NEARS (Northeastern Association of Rail Shippers) Spring 2024 Conference
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 - Friday, April 26, 2024
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NEARS is one of 5 regional organizations under the umbrella of the North American Rail Shippers Association (NARS). The other regional associations are: the Southeast Association of Rail Shippers (SEARS), Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS), Southwest Association of Rail Shippers (SWARS) and the Pacific Northwest Association of Rail Shippers (PNWARS). Together, they represent all the shippers and professionals in the rail industry in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
NEARS holds conferences in the spring and fall.
SARATOGA SPRINGS CONFERENCE AGENDA SPRING | 2024 THEME: THE RACE FOR GROWTH
TUESDAY APRIL 23, 2024
16:15 – Dinner Train – NEARS and the Saratoga, Corinth & Hudson Railroad! Board At Main Gate – 9 Railroad Place, Corinth NY
16:45 – Dinner Train Departs from 9 Railroad Place in Corinth
20:00 – Dinner Train Returns to 9 Railroad Place in Corinth
WEDNESDAY APRIL 24, 2024
07:30 – Golf – Saratoga Spa Golf Course, 58 Roosevelt Drive, Saratoga Springs NY
08:00 – Golf Shotgun Start
15:00 – Conference Registration Opens
17:00 – The Joseph & Eileen Gearin Networking Reception Sponsored By American Truck and Rail Audits, Inc
18:30 – Dinner On Your Own in Fabulous Saratoga Springs!
THURSDAY APRIL 25, 2024
07:00 – Breakfast Starts (Available until 08:15)
07:30 – Conference Registration Re-Opens
08:00 – Welcome to NEARS, Safety Briefing and Housekeeping Carl R. Citelli, President, NEARS
08:15 – Northeast Shortlne and System Growth – The Race is on! Michael Miller, CEO, Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Moderator: Jason Seidl, Managing Director, TD Cowen
09:15 – Class 1 Railroads – Finding the North American Growth Potential Rahul Jalali, CIO, Union Pacific Railroad, Moderator: Dennis Wilmot, President, Iron Horse Logistics Group
10:00 – Networking Break
10:30 – Promoting Safety in a Growth Market – GX and Trespass Outreach Michail Grizkewitsch, Railroad Trespassing Program Specialist, FRA Norma Jean Griffiths, Inspector, FRA Moderator: Dennis Wilmot, President, Iron Horse Logistics Group
11:00 – Keeping Imports Running Smoothly In The New Year Chris Peckham VP Operations/ Imports OOFOS Moderator: Don Cameron, NEARS Past President and Board Member
NOON – NEARS Networking Lunch and Vendor Fair
13:30 – Keep on Track! How To Grow A Great Rail Operation in 2024 Mike Cory, EVP – Chief Operating Officer, CSX Moderator: Jason Seidl, Managing Director, TD Cowen
14:30 – What Can We Expect from Intermodal This Year and Beyond? Mark Yeager, CEO, Redwood Logistics Paul Svindland, CEO, STG Logistics Moderator: Don Cameron, NEARS Past President and Board Member
15:30 – Networking Break
15:45 – The Highly Acclaimed, Always Informative, and Greatly Entertaining Tony & Jason Show Tony Hatch, Principal, ABH Consulting Jason Seidl, Managing Director, TD Cowen
17:00 – The Joseph & Eileen Gearin Networking Reception Sponsored By American Truck and Rail Audits, Inc
18:30 – Dinner On Your Own In Fabulous Saratoga Springs!
FRIDAY APRIL 26, 2024
07:30 – Special Networking Breakfast Starts (Available Until 08:15)
08:00 – Opening/Announcements Carl R. Citelli, President, NEARS
08:15 – Rail Asset Manufacturing Panel Jay Medlin, Vice President, Sales, Freight Car America Charley Moore, Chief Commercial Officer, TrinityRail, , Paddy O’ Neill, Consultant/Contractor, The Greenbrier Companies Moderator, Dennis Wilmot, President, Iron Horse Logistics Group
09:15 – Meeting Supply Chain Needs In What We Hope To Be A Growth Market Weston Labar, Cargomatic Moderator: Jason Seidl, Managing Director, TD Cowen
10:15 – Shippers and Short Lines Growing Together Chuck Baker, ASLRRA Moderator: Dennis Wilmot, President, Iron Horse Logistics Group
11:00 – Closing Remarks and William J. Donovan Memorial Drawing