Reading & Northern
Reading & Northern on July 2 announced that Jeff Knadler, who started his career with the railroad as a freight operations conductor in 2007 and worked his way up to Designated Supervisor of Locomotive Engineers (DSLE), has been promoted to Assistant Vice President – Passenger. He will continue to report to Matt Fisher, Senior VP/General Manager – Passenger.
Most recently, Knadler served as Senior Director of the railroad’s Passenger Department. In that capacity, he oversaw (and still oversees) the operation of the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway in Jim Thorpe, Pa., as well as the Reading & Northern’s regional passenger directors—Tim Wright on the Lehigh Division, and Sabrina Kennedy on the Reading Division. Having celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, LGSR, the railroad says, has come a long way from its beginnings as a standard coach-only train. “Knadler has played a major role in the evolution and enhancement of the guest experience at LGSR. From helping to locate new rolling stock to the inception of the King Coal Café, his impact can be seen everywhere on the railroad, particularly in Jim Thorpe,” Reading & Northern said.
As Passenger is one of the only departments at the railroad that interacts with all other departments, Knadler’s background in operations “has proven indispensable,” Reading & Northern noted. The diverse and ever-expanding array of equipment used on both the LGSR and Reading & Northern passenger excursions is well cared for and moves around the system to where it is needed expeditiously. Knadler himself can sometimes be seen at the throttle of passenger equipment moves. During his career in operations, he was often at the throttle of the LGSR trains, “giving him valuable and arguably esoteric insight.”
Another hallmark of Knadler’s leadership is communication. “Most of this goes unseen by the public but nonetheless trickles down to the guest experience, the highest priority on equal footing with safety,” the railroad noted. All passenger crews receive detailed and well-written instructions in advance of every operating day. Safety is a recurring and daily topic when it comes to hosting hundreds of thousands of riders each year. With as many as four passenger trains funneling through Jim Thorpe on a given weekend—and sometimes, as many as five out on the railroad in total—communication is key, the railroad added.
“Reading & Northern is proud of Jeff and his accomplishments. CEO Andy Muller, Jr. and his family will continue to provide Jeff and his fellow managers with the tools to ensure that Reading & Northern passenger trains continue to delight riders of all ages for many years to come,” the railroad said.
AECOM
AECOM on July 1 announced the appointment of Veronica Vanterpool as Senior Vice President, Americas Transit Lead for the company’s global Transportation business, effective immediately.
In this role, she will be responsible for delivering major transit projects across the Americas, “driving AECOM’s business growth, and advancing its strategic priorities in this critical sector,” the firm noted.
“As the world’s top rail and mass transit firm, Veronica’s appointment reflects our steadfast commitment to delivering sustainable, future-ready transportation solutions,” said AECOM President Lara Poloni. “Her vision and leadership will be instrumental in forging a more connected and resilient future for transit across the Americas, and we are proud to welcome a changemaker of her caliber to our team.”
Vanterpool is a nationally recognized leader in transportation with more than two decades of experience, having most recently served as Acting Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) within the U. S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). “She brings a powerful blend of strategic vision, executive leadership, and mission-driven focus to this role. With a deep commitment to advancing resilience and economic opportunity, Vanterpool is uniquely positioned to shape the future of transit across the Americas,” AECOM said.
“Veronica possesses unparalleled insights and purpose-driven leadership at a moment when today’s mobility challenges demand bold, transformative thinking,” said Mark Southwell, Chief Executive of AECOM’s global Transportation business. “Her ability to align infrastructure projects with community needs and long-term sustainability objectives makes her an invaluable contributor in advancing our transit leadership region wide.”
“I am honored to join AECOM to support a vision towards a more equitable, sustainable and connected future,” said Vanterpool. “As our new Americas Transit Lead, I am committed to advancing practical, impactful transit solutions that strengthen communities and expand access to opportunity.”
