People News: North American Rail Solutions, STV, Americold, BART
North American Rail Solutions
North American Rail Solutions on Aug. 25 announced that that Doug Severidt has joined the company as Procurement Director, reporting directly to the VP, of Assets and Procurement. In this role, Severidt will be responsible for “developing and implementing procurement strategies that align with the company’s growth objectives, while identifying opportunities to reduce cost and risk across the supply chain.”
As Procurement Director, Severidt, who will be based in Plano, Texas, will collaborate closely with vendors, project managers, estimators, operational leaders and other key stakeholders “to build scalable, efficient procurement tactics and strategies across North American Rail Solutions’ operations in the U.S. and Canada,” according to the company.
Severidt brings more than 15 years of experience in procurement and supply chain leadership, with a strong record of driving operational efficiency and financial impact. Most recently, he served as Senior Inventory Manager for SRS Distribution, a $10 billion national building products distributor. In this role, he rebuilt the company’s Pool Division replenishment process, shifting from a geographic-based model to a vendor/category-based approach, streamlining the purchasing of more than $400 million in physical inventory and $900 million in annual direct materials spend.
Severidt previously held leadership roles in procurement operations within the hospitality industry as a food service Procurement Director, and as a Chef. He is also a U.S. Army veteran, “bringing a disciplined, execution-focused approach to operational leadership,” the company noted.
STV
STV on Aug. 25 announced the promotions of Lauren Alger, P.E., ENV SP, and Breanna Horne, CHMM, ENV SP, WEDG, WELL AP, to Vice Presidents. The appointments, the company says, “strengthen STV’s national sustainability and resilience practices within its Advisory Services group.”
STV’s resilience and sustainability teams integrate adaptive strategies that address and mitigate climate disruptions while extending the lifespan of infrastructure. By balancing resilience with sustainability, STV “delivers systems built for long-term performance and helps safeguard communities,” the company noted.
Alger has played a key role on several award-winning projects at STV, including the Gateway Program Hudson River Tunnel between New Jersey and New York. In her new role, Alger will lead sustainable design practices that use clean energy sources, increase energy efficiency and reduce waste. She currently chairs the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Infrastructure 2050 initiative, a program that brings together industry experts to advance standardized methods for calculating and reducing carbon emissions across infrastructure assets. She is a leading advocate for global embodied carbon reduction efforts and presented at the United Nations on multiple occasions. Alger was recently honored with Engineering News-Record’s National Top 20 Under 40 award and holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil and Infrastructure Engineering from George Mason University.
Horne brings more than 15 years of experience in multiple award-winning facility and infrastructure improvement projects, including the first-of-its-kind Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s (PANYNJ) Climate Risk Assessment for bridges, tunnels and the World Trade Center. In her new role, she will lead teams in assessing the impacts of multi-hazard and systemic risks for future-proofed planning and design, “eliminating the barriers for resilience improvements adoption in all projects, as well as securing funding and financing for resilient infrastructure.” She has published research in national and regional industry magazines, including the International Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure, Urban Land Institute New York and STRUCTURE Magazine. A recognized voice in the industry on finance-informed climate solutions, she has spoken at prestigious national forums, including the MPact Transit + Community Conference and was named one of Building Design+Construction’s National Top 40 Under 40. Horne earned her Bachelor of Science in Geophysics from Southern Methodist University and Master of Science in Urban Systems Engineering and Management from New York University Tandon School of Engineering.
“These promotions reflect STV’s leadership in two of the most critical areas of infrastructure planning: resilience and sustainability,” said Garo Hovnanian, Executive Vice President of Advisory Services at STV. “In these roles, Lauren and Breanna will leverage their technical mastery to pioneer innovative solutions that fortify our communities today and prepare them for tomorrow.”
Americold
Americold Realty Trust, Inc. (Americold), a global leader in temperature-controlled logistics, real estate, and value-added services, on Aug. 25 announced that the company’s Board of Directors has unanimously appointed Robert S. Chambers as CEO and a member of the Board of Directors of Americold, effective Sept. 1, 2025. Chambers’ appointment follows George Chappelle’s decision to retire from the company and Board after a distinguished four-decade career.
Chambers has extensive leadership experience in warehouse and supply chain management, as well as considerable financial and operational expertise. He currently serves as Americold’s President, overseeing the company’s global operations including, commercial strategy, sales, engineering, development, information technology, customer experience, and supply chain innovation. Throughout his 12-year career with Americold, he has played a key role in shaping the company’s commercial business practices and corporate strategy across a variety of end-market conditions. Prior to Chambers’ current role, he served as President, Americas; Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer; and Vice President of Commercial Finance.
Beyond his experience with Americold, Chambers has a broad background in supply chain and logistics, including serving as Chief Financial Officer of Saia Inc., a publicly listed transportation and logistics company, as well as leadership roles at CEVA Logistics. Earlier in his career, Chambers worked for KPMG and is a licensed CPA and Chartered Global Management Accountant. He currently serves on the boards of the Global Cold Chain Alliance and the Stetson University School of Business.
“Rob is a seasoned industry executive with deep institutional and industry knowledge,” said Mark Patterson, Americold’s Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees. “His contributions to the business over the past 12 years have been instrumental to Americold’s success, and his strategic vision and experience make him the ideal leader to guide the company, its people and investments into the future. Rob’s background in supply chain and logistics has brought new perspectives to the business, setting standards for commercial excellence across the industry, while unlocking unique opportunities with our strategic partners and customers. He has demonstrated strong leadership, and along with the company’s deep and talented executive team, we are confident that Rob will continue to advance Americold’s strategic priorities and position it to deliver long-term value for all stakeholders.”
“I’m honored to take on the CEO role for Americold and look forward to working alongside our talented and dedicated team of associates around the globe,” said Chambers. “We have an opportunity to build on our reputation for service and operational excellence and position Americold as the provider of choice to the world’s largest food manufacturers, distributors and retailers. I believe we have the right people, assets and strategy to unlock the long-term growth potential for our business and I’m excited by the opportunities ahead.”
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank George for his invaluable leadership and contributions to Americold,” continued Patterson. “His strategic vision and passion for operational excellence have established a strong foundation for continued growth and success. The Board and leadership team extend their deep appreciation for his service to Americold and wish him the best in his well-earned retirement.”
“I’m proud to have led Americold through a period of exciting growth, including improved service levels, increased efficiencies and expanded margins,” said Chappelle. “Together, we’ve built a strong foundation grounded in operational excellence, customer trust, and a culture of accountability, positioning Americold for long-term success. I’m confident that under Rob’s leadership, the company will continue to thrive in the future as the team builds on its global network of mission-critical cold-chain infrastructure.”
BART
The BART Board of Directors has named Inez Gonzalez as the new BART Independent Police Auditor, effective Sept. 2, 2025. The Office of the Independent Police Auditor (OIPA) is an essential part of the BART Civilian Oversight Model, which is among the most robust police oversight models in the country, according to the agency. The Board of Directors established both the OIPA and the BART Police Citizen Review Board in 2010. Gonzalez succeeds Rusell Bloom who was appointed Independent Police Auditor in 2016 and retired from BART earlier this year.
“Inez Gonzalez has a wealth of experience that includes not only work in police oversight but also as a member of law enforcement,” said BART Board President Mark Foley. “BART has one of the most robust police oversight models in the country and it will be made even stronger thanks to the passion for equitable policing that Inez Gonzalez will bring to the Office of the Independent Police Auditor.”
Gonzalez brings more than 25 years of progressive experience in police oversight, law enforcement, and investigations to her new role as BART Independent Police Auditor. She most recently served as the Executive Director of the Police Civilian Oversight Board in Charlottesville, Va. While there she implemented a comprehensive civilian investigation program to promote integrity and systemic improvement in police services. Before that, Gonzalez rose to the rank of Captain in the Newark, N.J., Police Department. Among her roles in Newark was serving as Commander of Internal Affairs where she directed complex investigative operations while ensuring compliance with department policies, attorney general guidelines, and state law.
“I am profoundly honored by the trust the BART Board of Directors has placed in me in appointing me as the Independent Police Auditor,” said Gonzalez. “The Office of the Independent Police Auditor serves as a cornerstone of accountability, transparency, and fairness in policing. With integrity, impartiality, and purpose, I am committed to building upon the strong legacy established by my predecessors. I look forward to fostering collaborative relationships with the BART Police Citizen Review Board, BART leadership, and most importantly, the communities we serve.”
The mission of the OIPA, the agency says, “is to provide effective and independent oversight of the BART Police Department by conducting unbiased and thorough investigations, monitoring internal affairs investigations, and making policy recommendations to improve the performance of the police department.” OIPA also reports to the public and maintains communication with communities served by BART. The OIPA has unfettered access to police records, data, reports, and videos to perform their investigative and monitoring work. OIPA accepts complaints, including anonymously, and can investigate complaints from community members whether or not they were the victim of alleged police misconduct.
