Agenda

Tuesday, September 9

10:00 a.m. 6:30 p.m. — Registration

10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. — Sponsor/Exhibitor Setup

2:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. — Committee Meetings

4:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. — Networking Happy Hour, with icebreaker activities run by the Young Professionals Committee

5:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. — Opening Reception with Sponsors

Wednesday, September 10

7:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. — Registration

7:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. — Networking Breakfast with Sponsors

8:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. — General Session:

• 8:00 a.m.-8:05 a.m. — Announcements: Ben Tarbutton III, President, Sandersville Railroad Company and RVP Southern Region, ASLRRA Board of Directions
   
• 8:05a.m.-8:15 a.m. — Welcome: Matt Walsh, Executive Vice President, Global Corporate Development, Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services, Inc. and Chairman, ASLRRA Board of Directors
   
• 8:15 a.m.-8:30 a.m. — President’s Awards (Southern Region)
   
• 8:30 a.m.-9:15 a.m. — Short Line Leaders Panel: Moderated by Chuck Baker
  Hear from executives from a large holding company, a medium size railroad, and a small railroad. Baker will ask about current events, business development and much more.
   
• 9:15 a.m.-9:40 a.m. — NS Update: Stefan Loeb, Vice President Business Development and First and Final Mile Markets, Norfolk Southern
   
• 9:40 a.m.-10:00 a.m. — A Business Plan for Safety: Tom Murta, Executive Director, and Sam Cotton, Director - Safety Culture Programs, Short Line Safety Institute
  An overview of the SLSI Safety Culture Assessments, Leadership Development courses and Hamat Training activity. Special focus on the “Business Plan for Safety” the most prevalent opportunity identified in the decade of operation.
   
• 10:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. — Networking Break with Sponsors
   
• 10:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. — Economic Development Programs and Working with your State DOT, moderated by Crystal Gitchell, AVP, Legislative & Regulatory Policy, ASLRRA
  During this panel you will hear from the North Carolina Department of Transportation on the importance of partnering with your DOT on economic development projects and grants. You will also hear from short line economic development leaders on how they are working with their states to turn dirt and get projects moving.
   
• 11:00 a.m.-11:25 a.m. — CSX Update: Christina Bottomley, VP Business Development & Real Estate, CSX Transportation, Inc.
   
• 11:25 a.m.-12:00 p.m. — Regulation Hot Seat: Ask Me Anything with a Regulator
  A Q&A style session with a representative from the FRA.

12:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. — Networking Lunch with Sponsors

1:00 p.m. 1:50 p.m. — Breakout Sessions:

• Technology with Roadway Maintenance Machines (RMM) — Tim Presser, (RWP/RMM) HQ Specialist, Federal Railroad Administration
  This presentation will discuss recent fatalities involving RMMs and Roadway Workers and technologies being utilized to prevent these fatalities, including development of future technologies.
   
• All About Railroad Ties — Frank Forlini, Director, Commercial Services, Spokane, Spangle & Palouse Railway
  Presentation outlining wood tie disposal across the industry. What happens to wooden ties after they are removed from the infrastructure? Walk through the life cycle of a tie and the various downstream uses after the initial use of a wood tie.
   
• Leadership Development Panel

1:55 p.m. 2:40 p.m. — Breakout Sessions:

• Procurement Panel
   
• Telling Your Story — Creating a Brand Image that Resonates with Customers and the Community
  Your brand is your promise! Join CEOs from short line railroads who have successfully grown business by leveraging a consistent message to shippers and their community, across all marketing channels.

2:45 p.m. 3:15 p.m. — Networking Break with Sponsors

3:20 p.m. 4:05 p.m. — Breakout Sessions:

• Transloading Panel
  Transloading represents an opportunity to move your short line operation to the next level. This diverse panel will cover aspects of conveyance, facility footprint, emissions, long-term planning and some legal considerations.
   
• Managing Media Interest in a post-East Palestine World
  A rise in the public’s general interest in freight railroading is at a level not seen in quite some time. A media professional will provide key considerations for a media crisis plan, and expert media managers will discuss how to control the spin — particularly in your community.

4:10 p.m. 5:10 p.m. — Region and Sandhouse Meetings

• Eastern Region Railroad Sandhouse Meeting
• Southern Region Railroad Sandhouse Meeting
• Supplier Members Sandhouse Meeting

5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. — Networking Happy Hour: Bowlero
A short walk from the hotel, please join us for a networking happy hour at Bowlero, a retro-inspired, black-light bowling hangout powered by interactive arcade games, signature cocktails, an outrageous menu of shareables, and nostalgia. Join us for networking, bowling, arcade games, bar snacks and beverages.

Thursday, September 11

7:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. — Registration

7:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. — Networking Breakfast with Sponsors

8:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. — General Session:

• 8:00 a.m.-8:05 a.m. — Announcements: Robert Babcock, President & CEO, Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroads and RVP- Eastern Region, ASLRRA Board of Directors
   
• 8:05 a.m.-8:15 a.m. — Association Update: Chuck Baker, President, ASLRRA
   
• 8:15 a.m.-8:30 a.m. — President’s Awards (Eastern Region)
   
• 8:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m. — Crisis Response Presentation: A Legal Perspective — Mimi Davis, Counsel, Crowell & Moring LLP, Mike Scully, Corporate & Transportation Law - Director, Risk Management, CSX Transportation, moderated by Onna Houck, General Counsel, Iowa Interstate Railroad, Ltd.
  This session would be of interest to safety professionals, lawyers, executives, and many others at railroads. It will stress the importance of company coordination in the event of crisis and what you should have prepared in advance.
   
• 9:00 a.m.-9:25 a.m. — CN Update: Jim Gunther, Director, Network Strategy & Partnerships, CN
   
• 9:25 a.m.-10:00 a.m. — Succession Planning Panel
   
• 10:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. — Networking Break with Sponsors
   
• 10:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. — Selling Rail as a Valuable Supply Chain Partner for Shippers and the Community
  A panel format with shippers, elected officials and railroads will provide case studies on growing rail business by focusing on the benefits of rail to the community and to customers.
   
• 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. — Legislative, Regulatory and Legal Panel: Nicole Brewin, VP, Congressional Affairs; Jo Strang, SVP, Safety, Regulatory, & Environmental Policy; and Sarah Yurasko, SVP & General Counsel, ASLRRA
  ASLRRA Legal, Legislative and Regulatory Staff will discuss current events and recent updates from Washington, D.C. Overview of recent changes in federal and state regulations. Predictions on upcoming regulatory trends and potential legislative actions.

NEW THIS YEAR:

Networking Happy Hour at Bowlero

A networking event with bowling, arcade games, bar snacks and beverages. Free to all attendees; just RSVP when registering for the Eastern & Southern region meeting.