(BLE Editor’s Note: John Reynolds is BLE Vice-General Chairman for the
Wisconsin Central in Green Bay, Wisc.)
MONTREAL, QUEBEC — Canadian National – North America’s Railroad – recently named eight northeastern Wisconsin residents as winners of its CN President’s Awards for Excellence for 2002. Among this year’s winners are: John Reynolds, Green Bay; Allan Rothwell, Plover; Bill Grimstad, Stevens Point; James Peterson, Antigo; Thomas Helton, Amherst; Brian Retzlaff, Argonne; Gary Hoffman, Milladore; and Richard Hoffman, Wisconsin Rapids. In this year’s edition of the annual employee awards program, a record 146 employees from throughout the CN network have earned recognition for their individual and team achievements in various areas, including Safety, Customer Focus, and Bravery and Exceptional Community Service.
Through its annual President’s Awards program, the company recognizes employees and teams whose spirit, ingenuity and drive have helped make CN North America’s best railroad. This year’s presentation took place on October 18.
“CN takes great pride in its employees’ accomplishments,” says Paul Tellier, CN President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our 2002 awards are particularly significant: this is the largest field of recipients since we started the awards program, and we have honored many of our newest employees – people in CN’s Wisconsin Central Division. Solid team and individual initiatives from all areas of the company are helping us make great strides to take CN to its next level – North America’s best transportation company.”
The following Wisconsin residents (listed here by project and hometown) have received CN President’s Awards for 2002:
Operational Breakthrough category – WC/BLE Labor Negotiating Team
The Operational Breakthrough category recognizes employees who demonstrate exceptional problem-solving skills, a mindset of innovation, and who challenge conventional wisdom. People who seek to improve the way things are done, and are catalysts for change are honored in this category. Thanks to the members of this team, the new agreement between CN’s WC (Wisconsin Central) Division and the BLE (Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers) is a breakthrough for labor-management relations in the U.S. The agreement simplifies and modernizes both the language of the contract and the nature of the employment relationship between employees and the company. Among other advantages, the agreement improves employees’ quality of life.
— John Reynolds, Vice-General Chairman, BLE, Green Bay
— Allan Rothwell, Director, Human Resources, Plover
— Bill Grimstad, Assistant Vice-President, Stevens Point
Customer Focus category – White Pine Team
The Customer Focus category recognizes employees who demonstrate a true passion for customer service by understanding and anticipating the needs of customers, and exceeding their expectations. The White Pine Team’s plan and quick action prevented White Pine Copper Refinery Inc. from having to shut down when this area was flooded in April. The result was that the refinery avoided substantial losses in terms of delayed deliveries and lost production.
— James D. Peterson, Machine Operator A, Antigo
— Thomas D. Helton, Laborer A, Amherst
— Brian J. Retzlaff, Foreman B, Argonne
— Gary R. Hoffman, Foreman B, Milladore
— Richard F. Hoffman, Machine Operator B, Wisconsin Rapids
Each year, CN employees nominate their deserving colleagues as candidates for the CN President’s Awards for Excellence program. For 2002, employees and teams from throughout the company have been selected to receive the President’s Awards for Excellence for achievements in: Safety, New Business Opportunities, Customer Focus, People Leadership, Cost Effectiveness, Operational Breakthrough, Bravery and Exceptional Community Service, and Diversity. The CN President’s Awards program is non-monetary: it honors recipients with awards plaques, plus recognition in various CN and external publications.
Canadian National Railway Company spans Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico, serving the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the key cities of Toronto, Winnipeg, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., Green Bay, Wis., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, St. Louis, and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America.