- TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 24TH
- You might consider coming to Pittsburgh a night early.
- The Pittsburgh Pirates are playing the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night starting at 18:40pm.
- PNC Park was ranked the #1 ballpark by USA today in 2024! Come check it out!
- WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 25th
- 11:30 – NEARS TopGolf Pittsburgh! Golf Time: 11:30 to 14:30
- 400 Presto-Sygan Rd, Bridgeville, PA (About 14 miles from The Westin)
- We have a NEARS Shuttle! Meet in the lobby of the hotel.
- - Pickup Time: 10:30
- - Estimated Arrival Time: 11:15
- - Must leave event by: 15:00
- - Estimated Return Time: 15:45
- 15:00 – Conference Registration Opens
- 17:00 – The Joseph & Eileen Gearin Networking Reception
- Sponsored By American Truck and Rail Audits, Inc
- Signature Cocktail Sponsored by Carboline
- 18:30 – Dinner On Your Own in Fabulous Pittsburgh!
- 18:40 - The Pittsburgh Pirates are playing the Milwaukee Brewers starting at 18:40pm!
- 22:00 – NEARS Speakeasy/Hospitality Lounge Open
- - Come join us for some evening networking
- THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 26th
- 07:00 – Breakfast Starts (Available until 08:15)
- 07:30 – Conference Registration Re-Opens
- 08:00 – Welcome to NEARS, Safety Briefing and Housekeeping
- - Mark Ritchey, Acting President, NEARS
- 08:15 – Welcome to Pittsburgh from the Port of Pittsburgh Commission
- - Mary Ann Bucci, Executive Director, Port of Pittsburgh Commission
- 08:30 – Welcome to Pittsburgh from the Traffic Club of Pittsburgh
- - Josh Konesni, VP Board of Directors, Traffic Club of Pittsburgh
- 08:45 – What does the future hold? Let’s look at the data!
- - Jason Trompeter, AVP Market Research and Forecasts, Norfolk Southern Corp.
- - Moderator: Dennis Wilmot, President, Iron Horse Logistics Group
- 09:30 – The UP Perspective of the Industry
- - Jacque Bendon, SVP Industrial M&S, Union Pacific
- - Moderator: Dennis Wilmot, President, Iron Horse Logistics Group
- 09:45 – NEARS Friends and Family Attendees Meet in Hotel Lobby for a Very Special Day
- - Tour of Pittsburgh
- - Lunch at Grand Concourse Restaurant
- - Afternoon Matinee Orchestra Level Tickets at the O’Reilly Theater
- - Return to Hotel at approximately 3:30pm
- 10:15 – Networking Break
- 10:45 – The BNSF Perspective of the Industry
- - Colby Tanner, Group VP Industrial Products, BNSF Railroad
- - Moderator: Don Cameron, VP Enterprise Sales, STG Logistics
- 11:30 – NEARS Awards Ceremony
- - Michael Miller, President, Genesee & Wyoming – Transportation Person of the Year
- - Chad Grinnell – NEARS Hall of Fame
- - Pete Petersen – NEARS Hall of Fame
- - Carl Citelli – NEARS Hall of Fame
- NOON – NEARS Networking Lunch and Vendor Fair
- Networking Lunch Sponsored By Carboline
- 13:30 – The Intermodal Picture by the Intermodal Experts
- - Paul Svindland, CEO, STG Logistics
- - Mark Yeager, CEO Redwood Logistics
- - Moderator: Jason Seidl, Managing Director Industrials, TD Cowen
- 14:15 – Measuring the Vitals of the Rail Industry - RailPulse
- - Mike McClellan, Senior VP and Chief Strategy Officer, Norfolk Southern
- - Moderator: Jason Seidl, Managing Director Industrials, TD Cowen
- 15:00 – Networking Break
- 15:30 – FRA – Grants, Rail Safety, Operation Lifesaver, Other New Initiatives
- - Gary Longo, Railroad Safety Inspector, FRA
- - Moderator: Dennis Wilmot, President, Iron Horse Logistics Group
- 16:00 – The Amazing, Educational and Independent Jason Seidl Show
- - Jason Seidl, Managing Director Industrials, TD Cowen
- - Moderator 1: Don Cameron, VP Enterprise Sales, STG Logistics
- - Moderator 2: John Meyers, Director of Sales, DM
- 17:00 – The Joseph & Eileen Gearin Networking Reception
- Sponsored By American Truck and Rail Audits, Inc
- Signature Cocktail Sponsored by Carboline
- 18:30 – Dinner On Your Own In Fabulous Pittsburgh!
- 22:00 – NEARS Speakeasy/Hospitality Lounge Open
- - Come join us for some evening networking
- FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 27th
- 07:30 – Networking Breakfast Starts (Available Until 08:15)
- 08:00 – Opening/Announcements
- - Mark Ritchey, Acting President, NEARS
- 08:15 – Strategies for a Successful Rail Future
- - Farrukh Bezar, Operating Advisor, Littlejohn & Co.
- - Jason Seidl, Managing Director Industrials, TD Cowen
- 09:00 – Electrifying Freight Rail!
- - Corey Vasel, Chief Technology Officer of IntraMotev
- - Moderator: Dennis Wilmot, President, Iron Horse Logistics Group
- 09:30 – Rail Asset Panel – Boxcars and Tankcars and Hoppers, Oh My!
- - Jeff Lytle, President – Rail, CIT
- - Brian Smalley, Exec. VP Marketing and Sales, National Steel Car
- - Jonathan Sunde, Chief Engineer, Strato Inc.
- - Moderator: Paddy O’Neill, Principal, Glynn Lane Consulting
- 10:15 – The Academic Perspective – The Rail Freight Vision 2024 and Beyond
- - Dr. Peter Swan, Associate Professor of Emeritus, Penn State (Ret.)
- - Moderator: Dennis Wilmot, President, Iron Horse Logistics Group
- 11:00 – Closing Remarks and William J. Donovan Memorial Drawing
In the past 6 months, I’ve used my NEARS connections to:
§ Do reference checks on a new TMS with folks who actually use the software
§ Find a location to stage railcars near a customer to reduce our lead times and better manage inventories
§ Facilitate a transload operation
§ Ask dozens of questions on railcar maintenance, repair, and design
§ Find a specialty provider for cleaning and refitting of tank cars
§ Collect estimated costs to support multiple logistics feasibility studies
§ Help me train my employees into new roles
§ Recruit new team members
§ Locate railcar capacity for short term logistical support
At the last conference, I met:
§ 4 of my Railroad Account Managers and their Directors
§ Director and VP level executives from multiple leasing companies
§ 2 Investment Analysts who provide insight into the transportation industry as a whole
§ 20 new peers (shippers who manage rail for their companies)
§ 2 Transportation Software providers, who provide services that I am in the market for
§ 2 government officials that act as consumer advocates or shipper resources
As a result of my attendance, I got:
§ Updates on the rail market place from all the speakers and contacts I made
§ Access to a full list of attendees to be able to network with them in the future
§ Access to the presentations of the speakers and permission to contact them regarding the content that I used in business presentations
There are many organizations to choose from, so why choose NEARS?
Our BOD represents all aspects of the shipping community. As we are a shippers organization, our bylaws restrict railroad employees from becoming officers.
Scott McCalla - NEARS Executive, Director
Carl Citelli - President in Memoriam
Mark Ritchey - Curry Rail Services, 1st Vice President (Acting President)
Rob Pisan - CIT Rail, 2nd Vice President
Dennis Wilmot - Iron Horse Logistics Services, Advisory Committee Chair
Mike Barbato - Retired, Board Member
Amanda Barber - NS Corp, Board Member
Don Cameron - STG Logistics, Board Member
Michael Clements - CSX, Board Member
Thomas Coleman - Shale Rail, Board Member
Jesse Fetters - Carboline, Board Member
Paul Grosche - AMTR, Board Member
Todd Hunter - North Shore Railroad Company & Affiliates, Board Member
Michael Koehler - UP, Board Member
Perry Martel - Vermont Rail System, Board Member
John Meyers - D.M. Bowman, Board Member
Stacy Ossenfort - Northeast Freight Transfer, Board Member
Roger Reynolds - Omya Inc, Board Member
Jason Seidl - TD Cowen, Board Member
2022 - 2023 Erica Breiterman
2020 – 2021 Dennis Wilmot
2018 - 2019 Jason Seidl
2016 - 2017 Don Cameron
2014 - 2015 John Meyers
2012 - 2013 Scott McCalla
2010 - 2011 Dana Burleigh
2008 - 2009 Tammy Baker-Silver
2006 - 2007 Gerald Racette
2004 - 2005 Diane El-Hakim
2002 - 2003 Michael Cella
2000 - 2001 Kathy Dalrymple
1998 - 1999 Paula Mehan
1996 - 1997 Michael Calabucci
1994 - 1995 Joe Gearin
1992 – 1993 Brenda Horne
1990 - 1991 Joe Gearin
1988 - 1989 Kenneth Enzor
1986 – 1987 Ruth Gale
1984 – 1985 Kenneth Enzor
1982 – 1983 Ken Bowers
1980 – 1981 Gene Bernard
2017 – Present Scott McCalla
· 2004 – 2016 Joe Gearin
· 1986 – 2003 William Donovan
· 1980 – 1985 John Morton