People News: SNR, STV, Hanson, Wells Fargo Rail
Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
From Left to Right: Brenton A. MacDonald, Vice President and COO, SNR; Claire Brinkley, Vice President and Strategic Growth Director, STV; Anthony Pontone, civil/railway engineer, Hanson Professional Services Inc.; and Ryan Miller, Executive Director of Mechanical Operations, Wells Fargo Rail.
Sierra Northern Railway (SNR) elevates Brenton A. MacDonald to Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Also, Claire Brinkley joins STV as Vice President and Strategic Growth Director for the firm’s transportation South/Central group; Anthony Pontone joins Hanson Professional Service Inc.’s Chicago regional office as a civil/railway engineer; and Ryan Miller joins Wells Fargo Rail as Executive Director of Mechanical Operations.
SNR
Sacramento, Calif.-based SNR announced Feb. 20 that Brenton A. MacDonald has been elevated to Vice President and COO.
In his new position, MacDonald is responsible for working with the railroad’s customers; engaging in new business development and contract negotiations; working with senior leadership at Union Pacific (UP) and BNSF; overseeing railroad operations for the West Sacramento, Oakdale, Concord and Ventura divisions; and aiding in railroad maintenance and construction activities. He will report directly to SNR CEO Kennan H. Beard III.
MacDonald joined SNR in 2013 and most recently served as its General Manager. He has held positions as Manager of Safety & Training, as well as Conductor and Engineer. MacDonald previously was employed by UP at Hinkle, Oreg., as Manager of Locomotive Maintenance.
STV
STV on Feb. 20 announced that Claire Brinkley has joined the firm as Vice President and Strategic Growth Director for the firm’s transportation South/Central group.
Based in Charlotte, Brinkley will work closely with clients in the Carolinas while “spearheading the firm’s strategic business expansion into the growing highway and transit market,” STV said.
“Claire is a transportation planning and engineering expert who brings an abundance of value to our team and clients,” said STV Senior Vice President of Transportation South/Central Brad Winkler. “We’re excited about how her experience with project operations and client relationships will contribute to shaping the future of transportation.”
Brinkley is a certified planner and professional engineer (PE) with more than 18 years of experience in the transportation industry. Before joining STV, she led the Charlotte office for a national architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firm and held various leadership roles on a range of projects and programs.
Serving on various industry organizations and associations, Brinkley is a member of the Board of Directors for the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of North Carolina; Director-at-Large on the Board of Directors for the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) Charlotte Metro Chapter; Mentor Protégé Committee member for NC Section Institute of Transportation Engineers; and a member of the American Planning Association.
Brinkley earned her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University.
Hanson
Civil/railway engineer Anthony Pontone, PE, recently joined Hanson’s Chicago regional office, the consulting firm announced Feb. 19. He will assist in project design and analysis, creating plans and specifications and developing project estimates. He will also help with project proposals.
Previously, Pontone was a project manager for Gilbane Building Co. in Chicago. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Western Michigan University and Wayne State University, respectively, and is a licensed PE in Michigan.
Wells Fargo Rail
Wells Fargo Rail on Feb. 20 announced that Ryan Miller has joined the company as Director of Mechanical Operations. He succeeds Greg Johnson, who will retire in March after 10 years with Wells Fargo Rail and more than 36 years in the industry.
In this role, Miller will be responsible for all aspects of mechanical operations for the company, which serves as “one of the largest railcar and locomotive lessors in North America.”
Based in Rosemont, Ill., Miller will “lead the strategic direction across the business’s maintenance, engineering, logistics, procurement and industry relations functions.”
“We’re excited to have someone with Ryan’s background join the leadership team at Wells Fargo Rail and look forward to leveraging his more than 20 years of industry experience,” said Head of Wells Fargo Rail Tim Kubiak.
Most recently the Vice President of Equipment for TTX Company, Miller previously held operations and equipment leadership positions with BNSF and KCS (now CPKC) railroads, as well as Trinity Industries. He has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Texas Christian University and is a Six Sigma Black Belt.
