MARS
The MARS Winter Meeting set a record with more than 980 attendees and included the introduction of the 2025 Executive Committee.
Elected officers are President, Steve Blinn; First Vice President; Luke Jones, GATX Corporation; and Second Vice President, Monica Freeman, CHS, Inc. The Immediate Past President is Matt O’Kray.
“I am honored to move into my new role,” says Blinn. “Over the years MARS has evolved with the changing market to become a leading venue for railroads and shippers to work together in open and constructive relationships. Our upcoming Summer Meeting promises more productive communications at one of the Midwest’s premier meeting locations.”
New members of the MARS Executive Committee are:
- Elie Dakhoul, Senior Manager, Contracts & Compliance, CN
- Kristin Dixon, Director, Rail Operations, Third Coast Commodities
- Bess Jones, Director Sales, Union Pacific
- Shelly Nowlin, Director Transportation & Logistics, Grain Craft
- Aaron Williams, Senior Sales Manager, Ag & Food, CSX
The next gathering will be the Summer Meeting on July 8-9 and will be held in conjunction with the MARS Scholarship Golf Outing at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, Wis. To accommodate the Independence Day holiday weekend, the golf outing is scheduled for Tuesday 7/8, and meetings will occur on Wednesday 7/9 this year. More information is available here.
SLSI
The SLSI on Feb. 24 announced the promotion of Jill Medeiros to Chief Administrative Officer.
“Over the past decade, Jill has strengthened and enhanced the processes that ensure SLSI operates at an exceptionally high level. From managing an expanding grant portfolio and improving team onboarding, to overseeing our accounting and auditing functions and coordinating workflow with legal counsel, her contributions have been both wide-ranging and invaluable. There is virtually no process within the organization that has not benefited from Jill’s insight, leadership, and execution,” said Tom Murta, Executive Director, SLSI. “In addition, Jill’s grant management expertise is consistently recognized by our funding partners as best in class. This well-deserved promotion reflects both the significant contributions she has made to the organization and the expanded scope of her leadership.”
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Chief Administrative Officer will be responsible for compliance with the Federal Code of Regulations, part 200 and the entire lifecycle of federal grant awards, from application to close-out. In addition, Medeiros will oversee the day- to-day operations of the SLSI, including developing and improving policies and procedures to ensure smooth operations, financial reporting, and grant compliance.
“The Short Line Safety Institute provides a critical service to the industry by focusing on improving railroad safety through strengthening safety culture. It has been a pleasure to be part of a team that has impacted more than 25,000 railroaders through Safety Culture Assessments and supported 1,000 organizations with Hazardous Materials Training. I look forward to continuing to advance our impact,” said Medeiros.
SJRRC
The SJRRC Board of Commissioners has re-elected Lodi City Council Member Lisa Craig-Hensley as Chair and Ripon City Council Member Leo Zuber as Vice Chair.
During her tenure as Chair, Craig-Hensley has played a key role in enhancing multimodal connectivity, and advocating for transportation investments that improve mobility, economic opportunity, and environmental sustainability across the region, SJRRC noted. As Chair, she will continue to guide the Commission’s strategic direction, regional partnerships, and advancement of passenger rail service throughout the San Joaquin Valley and Northern California.
“I am honored to continue serving the communities of the San Joaquin Valley and Northern California,” said Chair Craig-Hensley. “Our Commission remains committed to delivering safe, reliable, and accessible rail service while planning responsibly for future growth.”
As Vice Chair, Zuber will continue serving in his leadership role at the Commission, supporting Board priorities and Commission oversight and helping advance board priorities focused on enhanced connectivity, expanded special event service, and identifying opportunities to improve passenger access.
“I appreciate the opportunity to continue working with my fellow Commissioners and staff,” said Vice Chair Zuber. “Together, we will keep advancing transportation solutions that connect residents to jobs, education, and opportunity.”
The re-election of Chair Craig-Hensley and Vice Chair occurred by unanimous votes of SJRRC’s Board of Commissioners at its Feb. 6, 2026, meeting.
“Chair Craig-Hensley and Vice Chair Zuber bring exceptional experience, dedication, and regional understanding to the Commission,” said SJRRC CEO Chris Orlando. “Their leadership has been instrumental in expanding access to rail, improving reliability, and strengthening collaboration with our partner agencies. We are grateful for their continued service.”
