ was a visionary long before the term was widely used in our industry. We are all very fortunate and blessed to have had him as a fearless leader – one who always led by example.”

Kramer remarks, “Russ believed in all of us, believed in our ability to be great. He would see people not as they are, but what they could become. He was our teacher, and the lessons he taught us will always live on within CPG.”

Bob Leef, Senior V.P. East, commemorates Graef stating, “Russ valued people, employees and family above anything else. He would always go the extra mile when anyone needed help or guidance. I will miss a great boss, mentor and friend.”

ContainerPort Group’s CFO Glenn Fehribach states, “Russ was also a tremendous contributor to the trucking industry, serving on various boards and committees, offering unique perspectives and passionately challenging the status quo! I will sorely miss Russ’ passion, partnership and friendship.”

Graef held leadership roles with the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) and served on the Board of Directors of the American Trucking Association’s Intermodal Motor Carrier Conference (IMCC). He was also a founding board member of the North American Chassis Pool Cooperative (NACPC).

Graef’s enduring ambition for ContainerPort Group was to build a visionary company dedicated to providing innovative cargo transportation and freight services while delivering the highest level of customer service available in the industry. We will continue on with his legacy, embracing the unique culture he created that will sustain us for many years to come.

Notes of remembrance can be sent to the company at [email protected][email protected].

Additional information can be found on our website: https://www.containerport.com.