Class I Briefs: CPKC, CSX, NS, BNSF

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) 

During the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open in Calgary, C$4.3 million was raised for heart health, with C$3.8 million to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and C$507,000 to Alberta’s Red Deer Regional Health Foundation, according to CPKC, which has been title sponsor of the Open since 2014.

Lauren Coughlin won the event, which was held July 23-28 at the Earl Grey Golf Club. She finished the week 13 under par and took home her first LPGA Tour victory with a US$390,000 share of the US$2.6 million purse.

CPKC has helped raise more than C$22 million for children’s heart health since 2014. This year’s total donation, which the railroad said was the biggest in the CPKC title sponsorship’s history, is the result of several fundraising efforts of the CPKC Has Heart campaign. Through CPKC Birdies for Heart, CPKC contributed for each birdie made by Earl Grey Golf Club members prior to the tournament and C$5,000 for each birdie made by LPGA players on the 14th hole during championship tournament play at Earl Grey. CPKC also matched donations made during Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation campaign online in February, which is Heart Month.

“It was wonderful to have the CPKC Women’s Open back in Calgary, home to CPKC’s global headquarters and over 2,000 of our railroaders, many of whom contributed to the incredible success of this … tournament,” said Keith Creel, President and CEO of CPKC, which is extending its title sponsorship of the CPKC Women’s Open for up to three more years. “Calgarians cheered on Lauren and all the world-class golfers while helping make a big difference for kids who are fighting to live the full, healthy lives they deserve.”

“We are so grateful for our longstanding partnership with CPKC,” said Saifa Koonar, President and CEO of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. “Over the last several months and culminating with this … tournament, CPKC has been helping inspire our community to support pediatric heart health and generously matching donations. We are in awe of the amount that’s been raised, which will fuel ground-breaking research to support early detection of heart defects in babies and give them the best possible outcomes in life.”

“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity and support from CPKC and the participants of the CPKC Women’s Open,” said Manon Therriault, CEO of the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation, which was the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open community partner. “The funds raised will make a significant impact on cardiac care in the Alberta Central Zone, ensuring that our community has access to the best possible heart health services. Our hospital is currently undergoing an expansion, and community partnerships like this are the reason why our expanded hospital will have the enhanced care that our community members deserve. This partnership exemplifies the power of coming together to create meaningful change and improve lives.”

“The impact that the CPKC Women’s Open has on the communities that it touches through CPKC Has Heart is immense,” Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum said. “The legacy and lasting benefit to pediatric heart health saves lives and improves patient care in meaningful ways. In 2024, CPKC Has Heart once again set a new standard strengthening its position as one of the leading philanthropic initiatives in Canada.”

CSX

CSX President and CEO Joe Hinrichs has earned an Ultimate CEO award from Jacksonville (Fla.) Business Journal, which in 2024 honored 12 men and women for “shaping Jacksonville’s business community.” Selected with the input of local business leaders, these individuals “have led their companies to success through times of challenge and of growth” and “stand as an example of leadership in the Jacksonville area,” according to the media outlet, which noted that honorees “had to have been in their role for at least a year and demonstrate organizational leadership, community engagement and other attributes.”

“Since joining the company in 2022, Joe’s leadership and unwavering focus on enhancing the employee experience and providing reliable service for customers has helped our railroad deliver even stronger performance and drive growth,” CSX reported via social media on July 26.

Also recognized with an award were:

• Allishia Bauman of City Year Jacksonville.
• Ann King of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty.
• Ike Sherlock of Air Van Inc.
• Robert Hooper Jr. of Atlantic Logistics.
• Heather Quick of Florida Women’s Law Group.
• Priyanka Murthy of Well&You.
• Shelly Lingor of Financial Solution Advisors.
• Brian Donohoe of The Association Partner Group, LLC.
• Adam Eiseman of JWB Real Estate Capital.
• Monica V. Hernandez of First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (FCHCC).
• Bruce Lowthers of Paysafe.

Joe Hinrichs recently wrote “Our Job is Never Finished,” an essay on safety for Railway Age’s 2024 CEO Perspectives series.

NS

NS on July 29 reported that it is providing college scholarships to more than 100 children of its employees. Recipients come from 16 states across the Class I’s network (see above), with 90 of the scholarships reserved for children of field employees, including conductors, mechanics, engineers, and other front-line workers.

According to NS, the Thoroughbred Scholars program is awarding 100 scholarships for up to $10,000 over four years, along with three additional scholarships for “distinguished” students who will receive rewards of up to $40,000 over four years.

NS said the additional special scholarships are for students who have distinguished themselves in the following areas:

• HBCU Scholar: Awarded to an “outstanding student who intends to pursue their education at a Historically Black College or University,” this year’s recipient is Makaya Stubbs of Douglasville, Ga. Stubbs plans to study health education at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Md. Her mother, Maya Stubbs, is a Senior Technology Engineer in NSs Information Technology Department.
  
• STEM Scholar: Awarded to an “outstanding student who intends to pursue a degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM),” this year’s recipient is Abigail Lafon of Blacksburg, Va. She will study mechanical engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder. Lafon’s father, Aaron Lafon, is a Machinist at NS’s Shaffer’s Crossing Locomotive Shop in Roanoke, Va.
  
• Community Scholar: Awarded to a student “who has distinguished themselves through community leadership and volunteer work,” this year’s recipient is Faustina Barcena of Norcross, Ga. Barcena is planning to study neuroscience and behavior at the University of Notre Dame. Her father, Frank Barcena, is Assistant Manager PMO in NS’s Information Technology department.

The Thoroughbred Scholars program is independently administered by Scholarship America, a manager of scholarship and education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals.

Since its inception in 2022, the program has awarded $1.4 million-plus in scholarship funding to the children of NS team members.

“At Norfolk Southern, supporting our people is important, and we are proud to be able to extend that to their children,” NS President and CEO Alan H. Shaw said. “Education opens the door to opportunity, and investing in these bright individuals’ dreams also means investing in the future of the communities we serve.”

BNSF

Tristar FLC Inc., one of BNSF’s Premier Transload companies, is celebrating 20 years of “excellence in transloading goods to and from the West Coast,” the Class I announced via social media on July 26. “We were proud to join Tristar at our Logistics Center in Fontana, California, to recognize this achievement,” the railroad reported.

Companies earn BNSF’s Premier Transload designation “for their world-class safety and reliable supply chain management,” according to the railroad. They offer such services as cross docking, storage and forward storing, load consolidation, and inventory management.

“It was exciting to celebrate this significant milestone with Tristar, and we look forward to continuing the partnership for many years to come,” said Lacy Kreger, BNSF General Director of Economic Development, according to railroad’s social media post.

In a related development, three locations on the BNSF network—two in Iowa and one in Kansas—have been recently designated as Certified Sites, part of the Class I railroad’s Premier Parks, Sites and Transload Program, bringing the total to 35. The program’s goal is to “provide an inventory of rail-served sites that are available for immediate development.”