RBMN
RBMN has elevated Jennifer Frederickson to Director of Passenger Marketing, Retail, and Community Development, and Meg Pursel to AVP-Passenger Special Projects, OCS, and Special Excursions.
Frederickson started her RBMN career in 2018 as a mascot at the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway. In her new role, she creates flyers, banners, rack cards, and other promotional materials that help bring riders to the railroad. She also coordinates advertising campaigns with various media outlets; most notably with the Times News, whose readers voted the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway the No. 1 tourist attraction in the region. Additionally, Frederickson manages the Black Diamond Company Store, which is located at the railroad’s Nesquehoning Campus and also offers a fully functional online shopping platform. Frederickson and her fellow passenger department managers continue to expand the selection of railroad-related merchandise.
Pursel joined RBMN in January 2020 as a part-time receptionist. “During her time as a receptionist, she was still running her family business of over 30 years; managing the advertising, sales, financing, ordering, and restoration of horse trailers with elite living quarters,” RBMN reported. “In a conversation with [RBMN Executive Vice President Special Projects] Therman Madeira, Meg inquired about the restoration of passenger cars. Together with Therman’s and [RBMN Senior Vice President and General Manager–Passenger Department] Matt Fisher’s supervision they created and developed the Paint Department with full-time employees and a restoration shop to call their own. As Paint Department manager, Meg’s duties included overseeing the maintenance and restoration of new and existing private cars, the passenger fleet, and painting of the locomotives. Her experience in customer relations proved valuable in managing the Office Car Special excursions and private trips. Therman has retired but continues to advise Meg on special projects, which covers anything from painting buildings throughout our railroad properties to developing plans for various projects here and in Nebraska at Moon Lake Ranch.”
Frederickson and Pursel work closely with directors Jeff Knadler, Josh Cascarella, and Tim Wright, along with Paint Department Manager Zach Frye, to ensure that all RBMN’s scenic passenger operations run smoothly. “With an ever-expanding schedule that is now year-round—and daily for most of the year—this teamwork is vital to the success of the entire passenger department,” RBMN said.
Based in Port Clinton, Pa., RBMN is a privately held railroad company serving more than 80 customers in nine Pennsylvania counties (Berks, Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Northumberland, Schuylkill, and Wyoming). It handles nearly 40,000 carloads and carries more than 300,000 riders annually. It operates its freight plus steam- and diesel-powered passenger excursions over 400 miles of track, owns more than 2,000 freight cars, and employs more than 350 people.
Virginia DRPT
Tiffany Robinson has been hired to lead Virginia DRPT, succeeding Jennifer DeBruhl who retired at the end of June.
With nearly 15 years of experience in state and local government, Robinson served most recently as Deputy Chief of Staff in Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s Office. Previously, she was Secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor, managing a workforce of more than 1,800 employees and an operating budget of $1.7 billion. She has also held the positions of Deputy Chief of Staff in the Maryland Governor’s Office and Assistant Secretary in Maryland’s Department of Housing and Community Development. Robinson earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and a Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore School of Law.
“I am very excited to welcome Tiffany Robinson to lead DRPT,” said Secretary of Transportation W. Sheppard Miller III. “Her extensive background in public policy, strategic operations, and community development fully equip her to advance Virginia’s rail and public transportation goals. We look forward to the energy and experience she will bring to the department and to the continuation of her distinguished track record of success.”
“I am honored to join the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and excited to lead such an important agency that plays a vital role in connecting communities and enhancing mobility across the Commonwealth,” Robinson said. “I look forward to collaborating with our partners and stakeholders to build on DRPT’s strong foundation and to drive forward initiatives that improve the quality of life for all Virginians.”
TriMet
TriMet recently recognized Shana Peck as 2024 Rail Operator of the Year and released a video profile in her honor (watch above). In 2022, she officially joined transit agency, which provides light rail, commuter rail, bus and paratransit services in the Portland, Ore., metropolitan area. Previously, Peck spent six years as a supervisor for LIFT, TriMet’s paratransit service. LIFT operators and supervisors are contractors, but TriMet oversees operations.
“I just decided TriMet’s where I wanted to begin my real career,” said Peck, whose dream was to run MAX light rail trains. At the time Shana joined TriMet, only employees who had driven a TriMet bus were eligible to apply for MAX operator jobs. With her previous experience driving for LIFT, Peck took the wheel for TriMet before soon moving to MAX.
This year, TriMet has a new policy: It is now accepting MAX operator applicants from outside TriMet. Applicants must have at least one year of experience in the transportation industry, one year of customer service experience, and three years of driving experience.
“I think it’s fun operating the trains,” Peck said. “And I’m excited to see where I grow in my career here.”
