NS
NS on Aug. 12 reported bringing together 17 railroaders (see list above) to serve as its representatives at local events, “fostering relationships with community organizations and stakeholders.” Selected through a competitive application process earlier this year, the Community Impact Ambassadors will also recruit volunteers, “inspiring fellow employees to get involved and give back,” and promote safety, becoming Operation Lifesaver-certified and supporting safety education efforts.
“In partnership with NS Community Impact, they’re helping us build bridges between our work and the people it touches,” NS said. Through its Community Impact program, the railroad last year contributed approximately $18.3 million to charitable organizations across its 22-state network. Of that total, $1 million was awarded to 65 Hampton Roads, Va., nonprofits.
The Community Impact Ambassadors team includes:
- Shawn Bruderly, Foreman
- Katie Byrd, Assistant Director Executive Communications
- Trevor Cain, Track Patrol Foreman
- Ariana Draine, Wayside Detection Analyst
- Marijoy Halitzka, Bridge Tender
- Mark Goin, Telephone Maintainer
- Andrew Homick, Senior Supervisor Equipment Engineering
- Ernest “Leon” Jackson, Manager Public Safety
- Kelly Keil, Supervisor C&S II
- Paul Lawson, Locomotive Engineer
- Shawn McCauley, Signal Maintainer
- Willie Mills, Road Foreman of Engines
- Taylor Morton, Payroll Business Analyst
- Thomas Saathoff, Terminal Manager
- Christopher Slasinski, Field Sales Manager
- Matthew Wade, NSPD Special Agent
- Courtland Wheat, Conductor
Further Reading:
- Union Pacific + Norfolk Southern: It’s Official
- Momentum on All Fronts: Safety, Operations, Customer Trust, Growth
- NS Recaps 2024 Safety Achievements
CSX
“CSX is helping Sappi North America, a global leader in sustainable wood fiber products, achieve its supply chain goals through dependable freight rail service and a collaborative partnership,” the Class I reported Aug. 12.
CSX works with the company to develop shared key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor progress and prevent delays.
“We’ve established some good KPIs around congestion and service visibility,” said Mike Segal, Director of Logistics and Operations Planning for Sappi North America, which produces graphic papers, packaging, and dissolving pulp used in textiles, hygiene products, and pharmaceuticals. “This has strengthened our relationship with CSX and helped us move things forward.”
The CSX-Sappi partnership, he added, is built on communication and collaboration. “I’ve been very pleased with our relationship with CSX because I feel like they really understand our challenges and our network,” Segal reported. “We’ve had a number of meetings with them to identify potential issues and solve them ahead of time.”
According to Segal, the railroad’s transparency has been a standout feature of the partnership, CSX reported. “CSX has been very honest with us,” Segal said. “If things aren’t going a certain way, they’ve been very clear with us, and then we can make a plan.”
That level of openness and alignment supports Sappi’s commitment to reliable service and continuous improvement, Segal pointed out.
“Freight rail is a key component of our transportation network,” he said. “We fully expect that our rail volume will grow, and CSX will be a key partner in that.”
“We appreciate the investments they’re making in the network,” Segal added, “and we hope to support that moving forward.”
