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ASLRRA Senior Vice President, Membership and Business Development Kathy Keeney, who helped plan and manage ASLRRA's annual trade show for nearly 40 years, is set to retire at the end of the month. Keeney, who officially joined the Association’s staff 10 years ago, has worked every ASLRRA expo since the first one in 1987.
“Kathy has been a true joy to have as a colleague and her unique combination of relationships within the industry, support of short line railroads and their suppliers, and expertise in association membership, exhibitions, sponsorships and overall event planning and execution has been invaluable,” said ASLRRA President Chuck Baker. “She leaves huge shoes to fill, but not surprisingly she has also helped create an effective transition plan which has positioned the association and our members well for continued success. We’ve been so lucky to have her in the short line industry. We’ll miss her greatly, but wish her well in retirement and know that she is only a phone call away!”
For much of her tenure, Kathy led ASLRRA’s membership department and was instrumental in the expansion of new member recruiting. She set recruitment records and expanded the Association’s membership profile. She sold and managed the ASLRRA trade show as it grew and expanded into convention centers, setting records for the number of expo hall booths sold. Keeney also drove efforts to continuously update the expo with new features. Over the years these updates have included a Green Zone for companies with environmental products and services, specialty bars, education-oriented trailers and the recharge lounge.
“If you’re very fortunate, you have people in your life who you can always count on. Kathy Keeney is that kind of person. I don’t recall when I met Kathy because she was always ‘there.’ She was there when I needed knowledge about the rail industry, especially regarding the associate members. There when I needed guidance. There when I needed a helping hand and there when I needed a good friend,” said Farmrail Corporation Director Judy Petry, who has also served as ASLRRA board chair. “Years before she became an employee of ASLRRA, she worked as though she already was. At the annual conventions, she ran the exhibit hall and volunteered her time and energy anywhere she was needed.”
Keeney later took on sponsorship sales for the annual convention and set sponsorship sales records for the Association. She created new sponsorship levels and new benefits for members to increase their visibility. A point of great personal pride for Keeney has been providing excellent service to members, often surprising them with how quickly she responded to their phone calls and emails.
"Kathy has always been the most stalwart advocate for the ASLRRA membership that I have known. She has been the one people knew they could turn to when faced with a challenge, and has never shrunk from anything asked of her,” said former ASLRRA Board Chair Doc Claussen. “Through some of the most tumultuous periods in ASLRRA's life, she was always a rock that we could depend on when needed.”
Kathy also helped launch the Association's Supplier Committee and served as its staff liaison. The committee has grown in size and stature and took an increasingly important role during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Association was examining ways to keep railroaders and suppliers connected without in-person meetings. The committee has helped shape some exhibit hall and networking options and launched a new and popular education track on procurement issues for the annual convention and fall meetings.
“For most suppliers, Kathy was ASLRRA, even before she went to work for the Association,” said Short Line Data Systems President Steve Friedland. “If it had to do with the exhibit at the Annual, she was the person you asked, and the person who took care of the issue. Whether you were a first-time exhibitor or a company that had been there for twenty years, you got her utmost attention and assistance when you needed it the most. Her stewardship of the ASLRRA Exhibit Hall has set the standard for what other organizations try to achieve.”
Five years ago, Keeney helped establish the Short Line Railroad Industry Hall of Fame and served as an organizer of the selection committee. She has also been a strong contributor to the ASLRRA PAC.
Even before joining ASLRRA in 2015, Kathy had a close working relationship with the Association for 30 years, first as a journalist covering short lines and later helping with management and sales for the annual exhibition. She served as publisher of three prominent railroad directories and editor of a monthly national railroad magazine. In addition, she was editor of two short line publications.
“Regarding Kathy Keeney – how do you put in words what an invaluable, hardworking colleague Kathy has been over the years? Of course, whatever is said will be inadequate,” said ASLRRA Senior Advisor Mike Ogborn. “It has been my distinct honor to know Kathy for decades and my privilege to call her both colleague and friend. Kathy has successfully taken on so many tasks in her tenure at ASLRRA – membership management, Supplier Committee liaison, and so many others – all done with aplomb and dedication.”
Keeney is a longtime member of the League of Railway Women (LRW) and has served as publicity chair, scholarship chair, vice president and president. She was honored in 2012 with the LRW’s Outstanding Member of the Year award, and in 2018 became the inaugural inductee into the LRW's Hall of Fame. She has also served on the board of directors for ASLRRA and for the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) D.C. chapter. The granddaughter of a railroader, Kathy is a graduate of Loyola University of Maryland with a degree in English/Journalism.
In addition to offering thoughts on Keeney’s work in the railroad industry, those who contributed to this article also sent Keeney their thanks and well-wishes.
"I will always be grateful to Kathy Keeney for her great friendship and mentoring. Kathy greatly helped my artwork and message reach the railroad industry as a whole,” said Custom Trains owner and artist Andy Fletcher. “Thank you, Kathy."
“A well-deserved retirement awaits, but know we are lessened by your loss,” said Claussen. “Thanks Kathy!"
“She has a wealth of knowledge about our industry and association and will be greatly missed,” said Petry. “My wish for Kathy is that God grants her many long, healthy, happy retirement years!”
“You will be sorely missed by everyone at ASLRRA and in particular by me, my friend,” said Ogborn. “God speed and best of luck on your next steps in retirement!”
The quotes in this article represent only a tiny portion of well-wishes and reflections on Keeney’s 40-year career from colleagues and friends, as reaching out to all those Keeney has influenced would be impossible. Anyone wanting to contact Keeney at ASLRRA before she leaves at the end of June can still email her at kkeeney@aslrra.org or call at (202) 585-3439.
Top left: Keeney and her husband Dave Smith took a picture using the digital photobooth at ASLRRA's 2025 Annual Conference in Denver. Top right: ASLRRA President Chuck Baker toasts Kathy Keeney with a cupcake at her farewell luncheon held yesterday at ASLRRA headquarters. Right: Keeney and ASLRRA Senior Advisor Mike Ogborn snapped a selfie while staffing ASLRRA's booth at the AREMA Annual Conference in 2022. Below: ASLRRA commissioned a locomotive drawing from Custom Trains Owner and Artist Andy Fletcher as a retirement gift for Keeney.
ASLRRA announces several organizational changes stemming from the retirement of Senior Vice President, Membership and Business Development Kathy Keeney.
ASLRRA has been planning for this transition for almost a year and is pleased to share that Amy Westerman, Lauren Schlechte and Danialle Lovik are taking on new or expanded roles and responsibilities at the Association.
Westerman, who is now senior vice president, meetings, leads the events team. Westerman and Schlechte, who is manager, meetings, are handling sponsorship sales for all major ASLRRA meetings. In addition, Schlechte is the point of contact for annual exhibit sales and booth-related questions. Westerman will continue to manage the overall planning and execution of major events.
Lovik, who is now vice president, membership, leads the membership department, and has overall responsibility for nearly 1,100 member companies. She is the point of contact for questions on membership status, dues billing, updating roster contacts in ASLRRA's database and general customer service. She’s also replacing Keeney as staff liaison to the Supplier Committee, with support from Westerman.
Westerman and Lovik have nearly 15 years of combined experience at ASLRRA.
To allow Lovik to focus on membership, ASLRRA hired Prashant Bhargava as manager, IT Systems and database administration, taking on Lovik’s technology and database responsibilities. Bhargava reports to Fred Oelsner, ASLRRA’s current vice president, data, technology and security.
Schlechte and Bhargava joined ASLRRA earlier this year. Schlechte has a strong background working in events for hotels, a convention and visitors bureau and an association management firm. Bhargava has 10 years of experience implementing, managing, and supporting diverse IT systems in a variety of sectors such as nonprofits, federal government contracting and education technology.
As ASLRRA wishes Keeney well in retirement, the Association is confident that the new organizational structure keeps ASLRRA positioned to grow and serve its members with the personal short line touch while integrating the latest customer service and technology tools.
Senior Vice President, Meetings Amy Westerman
Vice President, Membership Danialle Lovik
Manager, Meetings Lauren Schlechte
Manager, IT Systems and Database Administration Prashant Bhargava
ASLRRA has made an update to the Part 243 template program. This update, which affects the On-the-Job Training (OJT) Check Sheet under Part 236 (less subpart H and I), has been approved by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
The FRA determined that the previous OJT Check Sheet was missing a recordkeeping task. ASLRRA has added the Part 236.110 Results of Test task to the checklist. Anyone who uses the OJT Check Sheet from today on should download and utilize the revised checklist dated June 17, 2025.
Find the OJT Check Sheet by logging in to the ASLRRA website and accessing Compliance Templates, clicking Part 243 (Training, Qualification, and Oversight for Safety-Related Railroad Employees), then Part 236 (less subpart H and I) and finally OJT Check Sheet.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a Switching Operations Fatality Analysis (SOFA) Alert and Safety Bulletin 2005-001 following an on-track collision that resulted in a conductor fatality.
The purpose of both safety documents is to raise awareness of the incident, remind workers to remain vigilant and encourage railroads to identify and discuss location-specific safety issues. The incident took place during switching, and circumstances of the incident have led the FRA to be concerned about whether the conductor was properly trained and qualified to perform switching duties.
The SOFA Alert notes that while the SOFA Working Group has not yet analyzed the case, railroad employees must remain vigilant during switching operations, especially when switching between adjacent tracks.
The Safety Bulletin provides general reminders about the importance of providing supervisory oversight for employees on other than main track and mentions several specific recommendations. These recommendations concern instruction in railroad operating fundamentals for newly certified conductors or conductors in training and reviews of operating rules testing programs. Last, the FRA identifies specific safety documents railroads should discuss with employees, including SOFA Recommendation No. 5, Safety Advisory 2007-01 and Safety Bulletins 2023-04, 2023-05 and 2024-04.
ASLRRA maintains copies of recent safety notices from federal agencies. Find them on the Association’s Safety Alerts, Reports and Advisories page.
ASLRRA Senior Vice President, Safety, Regulatory and Environmental Policy Jo Strang testified yesterday during a virtual public hearing held by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) concerning its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on heat injury and illness prevention in outdoor and indoor work settings.
Also testifying yesterday was Eric Betke, CEO of ASLRRA member Farmrail System, Inc. To accommodate the large number of people who registered to testify on the NPRM, OSHA has held hearings almost daily, starting on June 16 and scheduled through July 2.
Strang’s testimony focused on the burdensome nature of the proposed rule, noting that while it is well intentioned, railroads are already regulated on workplace safety and heat-related issues by the Federal Railroad Administration. Strang noted that the FRA’s authority supersedes that of OSHA in this case, and that FRA’s safety data shows railroads’ heat-related risk-mitigation programs have been successful.
Betke gave more specific details about how Farmrail manages heat illness and injury reporting. He also provided examples of the way OSHA’s NPRM does not take into consideration specific aspects of railroad operations that would make compliance with the proposed rule difficult. For instance, requiring one designated individual to invoke heat emergency procedures is impractical on a railroad where operations, and therefore employees, can be spread out over many miles, or states.
ASLRRA, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) submitted joint comments in response to OSHA’s proposed rule on Jan. 14. These comments urge OSHA to exempt railroads from the rule because the FRA’s authority supersedes OSHA’s and most railroads have policies and procedures in place to address risks associated with heat.
ASLRRA has sent a letter to Senate and House Committee leaders outlining the Association’s position on truck size and weight issues.
The letter is addressed to the chair and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
ASLRRA outlined its opposition to initiatives that would allow increases in truck length and weight. As short lines compete with trucks to service shippers, granting permission for larger, heavier trucks would not only cause significant damage to local infrastructure and increase the danger to the public, it would shift freight from rail to truck and have a catastrophic economic impact on small business railroads.
The letter goes on to describe data showing the extent of the damage heavier trucks would inflict on local and national roads and bridges, the repairs for which would be paid by taxpayers and not truck companies. Also discussed are the safety risks to motorists posed by heavier trucks.
Yesterday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials held a hearing titled “America Builds: The Role of Innovation and Technology in a Safe and Efficient Rail System.” Witnesses included David Shannon, general manager of RailPulse, and Eric Gebhardt, executive vice president and chief technology officer at Wabtec.
The focus of the hearing was to discuss ways to ensure technological advancements and innovation in the rail industry can thrive. In his opening remarks, Subcommittee Chair Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) noted with consideration of surface transportation reauthorization legislation underway, lawmakers should “look to promote policies that encourage innovation and investment in our rail system.”
RailPulse, which was founded in part by and includes as its partners several ASLRRA railroad and supplier members, is focused on improving freight rail service and safety through collaborative use of railcar telematics data. In his testimony, Shannon described the program and explained the different opportunities and challenges facing those who are involved in the North American rail-based supply chain.
Gebhardt, who was testifying on behalf of the Railway Supply Institute, described ASLRRA member Wabtec’s rail technology and made policy recommendations to enable companies to improve safety and efficiency through innovation.
Click here to view the hearing website, featuring a recording of the event and a copy of each witness’s written testimony.
Know a company that would benefit from joining and participating in ASLRRA? Please contact Vice President, Membership Danialle Lovik via email or on (202) 585-3443.
ACS Railroad Solutions, based in Dunwoody, Georgia, has been a crucial supplier of cabling and communication devices instrumental to Positive Train Control implementation. They have since expanded to include modern PTC solutions, new locomotive aftermarket products, idle reduction systems, and diagnostic tools all adapted and designed to enhance operational efficiency and support sustainability and safety initiatives. Chief Solutions Officer Dave Fox is our primary contact.
Affton Radiator Services, located in Fenton, Missouri, specializes in a comprehensive range of radiator and cooling system services in the transportation sector. They offer repairs, rebuilds, and custom fabrication by certified technicians with the potential for same-day service. Our primary contact, Josh Seago, can be reached at (314) 962-8282.
Mid-Continent Railway Historical Society, doing business as Mid-Continent Railway Museum, is an outdoor, living museum and operating railroad based in North Freedom, Wisconsin. It recreates the small town/short line way of life during the “Golden Age of Railroading,” with operating trains, educational exhibits, and displays of restored rolling stock. Its mission is to educate the public by recreating as accurately as possible the period from the Civil War days until after World War II, by operating a railroad with vintage equipment from that era. It sees itself as a place where visitors can learn of a time when the railroad station was the social and communication center of every small town. Office Manager Jeffrey Lentz is our primary contact and can be reached on (608) 522-4261. Many thanks to our friends at FMW Solutions for suggesting that they join ASLRRA.
Those who attend one or more of ASLRRA’s three September meetings will have the opportunity to hear from many industry- and subject-matter experts who will discuss a variety of important railroad topics.
The Eastern and Southern Region Meeting will feature a short line leaders panel, Class I updates and more, while the Finance and Administration Seminar will include talks on recruitment, retention and branding.
Also, a discussion of the recent Supreme Court decision in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, which will be presented during the General Counsel Symposium. Venable, LLP Partner Jay Johnson and HDR, Inc. Intermodal Practice Lead Kevin Keller will discuss the case and its implications for railroads regarding National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements.
Continuing legal education (CLE) credits, including multi-state credits, are included with registration for the symposium. The General Counsel Symposium and Finance and Administration Seminar are co-located with this year’s Eastern and Southern Region Meeting and take place Sept. 9 to 11 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Individuals can book lodging for these events in the Association’s hotel room blocks. Follow this link to go directly to the event hotel page. The deadline for booking a room in the block is Aug. 22.
ASLRRA is also selling sponsorships for these events. Click here to view the sponsorship prospectus or contact the Association’s meetings team at meetings@aslrra.org with questions.
What are the latest ways Association members can engage with ASLRRA? What is ASLRRA’s most recent call-to-action? Below are some of the different types of information the Association would love to gather.
Employee recruitment and retention can be a challenge for small railroads, especially when it comes to filling key frontline roles. Fortunately, ASLRRA members have access to cutting-edge pre-hire talent assessments provided by Aon, a trusted ASLRRA Preferred Provider.
Years of analysis of candidate pre-hire assessment data and training and retention records demonstrate Aon’s proven ability to help railroads find and keep top talent, including in conductor positions. Aon has created optimal candidate profiles to predict short- and long-term success for conductor hires, helping identify those who not only excel in safety and performance but who also commit to long-term growth with the railroad.
Aon provides a significant return on investment (ROI) for its clients. Analysis has shown that those who score top marks on Aon’s conductor pre-hire assessment, known as high-fit candidates, qualify and stay with the railroad one year after being hired at a rate almost 20 points higher than those considered low-fit candidates based on the assessment. Two years post-hire, these high-fit candidates are still retained at a rate over 12 points higher than others.
These first-class hiring solutions are available to all ASLRRA member railroads through the Association’s Member Discount Program. To learn more, reach out to Aon's rail sector leader Michael DeNunzio at michael.denunzio@aon.com or log in to view Aon’s Member Discount Program page.
Kevin Lewis, program manager certification specialist at the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), will join ASLRRA’s JR Gelnar and Iowa Northern Railway Company’s Mark Vaughn to present ASLRRA’s Designated Supervisor of Locomotive Engineer (DSLE) and Railroad Operating Rules (Part 217) training seminar being held July 15 to 16 in Sacramento, California.
Attendees will receive training on DSLE responsibilities, including application and administration of 49 CFR Part 240 and Part 242 similarities and differences, and Part 217 railroad operating rules. They will also have an opportunity to participate in daily discussions with peers and regulatory experts. Space in the seminar is limited, so interested individuals are encouraged to register soon.
ASLRRA is also offering training seminars on CFR Part 225 in August, as well as a professional trainer development course in October. View all upcoming seminars here.
Employees of small railroads are eligible for scholarships to help them attend important industry training. Click here to learn more about ASLRRA’s scholarship opportunities.
On Monday, Chuck Baker gave a presentation on ASLRRA to individuals enrolled in the Railway Management Certificate Program offered by Michigan State University’s Center for Railway Research and Education. Baker’s presentation was part of the program’s second module focused on railway regulation, safety and the rail industry.
Sarah Yurasko traveled to Chicago, Illinois this week to attend the 96th annual meeting of the Association of Transportation Law Professionals. The meeting included several rail-related presentations including a modal update, discussion of the National Environmental Policy Act and more.
JR Gelnar and Sabrina Waiss are in Nashville, Tennessee to present one of ASLRRA’s in-person training seminars, FRA Minimum Training Standards (Part 243). Registration for the event, which also featured two speakers from the Federal Railroad Administration, was completely full.
The question and answer (Q&A) portion of ASLRRA’s live webinars often provides additional information as the audience interacts with webinar speakers. These Q&A sessions are generally included in webinar recordings available in ASLRRA’s On-Demand Webinar Library. Look for these popular recordings from 2024, all of which include the webinar’s engaging Q&A:
Visit ASLRRA’s webinar homepage and log in to view all the on-demand offerings in the Association’s webinar library.
The B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland has launched a website in preparation for the celebration of the 200th anniversary of railroading in America, which is in 2027. ASLRRA is joining these efforts and is noted on the new website, americanrail200.org, as one of the organizations helping celebrate this momentous anniversary.
The website will serve as a way to track and catalogue events and news related to railroading and the anniversary. The public will be able to learn more about railroads and their history as well as find out what celebrations might be taking place near them. Partner organizations are encouraged to share information and support other groups and their events by engaging online or in person.
Views & News is published by American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.
Please contact Mariel Takamura, associate editor, with questions or comments.
