(The following report by John Johnston appeared on the Boca Raton News website on April 26.)
BOCA RATON, Fla. — In a further realignment of its management structure, RailAmerica, Inc., has announced it will reorganize from three business units into five operating regions, led by Regional Vice Presidents.
This follows management changes announced earlier this month, also involving new vice presidents. Earlier this month, CEO John E. Giles said that David, J. Rohal, Charles M. Patterson and Paul A. Lundberg had joined the firm as vice presidents.
To better align departments, improve communication and enable effective solutions, RailAmerica, Inc.—a leading operator of regional and short line railroads—today announced that it will reorganize from three business units into five operating regions, led by Regional Vice Presidents.
John Giles, CEO of RailAmerica, says the changes are being made to allow quicker responses to the needs of each road and each employee.
Giles succeeded former CEO Charles Swinburn who retired in February after 11 years serving as a Board member and two and a half years as CEO.
And “roads” in this case is not meant to be read literally – Giles using the term railroaders use referring to the railways themselves – in RailAmerica’s case, 42 railroads, and approximately 7,800 miles or rail lines in the United States and Canada.
Giles said the new management move make RailAmerica’s operation “more manageable in size, scope and complexity.”
“While these territories are substantially smaller in size, the impact these skilled individuals can make in teaching and coaching will be remarkable,” said Giles. “I believe we will quickly see improved effectiveness and productivity, the introduction and execution of new programs and significant assistance in problem solving.”
The West Region will be led by Robert “Bob” Jones, a veteran railroader who has been with RailAmerica for four years. Prior to joining RailAmerica, Jones worked with Union Pacific for 30 years in a variety of management positions in the operating department. The railroads that comprise the West Region include: Cascade and Columbia River Railroad (CSCD); Puget Sound and Pacific Railroad (PSAP); California Northern Railroad (CFNR); Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad (CORP); San Joaquin Valley Railroad (SJVR); Ventura County Railroad (VCRR); Arizona and California Railroad (ARZC); Lahaina, Kaanapali and Pacific Railroad (LKPR); and San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad (SDIY).
Ray E. Stephens will lead the Central Region, and has been with RailAmerica for over two years. He was most recently president of the now-former Western Business Unit. Prior to joining RailAmerica, Stephens worked for Burlington Northern Santa Fe in the operating department. The railroads that comprise the Central Region include: Otter Tail Valley Railroad (OTVR); Kyle Railroad (KYLE); Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad (MNA); Bauxite and Northern Railroad (BXN); Kiamichi Railroad (KRR); Texas Northern Railroad (TNER); Dallas, Garland and Northeastern Railroad (DGNO); the Rockdale, Sandow and Southern Railroad (RSS); and Point Comfort and Northern Railroad (PCN).
John “Brad” Ovitt, formerly vice president of operations for the Central Region and a six-year RailAmerica employee, will lead the Midwest Region. Ovitt started his railroad career in 1987 on the former Central Vermont Railroad. The railroads that comprise the Midwest Region include: Grand Rapids Eastern Railroad (GR); Mid-Michigan Railroad (MMRR); Michigan Shore Railroad (MSR); Huron and Eastern Railway (HESR); Indiana and Ohio Railway (IORY); Central Railroad of Indiana (CIND); Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway (TPW); Central Railroad of Indianapolis (CERA); and Chicago, Ft. Wayne and Eastern Railroad (CFE).
Peter A. Touesnard, formerly vice president of operations for the former Eastern Business Unit, will lead the Southeast Region. Touesnard has been with RailAmerica for 10 years and is a veteran of both the steamship and trucking industries. The railroads that comprise the Southeast Region include: Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR); Alabama and Gulf Coast Railway (AGRR); Eastern Alabama Railway (EARY); Carolina Piedmont Railroad (CPDR); South Carolina Central Railroad (SCRF); Virginia Southern Railroad (VSRR); North Carolina and Virginia Railroad (NCVA); and the Chesapeake and Albemarle Railroad (CA).
Jan Polley, formerly president of the Eastern Business Unit and an eight-year veteran of RailAmerica will lead the Northeast Region. Polley came to RailAmerica after 24 years with Canadian National in the operating department. The railroads that comprise the Northeast Region include: Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway (CBNS); Ottawa Valley Railroad (OVR); the Southern Ontario Railway (SOR); Goderich-Exeter Railway (GEXR); the Massena Terminal Railroad (MSTR); Connecticut Southern Railroad (CSO); and New England Central Railroad (NECR).