Ottensmeyer Joins Railway Age “Next-Generation Freight Rail” Conference

Pat Ottensmeyer

Kansas City Southern President and CEO Pat Ottensmeyer, Railway Age’s 2020 and 2022 (with Canadian Pacific’s Keith Creel) Railroader of the Year, leads off Railway Age’s Next-Generation Freight Rail Conference. Ottensmeyer’s presentation will focus on “nearshoring”—the shift of manufacturing from the Pacific Rim to North America—and what it means for the freight rail industry.

“The thesis for North America remains strong,” Ottensmeyer notes. “The uncertainty regarding NAFTA has gone away, with the USMCA’s entry into force July 1, 2020. There is clear evidence that global supply chain strategies are changing. This involves trade tensions between the U.S. and China and Russia, the coronavirus global health pandemic, de-risking of global supply chains, and the ‘ABC strategy’—Anywhere but China. As well, Mexico’s manufacturing sector has grown at three times the rate of GDP growth. Its manufacturing base is large and is well integrated into existing North American supply chains. And most trade disputes have been resolved in Mexico’s judicial system. This is why nearshoring in Mexico represents a North American opportunity.”

The Surface Transportation Board will rule on the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger prior to the conference. The Board is expected to approve CPKC—North America’s first transnational railroad—according to many industry observers. Pat Ottensmeyer’s appearance at Next-Generation Freight Rail comes at a pivotal time in the rail industry.

Next-Generation Freight Rail takes place March 14, 2023, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Union League Club of Chicago. It’s a unique, timely opportunity to discuss the freight rail industry’s future with thought leaders, covering a broad variety of relevant, pressing issues, such as moving forward following a tough 2022, restoring customer confidence, growing market share, solidifying the industry’s role in the global supply chain, managing regulatory risks, and leveraging advanced technology.

Top Reasons to Attend

• Interact with three Class I chief executives whose railroads span North America
• Discover how the North American supply chain is changing, and its growth opportunities 
• Gain insight into how women and young people are stepping into leadership roles
• Take a deep dive into the regulatory process with an STB member
• Network with your colleagues in an up-close and personal setting
• Learn about one of the industry’s most significant engineering projects

REGISTER NOW!