(The Association of American Railroads posted the following on its website on February 28.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new Chair and two other members have been named to the National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust for the period beginning February 1, 2003.
Railroad management has appointed Mr. Paul R. Goodwin, Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of CSX Corporation, to a three-year term that expires on January 31, 2006.
Railway labor unions have reappointed Mr. George J. Francisco, Jr., the President of the National Conference of Firemen & Oilers, SEIU to a three-year term that expires on January 31, 2006.
In addition, the Trustees have selected James A. Hixon, Senior Vice President Administration at Norfolk Southern Corporation, as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for the period February 1, 2003-January 31, 2004.
Goodwin, as Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of CSX Corporation, has primary responsibilities for CSX’s financial policy, advising the chief executive officer on business strategy, maintaining investment grade standings and efficient access to capital, and safeguarding the company’s securities assets. In addition, he chairs the company’s Investment Committee, which oversees management of the company’s $1.6 billion private pension plan assets. Mr. Goodwin began his career with a CSX predecessor company 37 years ago in the management training program. Since that time, he has held a variety of senior level financial positions both at the railroad and with the corporation. Mr. Goodwin received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University, and has a MBA from George Washington University.
Francisco, as President of the National Conference of Firemen & Oilers, SEIU since January 1998, has extensive experience serving as a trustee of a number of union pensions, 401(k) and health and welfare funds, including the Affiliates’ Officers and Employees Pension and the Supplemental Retirement Savings (401(k)) plans of the 1.5 million-member SEIU, as well as the Firemen and Oilers National Pension and Welfare Plan. Mr. Francisco holds a BS degree from the University of Dubuque.
Hixon has served in senior finance and administration positions at Norfolk Southern, and currently is responsible for its human relations, labor relations, public affairs, public relations and purchasing. In addition to his responsibilities for railroad retirement and his role with respect to Norfolk Southern’s private pension plans, Hixon has been one of four members of the Conrail Pension Fund Investment Committee since 1998.