R. J. Corman Railroad Group, LLC Executive Vice President Commercial Affairs Justin Broyles was named President and CEO after serving in an interim capacity since replacing Ed Quinn, who resigned June 4. Broyles, the company said, “has been instrumental in guiding the company through a pivotal time.”
“The Board of Trustees are proud to appoint Justin Broyles as our next President and CEO,” said April Colyer, Chairperson of the Richard J. Corman Board of Trustees. “The extensive search process proved to be an important opportunity to reflect on the leadership qualities and strategic alignment needed to guide the company forward. We were highly impressed by the caliber of the individuals that expressed interest in the role, and Justin distinguished himself throughout the process. Justin’s deep understanding of our business, proven leadership of our best-in-class team, incredible business acumen and vision and passion for continuing the rich legacy and culture of our company will be critical to our next chapter. The Board looks forward to working with Justin and is confident his expertise, vision and leadership will lead our company to continued success.”
Broyles rejoined R. J. Corman in 2018 after serving as Chief Commercial Officer at Patriot Rail. With nearly 25 years of experience in the railroad industry, he has held various leadership positions within R. J. Corman, focusing on emergency services, storm response, construction and national account management. As Executive Vice President Commercial Affairs, he oversaw all commercial activities, including managing the marketing and sales teams for R. J. Corman’s 19 short line railroads.
“I am deeply honored and excited to take on the role of President and CEO of R. J. Corman Railroad Group,” said Broyles. “Over the years I have had the privilege of working alongside an incredibly talented and dedicated team. As we move forward, we will build on our strong foundation by continuing to prioritize safety, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency across all of our companies. I look forward to working with our team, partners, and stakeholders to shape the future of our company and the industry as a whole.”
Broyles holds a BS in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing from Southern Illinois University and serves in several key positions within the transportation industry, including Chair of the Surface Transportation Board Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council, Vice Chair of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, Chair of the Short Line Safety Institute and member of the Executive Committee Board of Directors of the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers.
Quinn joined maritime hospitality and transportation company Hornblower Group as President of Ferry and Concession.
“After thoughtful consideration, I have decided that it is time to step down as President and CEO,” said Quinn when he announced his resignation. “It has been an incredible honor to lead this organization and work alongside such a talented and dedicated team. I’m immensely proud of what we’ve accomplished together and confident in the company’s continued success. I look forward to supporting a smooth transition and cheering on the next chapter from a new vantage point.”
Quinn joined R. J. Corman as President and CEO in 2016, returning to the company after leading sales and marketing for industrial fan company Big Ass Fans®. In his previous tenure with R. J. Corman, he was VP of Strategic Contracts and Sales, VP of the Derailment Services Company, and General Manager of the Material Sales Company. “Under Quinn’s leadership as CEO, R. J. Corman acquired eight short line railroads, organically increased carload volume, added strategic Railroad Services locations for its Class I partners, grew services and partners for its Signaling Company, and continued to achieve success in the many other facets of its enterprise, including the notable response to Hurricane Helene and subsequent recovery efforts,” the company said.
“We very much appreciate all that Ed has done for our company,” said April Colyer, Chairperson of Richard J. Corman Living Trust, which owns R. J. Corman Railroad Group. “Ed has led our company for nearly nine years and, in addition to the significant growth we have achieved in our short line franchise, under his leadership we have continued our success in delivering safe and high-quality services to all areas of the railroad industry. We thank Ed for the leadership he has provided and look forward to continuing to build on the company’s success. The Trustees are confident in our management team in place and look forward to selecting the next CEO for R. J. Corman Railroad Group, which we expect to occur in the near-term. We are excited about the future opportunities for our company and look forward to many more years of working with our team to continue to provide a safe and rewarding work environment for our more-than 1,400 employees, who are the foundation of our success in this industry.”
