Full Schedule

Session will discuss certification updates, processes and audit results from short lines.

Speaker(s): Kevin Lewis, Program Manager, Certification, Federal Railroad Administration; Kurt Erickson, Rail Safety Specialist-Certification, Federal Railroad Administration; JR Gelnar, VP Safety & Compliance, ASLRRA

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way HR professionals work, but success depends on using it responsibly. This session would focus on practical, low-risk ways HR teams can leverage AI to improve efficiency, enhance employee communications, support recruiting, strengthen workforce analytics, and streamline day-to-day operations while maintaining compliance and protecting employee data.

Speaker(s): Leah Twombly, Director, Enterprise Services, OmniTRAX; Merritt Canfield, CEO, Meritus Executive Search Excellence; Laura Lone, Human Capital Management Consultant, Coastal Payroll

Many freight short lines view passenger operations as risky, peripheral, or simply outside their core business. This panel argues otherwise. Three operators each took a different path into passenger service. Alan Maples (Everett Railroad) built excursions from nothing after losing a major freight customer; passenger revenue now accounts for nearly half of the railroad's income. David Bevins (Patriot Rail) inherited an excursion operation through acquisition and rebuilt it around professional safety culture, disciplined financial returns, and consistent ridership growth. Eric Betke (Finger Lakes Railway) made the choice to end their passenger operations but saw the value in bringing on a third party to continue the service on his railroad. Each will share the why, the how, and the lessons learned..

Speaker(s): Christopher Homco, VP Operations, FMW Solutions / Indiana Northeastern Railroad; Alan Maples, President, Everett Railroad; David Bevins, VP Operations, Patriot Rail; Eric Betke, President, Finger Lakes Railway

As demand for broadband expansion, utility infrastructure, and energy development grows, short line railroads are facing increasing pressure to provide access to railroad rights of way. This session will examine how railroads can safely manage third-party access requests while balancing operational priorities, liability concerns, and revenue opportunities. The session will also address emerging state and federal legislative and regulatory developments impacting railroad right of way access, including broadband deployment initiatives, permitting requirements, preemption issues, and public policy trends affecting railroad property rights.

Moderator(s): Nicole Brewin, Vice President, Congressional Affairs, ASLRRA

Speaker(s): Ross Lane, Assistant Vice President, Government Affairs, Genesee & Wyoming, Inc.

In a work environment of ever-increasing claims of whistleblower activity, are your managers well-equipped and trained to handle safety reports raised by your employees who might also claim such activity constitutes legally protected activity under the Federal Railroad Safety Act (“FRSA”)? Join Tracey at this morning’s breakout sessions to learn how to train and educate your managers on best practices when receiving and handling safety reports, injury reports, requests for medical treatment and other potentially FRSA-protected activity that can help your company avoid – or defend - potential legal claims. This interactive session will include several fact-based scenarios to help illustrate guiding principles to train your management workforce.

Speaker(s): Tracey Holmes Donesky, Partner, Stinson LLP

This session will discuss the reorganization of the FRA and how it will affect short lines. Findings from Part 225 audits and routine inspections will be discussed including areas of needed improvements.

Speaker(s): Adam Giovando, Staff Director - SMT 8, FRA; Steve DuPont, SMT-6 Deputy Administrator, FRA

Supply chain managers, site selectors, public officials, grant reviewers and community leaders increasingly rely on AI queries and online research during their decision-making process, forming opinions before they ever make contact. Yet many short lines have thin digital footprints, leaving influence and opportunity on the table.

Speaker(s): John Hatfield, Partner, CDLB Communications

Customer-focused panel exploring shipper expectations around service, communication, and partnership. Attendees will gain practical insights to strengthen relationships and support business growth.

Many people define a successful succession as the moment leadership changes hands. In well-run private businesses, however, true success is when the transition is barely noticeable. This session unpacks common pitfalls and offers practical approaches to structuring both ownership and management succession to ensure clarity, accountability, and continuity—while addressing, not avoiding, the real complexities involved.

Speaker(s): Will Tully, Brown Brothers Harriman

Material shortages, extended lead times, and supplier capacity constraints continue to challenge short line railroads' ability to maintain infrastructure, execute capital projects, and respond to new business opportunities. As critical first- and last-mile providers, short lines must balance cost control with supply assurance while operating with limited resources and lean procurement teams. Railroad leaders and supplier representatives will share real-world examples of procurement challenges, lessons learned, and successful approaches that improved material availability, project execution, and operational reliability.

What I would do differently in retrospect, lessons learned.

Speaker(s): James Bonner, President, New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway; Joe Parsons, President & CEO, Iowa Interstate Railroad, Ltd.; Mark Wegner, CEO, Twin Cities & Western Railroad Co.

Railroads are built on precision, efficiency, and control. Shouldn't our approach to healthcare costs be too? Explore proven strategies to control costs, improve care, and support a dispersed workforce. Learn how employers are tackling specialty drugs, high-cost claims, and chronic conditions without shifting costs to employees. Leave with a roadmap for the first 90 days of building a smarter, more sustainable health plan strategy.

Speaker(s): Donovan Ryckis, CEO, Ethos Benefits

Short line railroads and the shippers they serve face a common challenge: limited visibility into railcar location, condition, and status creates inefficiencies that ripple across the entire supply chain. This panel brings together RailPulse, a short line railroad, and a shipper to discuss how shared access to trusted, real-time railcar data is improving visibility, coordination, and operational performance.

Speaker(s): David Shannon, General Manager, RailPulse; Carla Ewing, SVP of Service Assurance, Watco; Rob Cook, Sr. Mgr. Rail Operations, Bunge

Multi-stakeholder discussion on how rail-served projects move from concept to execution. Attendees will gain insight into site selection, coordination, and learn to better position rail for growth opportunities.

Speaker(s): Mike Tetler, Carload Express

Human Resources often plays a critical role in the defense of a Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) claim, it is essential for legal and HR teams to understand each other’s responsibilities and processes. Effective collaboration helps ensure regulatory compliance, protects employee rights, and strengthens claim management from the initial injury report through resolution. Join this interactive session to explore key questions, including:

• What can be done when an employee is unable or unwilling to complete a timely injury report?
• How should known pre-existing medical conditions be addressed in the context of a workplace injury?
• When does an injury trigger alcohol and drug testing requirements?
• Who should have access to details regarding an injured employee’s medical condition, and what privacy considerations apply?

Participants will have the opportunity to discuss real-world scenarios, share organizational best practices, and learn from the experiences of their peers. Leave with practical insights and strategies that can help improve coordination between HR and legal teams and enhance your organization’s approach to injury management, drug and alcohol testing and FELA claims.

Speaker(s): Colleen Helenhouse, Attorney, Fletcher & Sippel LLC; Bobbi Allen, Chief Administrative Officer, Iowa Interstate Railroad; Holly Rainwater, VP, Business Development, Spark TS, a RailCube Company

FRA's cybersecurity lead outlines the agency's recent efforts to strengthen rail network defenses, from updated guidance and vulnerability notices to partnerships with other government agencies and industry. The session looks ahead to emerging threats and FRA's priorities for building a more cyber-resilient national rail system.

Moderator: Fred Oelsner, VP, Data, Technology and Security, ASLRRA

Speaker(s): Jennifer Gallagher, Operational Technology Cybersecurity Lead, Federal Railroad Administration

Navigating concerning shifts in jury verdicts, the critical role of video evidence, and how to build a defensible record on inspections and sightlines. State of the Market -2026/2027 Outlook- A broker and underwriter panel discussing carrier capacity, rate trends, and appetite shifts driving renewals heading into next year.

Speaker(s): Beth Garguilo, VP Marketing & Sales, Lincoln Transportation Insurance Brokers Inc.; Edwin Palmer, Esq. Member, Burns White, LLC; Jeff Hinkle, President & CEO, Railroad Risk Management; Jeffrey Bauman, Vice President, Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad

Short line railroads are critical infrastructure, and hackers know it. In this session, you won't just hear cybersecurity statistics. You'll see how attackers gain access to a business email account, move through a network undetected, and exfiltrate data before anyone notices something is wrong. Most people assume a cyberattack looks dramatic: alarms, flashing screens, immediate chaos. The reality is far more unsettling. Attackers are often inside systems for weeks or even months before detection, reading emails, mapping systems, and waiting for the right moment. This session pulls back the curtain on that process, showing railroad operators what a breach actually looks like from both sides of the keyboard. You'll leave with a clear picture of your real exposure, the specific warning signs your team should recognize, and practical first steps to make your operation meaningfully harder to attack.

Speaker(s): Andrew Hollister, Founder & CEO, Simple Tech Innovations

Shortlines hold the most customer-proximate spot in the rail network. They serve the plant and know the shipper by name. Yet on most carload moves the connecting Class I owns the through rate and the contract, so the shortline takes a division and a switching charge while a carrier two interchanges away runs the relationship with its own customer. PSR widened the gap, and many shortlines cannot see what their customer pays end to end or where the freight moves after interchange. This panel puts the disagreement in the open. A shortline commercial leader, a Class I marketer, a visibility specialist, and a working shipper each argue who owns the relationship. The moderator runs every seat through the Five Control Tests and polls the room at the open and close. Operators leave able to pinpoint where their own customer relationship leaks and what it takes to hold it.

Speaker(s):Paul David Tonsager, CEO, Integrated Multi Modal Solutions LLC

Learn practical strategies to better protect your employees and your railroad in the aftermath of a grade crossing collision. This presentation will highlight key considerations for reducing risk, improving incident response, and strengthening your position against potential claims and lawsuits. Attendees will gain insight into proactive measures that support safety, operational resilience, and defensible outcomes.

Speaker(s): Ron Sparks, Senior Staff Consulting, Engineering Systems Inc.

This session shows executives and department leaders how to use AI to save time, reduce bottlenecks, and lead more effectively. You'll learn how to communicate with AI so results match your intent, use it as a strategic sounding board to pressure-test decisions and reduce blind spots, and build delegation systems and workflow automation that reclaim hours every week. You'll leave with actionable frameworks and a practical approach to building AI-enabled teams that move faster with less friction.

Speaker(s): Andrew Hollister, CEO, Simple Tech Innovations, Inc

Overview of the current state of affairs in the locomotive emissions regulatory environment. Peter will be speaking about EPA regulations that cover locomotive emissions, providing responses to commonly asked questions, and discussing what the future may hold in this regulatory space.

Speaker(s): Peter Smith, Consultant, TRC

What does it take to bring a dormant or underutilized rail line back to life? Hear from industry leaders as they discuss the business, regulatory, legal, operational, and economic considerations involved in restoring rail service and transforming overlooked infrastructure into productive transportation assets.

Speaker(s): Michael Gray, Associate General Counsel, Watco; Cassie Dull, Chief Commercial Officer, Pinsly Railroad Company; Steve Berish, General Manager, Davenport Industrial Railroad, LLC

This moderated panel would focus on the safety improvements of all types experienced by three to four Short Line CEOs or railroad General Managers that have taken advantage of one of the offerings from the Short Line Safety Institute (safety culture assessment, leadership education and/or hazmat training). Panel participants would offer key learnings from direct experience with specific programs. Audience would hear first-hand about challenges, solutions, and outcomes on the participating railroad and impact on surrounding community participants, if applicable.

Moderator: Tom Murta, Executive Director, Short Line Safety Institute

Speaker(s): Tomeka Bryant, General Manager, New Orleans Public Belt; Jared Martin, VP Operations, Modesto and Empire Traction Company; Maribely Lopez, General Manager, St. Mary's West Railroad; Tom Greene. Chairman, President and CEO, Paducah and Louisville Railroad

A CRISI session to focus on grant post-award topics. One Project Manager and a Grant Manager will present on lessons learned that grantees have found helpful in getting to obligation faster.

Moderator: Richard Sherman, AVP, Policy and Industry Affairs, ASLRRA

Short lines run on tight margins, aging power, and crews that are hard to find and keep. Autonomous railcars are built to ease exactly those pressures. In this session, Intramotev CEO Tim Luchini and COO Alex Peiffer will lay out what the technology does on a short line: moving cars on first-and-last-mile and short-haul moves without tying up a locomotive or crew, and what that means for asset utilization, fuel and maintenance costs, and service flexibility. They’ll share candid lessons from Intramotev's early commercial deployments, including work with Class III operators, covering where this fits, where it doesn't yet, and the real numbers behind a pilot. The session is built for dialogue, so operators are encouraged to bring their own track conditions, traffic patterns, and hard questions. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for thinking through whether this technology has a place on their network.

Speaker(s): Tim Luchini, CEO, Intramotev ; Alex Peiffer, COO, Intramotev