
Preliminary Agenda!
BALTIMORE
CONFERENCE AGENDA
SPRING 2025 – APRIL 9TH-11TH
WEDNESDAY APRIL 9TH
11:30am – NEARS TopGolf Extravaganza!
TopGolf, 1411 Warner Street, Baltimore MD
3:00pm – Conference Registration Opens
5:00pm – The Joseph & Eileen Gearin Networking Reception
Sponsored By American Truck and Rail Audits, Inc
6:30pm – Dinner On Your Own in Fabulous Baltimore
7:00pm – NEARS Speakeasy Hospitality Lounge Opens
THURSDAY APRIL 10TH
7:00am – Breakfast Starts (Available until 08:15am)
7:30am – Conference Registration Re-Opens
8:00am – Welcome to NEARS, Safety Briefing and Housekeeping
8:15am – To Be Announced
9:15am – Mutual Sustainable Prosperity in the Transportation Industry (FC)
Didi Caldwell, President & CEO, Global Relocation Strategies
Moderator: Jason Seidl, Managing Director Industrials, TD Cowen
10:00am – Networking Break
10:30am – To Be Announced
11:30am – NEARS Awards Ceremony
NOON – NEARS Networking Lunch and Vendor Fair
1:30pm – The Chemical Supply Chain and the Modern-Day Challenges (PP)
Todd Tranausky, Logistics Procurement Manager, American Styrene
Moderator: Jason Seidl, Managing Director Industrials, TD Cowen
2:30pm – Asset Intelligence and Transportation Digitalization (PP)
Kenneth Mannka, Executive Vice President of Operations, Nexxiot
Moderator: Dennis Wilmot, President, Iron Horse Logistics Group
3:30pm – Networking Break
3:45pm – The World Renowned Ever Popular and Highly Anticipated Tony and Jason Show (FC)
Tony Hatch, Principal, ABH Consulting
Jason Seidl, Managing Director Industrials, TD Cowen
5:00pm – The Joseph & Eileen Gearin Networking Reception
Sponsored By American Truck and Rail Audits, Inc
6:30pm – Dinner On Your Own In Fabulous Baltimore
7:00pm – NEARS Speakeasy Hospitality Lounge Opens
FRIDAY APRIL 11TH
7:30am – Networking Breakfast Starts (Available Until 08:15)
8:00am – Opening/Announcements
8:15am – Great Things are Moving in Maryland!
Brian Hammock, VP State Government Affairs, CSX
9:15am – (TBD)
10:15am – The Nitty-Gritty of Rail Shipping (FC)
Kenneth Sanchez, President/CEO of Chesapeake Specialty Products
11:00am – Closing Remarks and William J. Donovan Memorial Drawing
(FC) = Fireside Chat Format (PP) = Powerpoint Presentation Format

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