NARS Meeting May 27th-28th in Chicago

BNSF, NS presidents to keynote; Panels include top logistics execs; AAR, ASLRRA, RAC presidents

Two Class I railroad presidents, BNSF’s Carl Ice and Norfolk Southern’s James Squires, will keynote the May 27 and May 28 sessions of the North American Rail Shippers 2015 annual meeting at the Drake Hotel, Chicago.

“Discover the Possibilities” is the theme of this year’s meeting, which will also feature three rail association presidents and a panel of logistics executives representing chemicals, grain, silica sand, and short line and associated services.

“This is one of the best agendas of 2015,” notes NARS President Glen Courtwright, director strategic operations, Georgia-Pacific LLC. “It will be an opportunity to hear what some of the best leaders in logistics have to say about today’s challenges and possibilities in our industry.”

Three rail association presidents will share their views on the future of railroading and their associations. They are: Michael Bourque, Railway Association of Canada; Edward Hamberger, Association of American Railroads; and Linda Bauer Darr, American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.

Eric Starks, president of FTR Associates, will share his outlook on the rail economy.

Prior to lunch, Argus Media will present its annual “Win-Win” Awards to those railroads achieving the most successful customer-carrier partnerships in 2015.

On Wednesday afternoon, four logistics leaders will weigh whether or not railroads and shippers have sufficient capacity to deal with today’s traffic. Panelists include John Barrett, general manager supply chain Chevron Phillips Chemical Co.; Jim McKinstray, vice president central purchasing and transportation, The Andersons; Justin Renfro vice president logistics, Superior Silica Sands; and Allan Roach senior vice president business development, Watco Companies.

Positive Train Control and CREATE (Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program) will be discussed by Frank Lonegro, CSX Transportation vice president service design & advance technology; Steve Hoye, director Chicago Transportation Coordination Office, Belt Railway Company of Chicago; and William C. Thompson, chief engineer, CREATE Program, AAR.

Following Thursday’s keynoter James Squires of NS, TTX’s Vice President, Fleet Patrick Casey, and National Steel Car’s Senior Vice President Marketing and Sales Robert Pickel will review rail car market conditions.

Wrapping up, Anthony Hatch, ABH Consultants, and Jason Seidl, Cowan and Company’s managing director, will look at railroads from a financial perspective.

North American Rail Shippers Executive Director Leo Mountjoy says, “The NARS conference is a convenient and less costly way to meet shipping and railroad leaders from across the country.” Early registration is $425 through May 1.17/09/nars-w9.pdf” target=”_blank”> NARS W-9