After working for two large international companies, Ron Coles founded WRCA in 1990 to focus on port and economic development projects. Coles' understanding comes from 46 years of experience, completion of 196 port projects around the country for a variety of clients, and leadership positions in national, international, and regional waterways transportation and trade organizations, including:

• Commissioner; US Section, PIANC - World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure
• Board of Directors, Past-president; Inland Rivers Ports and Terminals (IRPT)
• Past Treasurer and Executive Committee; National Waterways Conference, Inc. (NWC)
• President; Tennessee River Valley Association (TRVA)
• Board of Directors (Governor appointee); Tenn-Tom Waterway Development Authority
• Past Member; TRB AW020 Inland Waterway Committee
• Alternate US Representative (appointed by General Don Riley); international PIANC Inland Navigation Committee

Ron Coles represented the U.S. on an international working group for The World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC) that published a report titled Masterplans for the Development of Existing Ports. The report provides a comprehensive guide for the preparation of masterplans. In addition to the U.S., other countries represented on the working group included the UK, South Africa, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy and Germany. Coles also served on a PIANC international working group which published a technical report "Site Selection and Planning for New Ports and Specialized Marine Terminals on Greenfield Sites".

WRCA clients have included:

• Local public port authorities and private sector port owners/operators
• State port authorities and state DOTs
• Wood products, chemical, steel, minerals, power and cement companies
• Barge lines and railroads
• The US Army Corps of Engineers, USDOT, and other federal agencies