NARS 2025 Annual Meeting

North American Rail Shippers Association (NARS) is thrilled to welcome back Chicago’s own Dilla Thomas to start our event off with his own brand of storytelling about Chicago history! Dilla has become a Chicago social media sensation by going viral on TikTok. His 60 second Chicago history videos have been viewed over 20 million times, and he has amassed a following of 210K followers across all social media platforms. Dilla has also appeared nationally on both The Today Show and The Kelly Clarkson Show. Dilla is a proud life long resident of Chicago’s South side.

We are also excited to hear from the following speakers for 2025:

Ed Elkins, Chief Marketing Officer, Norfolk Southern
Patrick Fuchs, Chairman, Surface Transportation Board
Anthony Hatch, Founder & Analyst, abh Consulting
Joe Hinrichs, President & CEO, CSX
Eric Starks, Chairman & CEO, FTR
Todd Tranausky, Logistics Procurement Manager, AmSty
John Turner, Senior Vice President of Operations, Union Pacific Railroad
Tom Williams, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, BNSF Railway
Rebecca Wingate, CREATE Program Manager, Association of American Railroads

PIZZA TOUR & NETWORKING EVENT
NEW this year, make your plans to arrive in time for a special networking event on Wednesday, May 7 starting at 12:30.

Join colleagues for this unique tour which includes the history of Chicago and Chicago pizza as well as a trip to three Chicago neighborhood pizzerias serving some of the best of the 10 styles of pizza Chicago has to offer.

The cost of this event is $150 and benefits the NARS Patrick J Ottensmeyer Memorial Scholarship Fund!