011345 Railroad Operations Expert

Railroad operations expert with over 17 years of experience in the railroad industry holding positions in Transportation for the Kansas City Southern Railway and WATCO Companies and Mechanical departments for the BNSF Railway and WATCO Companies, extensive knowledge in mechanical and operational safety rules, regulations, and industry standards. A 4th generation railroader, working from the ground up, holding positions as a Conductor, Carman, Journeyman Carman, Mechanical Foreman, Assistant General Foreman, General Foreman I and General Foreman II, leading one of BNSF’s largest service and repair facilities.

Possess extensive knowledge and expertise in Mechanical Operations, specifically freight car and locomotive servicing and repair. Has led railroad mechanical teams across Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Montana, and Washington State, evaluating and improving safety processes at each location. Earned the “Lantern Award” by the American Association of Railroad Superintendents for developing and implementing a Mechanical Safety Process that kept railway employees safe while working near Intermodal Crane Operations. Also named BNSF Best of the Best-Employee of the Year in Safety in 2018.

Clients include firms who seek assistance for incidents involving railroad employees and freight or passenger trains in the following areas:

· Railroad Mechanical Operations

· Railroad Train Operations

· Freight Car and Locomotive Mechanical Inspection/Repair/Servicing

· Railroad Employee Personal Injuries · Railroad Train Derailments

· Railroad Train Collisions

·Railroad Train Handling

· Railroad Locomotive Event Recorder Analysis

· Railroad Liability

· Railroad Industry Property Damage

·Railroad Highway-grade Crossing Incidents

· Railroad Train-pedestrian Incidents

· Railroad FELA Cases

· Railroad FRSA Cases

Education and Certifications Background

• High School Diploma, Liberal High School, Liberal, Missouri 2006
• National Academy of Railroad Sciences – Conductor Certified 2006
• Certified Conductor Kansas City Southern Railway (Conductor Card Expiration is 11/10/2024)
• General Code of Operating Rules Training and Certification
• Locomotive Engineer Training
• Locomotive Mechanical GE Basic Instructor Led Training
• Mechanical Hours of Service Certification
• Trackmobile Operator Training
• Hazardous Material Responder Training and Certification and Tank Car Specialist Certification
• Operation Lifesaver Presenter/Volunteer Training
• Certified BNSF Mechanical Safety Rules
• OPT (Operation Testing) Initial Qualification, OPT Safety Absolutes, OPT Data Entry, OPT Policy and Procedures Certification
• Mechanical Hours of Service Certification
• Qualified Mechanical Inspector Certification (AAR and FRA)
• Certified Freight Car Supervisor (AAR and FRA)
• Mechanical Freight Car Repair Track Instructor Led Training Certification (AAR and FRA)
• Welding Certifications- 2G/3G
• CDL Class B Driver’s License
• Mechanical Freight Car Air Brake Basic Instructor Led Training Certification (AAR and FRA)
• Mechanical Automated Single Car Test Certification (AAR)
• Mechanical Manual Single Car Test Certification (AAR)
• Mechanical Freight Car Train Yard Instructor Led Training Certification (AAR and FRA)
• Aerial Lift Platform Training – Scissor Lift and Boom Lift Training
• Technical Research and Development- Derailment Analysis Training Topeka, KS
• Mechanical Car/Locomotive Supervisor Certification (AAR and FRA)
• National Safety Council- CPR and First Aid Certification
• PTC Mechanical Overview (Positive Train Control) Certification
• Environmental Awareness Certification
• Facility Response Plan Certification EX. A
• OPA (Organization Process Assets) and SPCC (Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure) Certification
• RCRA Training (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) Certification
• Stormwater Training Certification
• Chemicals in the workplace Certification
• Derailment-Environmental Certification
• Emergency Management Institute- FEMA IS-0100 Introduction to Incident Command System, ICS-100 ● Emergency Management Institute- FEMA IS-00200.b ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incident, ICS-200
• Universal Waste Certification
• Defensive Driving Certification – Smith System Driver Direct on Road Defensive Driving Course
• Signs/Symptoms of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Certification
• Substance Abuse II- Supervisor Certification
• Railroad Security Certification
• Annual Hazard Communication-GHS (Globally Harmonized System) Certification
• Annual BNSF EEO and Diversity Certification
• Diversity and Inclusion Training
• Annual FRA Hearing Conservation Certification
• Annual HAZMAT Awareness for Supervisors Certification
• BNSF People Leader Training, LPS (Leading People Successfully) New Supervisor Training
• Speakeasy Training – Ft. Worth TX
• Skill Path Professional business training – How to become a better communicator training.
• HMM (Harvard Manage Mentor) Change Management Certification
• HMM (Harvard Manage Mentor) Developing Employees Certification
• HMM (Harvard Manage Mentor) Delegating Certification
• HMM (Harvard Manage Mentor) Team Leadership Certification
• HMM (Harvard Manage Mentor) II Leading and Motivating Certification
• Mechanical Safety Certification/Approaching Others Instructor Led Training
• National Railway Labor Conference- Disciplinary Investigations and Hearings Part III: Hearing Officer Training
• National Railway Labor Conference- Disciplinary Investigations and Hearings Part II: Witness Training ● OSHA 30 Hour Outreach Training Program- General Industry- Completed 5/29/2025

Professional Experience

Self-Employed / Consultant

• Utilizing my specialized training, experience, and knowledge of the custom and practice of the rail industry to review, analyze, and opine on railroad mechanical and operations cases.

• Apply the same methodology I used during my management years with BNSF Railway to inspect and investigate railroad mechanical and operations incidents, evaluate railroad employee rules compliance, and interpret train operation and mechanical operating rules.

• Consulting on railroad incidents including personal injuries, collisions, train handling, and switching operations.

Kansas City Southern Railway, Pittsburg, Kansas, August 2021 – June 2022

Certified Conductor/Switchman

• Safely and efficiently operate freight trains from Pittsburg, KS to Kansas City, MO and Heavner, OK consistent with railroad operating and safety rules and federal regulations.

• Built locomotive consists by adding and removing locomotives, including distributive power locomotives, and performing required brake tests.

• Switched freight cars, made set outs and pick-ups, and spotted and pulled cars from customer facilities.

• Certified on GCOR, System Special Instructions, Hazardous Materials Handling, Air Brake and Train Handling, and KCS Safety Rules. ● Interchanged with other railroads by delivering and pulling trains to/from the Canadian Pacific, Union Pacific, and BNSF Railroad yards.

BNSF Railway, Springfield, MO, August 2020 – July 2021

Mechanical Foreman – Car and Locomotive

• Performed daily safety briefings, identified and addressed safety concerns and initiated new safety process improvements to reduce exposure to potential safety hazards.

• Conducted federally mandated operations tests to ensure railroad rules such as Mechanical Safety Rules, Federal Regulations, and AAR rules were adhered to when inspecting, servicing, and repairing freight cars and locomotives.
• Springfield Zone Representative for the Service Interruption Reduction Committee working to reduce failures enroute. Less service interruptions creates a safer environment for employees by reducing risk exposure to employees who are otherwise required to walk trains and make repairs in substandard conditions.

• Investigated derailments and injuries to determine contributing factors and root causes.

• Handled day to day operations, locomotive and car repair, updated zone leadership on progress towards safety and efficiency goals on daily conference calls, made suggestions on improving safety processes, reducing waste, and safely meeting and exceeding our mechanical production goals.

BNSF Railway, Pasco, WA, March 2019 – August 2020

General Foreman II

• Led a team of 135+ railcar and locomotive mechanical employees and 12 mechanical supervisors in eastern Washington including Yakima, Wenatchee, and Pasco.

• Completed numerous capital funded projects to create a safer work environment for the entire team.

• Worked with department leaders on various ways to safely meet and exceed our terminal and division safety and performance metric goals.

• Responsible for capital planning, equipment, vehicles, tooling, and facility 5-year projections.

• Responsible for reviewing and approving invoices for daily expenditures, equipment/vehicle repairs, facility maintenance, and contractor work.

• Safety Committee, LAT (Leadership Advisory Team), and Freight Car Maintenance Committee Member

• Coordinated with FRA inspectors completing mechanical operations observations, handled exception reporting, and initiated preventative solutions to address safety items.

• Managed a monthly budget of approximately 1.6 million.

• Facilitated the performance management process including setting PMP goals and rating my subordinates on their safety, service, efficiency, leadership, and velocity goals at mid-year and year end each year.

• Investigated potential rules violations and determined/assigned discipline, including discretionary discipline.

• Implemented and updated mechanical processes to improve safety. BNSF Railway, Havre, MT, November 2017 – February 2019 General Foreman I

• Recognized by BNSF’s Carl Ice- President and CEO as “Best of the Best in Safety 2018”

• Senior Leader of Field Mechanical Operations responsible for Havre, Great Falls, Cutbank, and Whitefish, MT, and oversight of the Montana Rail Link.

• Led a work group of 70+ employees along the HI-LINE, one of the most challenging and busiest territories on the BNSF system.

• Handled many major derailments and service interruptions, worked with contractors on remediation of hazardous materials, material clean-up, hauling of materials, and cost/damage estimating.

• Responsible for properly coding derailments and submitting/approving invoices.

• Initiated and completed the 1st annual Rapid Responder training that consisted of 50+ employees across the Montana Division to help prepare the team on how to safely respond, utilizing tooling and equipment safely.

• Responded to service interruptions with craft personnel to help safely repair or set out locomotives and freight cars.

• Obtained contractor quotes and reviewed contracts for performing traction motor change-outs on locomotives and other repair work requiring contractor specialized equipment.

• FRA Committee Member- attended meetings with division senior leaders and federal inspectors to discuss hot topics and potential areas for improvement. Provided updates to the FRA on focus areas.

• Handled MID (Mechanical Inspection Department) Audits and provided corrective actions on noted exceptions.

• Spearheaded Car Repair Billing Workshops, Facility Audits, and Quality Processes.

• Created ETD Policy and email distribution list that helped reduce/eliminate End Train Device shortages.

• Facilitated the performance management process including setting PMP goals and rating my subordinates on their safety, service, efficiency, leadership, and velocity goals at mid-year and year end each year.

• Investigated potential rules violations and determined/assigned discipline, including discretionary discipline.

• Completed many physical plant safety related projects that created a safer environment for my team.

• Worked with FRA inspectors while they performed audits, handled inspection exceptions, performed all follow up repair documentation and initiated processes to ensure compliance.

• Provided oversight and developed the Great Falls Locomotive Servicing Facility. Increased shop work scope by working units in house such as M92 and M184 periodic inspections.

BNSF Railway, St. Louis, MO, May 2014 – November 2017

Assistant General Foreman

• Sole Mechanical Manager responsible for 7 sub-divisions covering 760 miles of territory. Territory coverage included portions of Springfield, Chicago, and Kansas Divisions of BNSF’s network.

• Completed accident investigations on hundreds of derailments and service interruptions across the territory. Lead teams to complete freight car play book, consisting of gathering freight car component measurements and evaluating data to determine potential contributing factors and/or causes of incidents.
• Responsible for startup of new Mechanical Road Truck location in Beardstown, IL. Hired employees and worked with terminal leaders on new facility location, relocation of storage material, acquired equipment, vehicles, and tooling for the new location.

• Leadership Council Member – Leader and representative of FLS.

• Expanded locomotive repair work-scope by providing training to Mechanical team, preventing locomotives from having to be moved across country for minor repairs that can safely be repaired on site.

• Provided training and documentation to contractor fuel vendors in Beardstown, IL to ensure trains could be safely serviced.

• Supervised the repair of locomotives, servicing, and routed certain locomotives to other shops per BNSF’s STS process.

• Worked with local FRA Inspectors to obtain one-time movement authority’s which allowed us to move damaged equipment safely from one repair facility to the next due to a shop’s inability to make safe repairs.

• Supervised the repair and servicing of locomotives and railcars on a repair track and on line of road.

• Completed many physical plant safety related projects such as railcar jack pad installations, Mobile Fuel Truck Upgrades, Track Matting installations, Foliage Removal, road, and sign maintenance, and added additional freight car repair and locomotive storage facilities that were safely organized for better access and ergonomics.

• Obtained contractor quotes and reviewed contracts for performing traction motor change-outs and other repair work requiring contractor specialized equipment.

• Handled OTL “Open Top Load” issues. Worked with contractors to remove and/or adjust lading on railcars, worked with OTL manager to ensure compliance per specifications for lading/carload. Supervise contractors to ensure work is completed safely and that all work was completed following BNSF Mechanical Safety Rules.

BNSF Railway, Springfield, MO, December 2010 – May 2014

Carman, Journeyman Carman, Relief Supervisor, Mechanical Foreman I

• Qualified Mechanical Inspector- inspect, test, and repair freight cars in accordance with FRA and AAR specifications.

• Performed FRA air brake tests on freight trains and filled out proper documentation ensuring the train is safe to proceed through many communities across the country until the train reaches the next inspection point.

• Responded to many derailments and service interruptions. Installed re-railing devices, blocking, working directly with contractors and/or employees to ensure safety was the highest priority.

• Handled daily safety briefings, listened to employees concerns and took action to resolve/mitigate risk to employees. Held “Annual Interviews” with employees to gain insight and perspective from employees on how we can improve safety and safety processes.

• Trained, developed, and mentored new hires on freight car inspection, testing, repairing, and car repair billing processes.

• Handled quality program, performing out-shop audits of railcar repairs, train inspections, and following up with exception reporting.

WATCO Companies, Pittsburg, KS, August 2007 – December 2010

Conductor, Engineer, Assistant Trainmaster, Carman – South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad

• Completed railcar switching, spotting, and pulling at numerous yards and industries consistent with safety and operating rules.

• Interchanged with the BNSF Railway and Kansas City Southern Railway, pulling and delivering freight cars.

• Successfully completed locomotive engineer training and testing.

• Pulled and delivered coal sets to be worked on at the WATCO Car Repair Facility in Cornell, KS.

• Re-railed railcars utilizing specialized railroad equipment.

• Performed M214 freight car truck rebuild-refurbishing bolsters and side frames to specification.

• Inspected, repaired, and/or replaced many freight car components including hundreds of wheel sets, box car doors, outlet gates, hatch covers, side posts, side sills, draft gears, couplers, knuckles, uncoupling levers, crossover boards, safety ladders, hand holds, sill steps, brake beams, levers, brake components, and other railcar safety appliances.

• Worked on wreck repairs and utilized cutting torches to scrap railcars.

• Painted and stenciled equipment, and applied decals with new car markings.

• Operated locomotives and car movers to switch cars at the car shop.

• Operated overhead crane, mobile crane, forklift, skid steer, bolster press, backhoe, scissor lift, and one-ton flatbed.

• Sand blasted and cleaned/power washed railcars. EX. A Kansas City Southern Railway, East St. Louis, IL, February 2007 – August 2007 Certified Conductor

• GCOR, ABTH, KCS Safety Rules, System Special Instructions/Hazardous Materials Certified.

• Operated trains between East St. Louis, IL to Mexico, Missouri.

• Completed industry railcar switching, including at one of the biggest chemical plants in East St. Louis, in Mexico, MO, and set out and picked cars up along the route.

• Interchanged freight trains with the CSX Railroad.

• Worked as a conductor on the Roodhouse Local, switching railcars, hauling freight from Roodhouse, IL to East St. Louis and to Springfield, IL to interchange with a short line railroad.