Farmer, Ottensmeyer, Vena Among NARS Headliners
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
Headlining the 2024 NARS Annual Meeting in Chicago are BNSF President and CEO Katie Farmer (Railway Age’s 2023 Railroader of the Year), retired Kansas City Southern CEO Patrick Ottensmeyer (Railway Age’s 2020 Railroader of the Year and 2022 Co-Railroader of the Year), and Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena.
BNSF President and CEO Katie Farmer, retired Kansas City Southern CEO Patrick Ottensmeyer, and Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena will serve as keynote speakers at the North American Rail Shippers Association (NARS) 2024 Annual Meeting, to be held April 30-May 2 in Chicago, in conjunction with the Traffic Club of Chicago’s Annual Dinner and Golf Outing.
Other confirmed speakers so far are Arthur Adams, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at CSX; William H. Galligan, author of “Vision Accomplished”; and Tony Hatch, Analyst at ABH consulting.
Headquartered in the Chicago area, NARS comprises five regional North American associations, including Pacific Northwest Association of Rail Shippers (PNWARS), Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS), Southwest Association of Rail Shippers (SWARS), Northeast Association of Rail Shippers (NEARS), and Southeast Association of Rail Shippers (SEARS). It brings together representatives from this network of more than 7,000 members of the rail shipping and railroad community in an annual forum. This year, the forum will be held at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk. Registration is $575 until April 15; on April 16, registration increases to $625. A separate registration is required for the Traffic Club of Chicago Annual Dinner & Golf Outing.
“Views from the railroad industry’s most influential leaders will be a highlight of this year’s meeting,” NARS President John Meyers said. “We are thrilled to have already confirmed presentations from four senior-level Class I railroad executives, along with insights from Tony Hatch and noted rail historian William H. Gallagher.”
NARS expects to add to the program major shippers and other industry experts. Download the preliminary program below.
