Regional Operations Realignment Focuses on Network Efficiency and Customer Service
24 June 2006 - 6:34AM
PR Newswire (US)
OMAHA, Neb., June 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Union Pacific
Railroad today announced a realignment of its regional operating
organization. Effective July 1, the company will establish three
operating regions and eliminate the Kansas City-based Central
Region. "This realignment of our regional management supports the
train flows on the northern portion of the Union Pacific and the
terminal interdependencies in the Gulf/North-South Corridor," said
Dennis Duffy, UP executive vice president -- Operations. "The
Northern Region realignment will provide unified management of all
Central Corridor routes to the east, as well as our two
highest-volume eastern gateways -- Chicago and St. Louis. The
Southern Region alignment will result in the key terminals of North
Little Rock, Pine Bluff and Houston being managed as an integrated
operation. "This is another step in simplifying our network and
improving velocity, efficiency and customer service," Duffy said.
The Kansas City and St. Louis service units will join the Northern
Region, based in Omaha, and the North Little Rock and Wichita
service units will join the Southern Region, based in Spring,
Texas. These service units currently are part of the Central
Region. The Western Region, based in Roseville, California, remains
unchanged. As part of this reorganization, Joe Santamaria, 51, is
appointed vice president -- Transportation, replacing Jeff Koch,
59, who has announced his decision to retire later this year after
a 35-year career with the railroad. In his new position, Santamaria
will be based in Omaha and will manage the regional field offices.
He currently is vice president -- Southern Region. Santamaria
joined Union Pacific in 1990 and has held a number of positions
including director of locomotive shops, North Little Rock; general
director of locomotive maintenance; chief mechanical officer and
vice president -- Central Region. He has a bachelor's degree in
mechanical engineering from Union College in Schenectady, New York.
Replacing Santamaria in the Southern Region is Lance Fritz, 43, who
currently is vice president -- Northern Region. In this new
position, Fritz is responsible for the day-to-day safe operation of
trains over the 8,670-mile Southern Region in Oklahoma, Texas,
Arkansas, Kansas and Louisiana. Fritz joined Union Pacific in 2000
as vice president and general manager -- Energy. He previously was
with General Electric and later with Cooper Industries, a
manufacturer of electrical goods, tools and hardware. He has a
bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Bucknell
University and a master's in business administration from
Northwestern University. Replacing Fritz is Randy Blackburn, 53,
who currently is vice president -- Central Region. He is
responsible for the day-to-day safe operation of trains over the
12,121-mile Northern Region in Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois
and Kansas. Blackburn began his railroad career in 1971 with the
Missouri Pacific Railroad. He has held various positions in the
Operating and Marketing Departments, including service unit
superintendent, assistant vice president marketing-Mexico, vice
president Intermodal marketing and most recently vice president --
Premium Operations. He has a bachelor's degree in biology from
Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. In a related appointment,
Rod Richardson, 52, is named general superintendent, Proviso
service unit. He currently is general superintendent -- Harriman
Dispatch Center, supervising the dispatching operations for the
Central Region. Richardson has a bachelor's degree in psychology
from San Diego State University and a master's in business
administration from San Francisco State University. The company
also announced that Rick Turner, 47, is appointed vice president --
Premium Operations, a position that focuses on the operations of
the Intermodal and Automotive business groups. Since joining
Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1981, he has held a number of
positions in Engineering, Operating and Marketing, including
director Engineering Project Management, director -- Pricing
Services, and general manager -- Car Management. He is currently
vice president of UP's National Customer Service Center. Turner
attended the University of Tennessee and earned a bachelor's degree
in operations management. He also has a master's in business
administration from Creighton University. Replacing Turner is Linda
Brandl, 39. She is currently assistant vice president and general
manager -- Union Pacific Distribution Services. Brandl earned both
bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration from
Creighton University. Union Pacific Corporation owns one of
America's leading transportation companies. Its principal operating
company, Union Pacific Railroad, links 23 states in the western
two-thirds of the country and serves the fastest-growing U.S.
population centers. Union Pacific's diversified business mix
includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Energy,
Industrial Products and Intermodal. The railroad offers competitive
long-haul routes from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to
eastern gateways. Union Pacific connects with Canada's rail systems
and is the only railroad serving all six major gateways to Mexico,
making it North America's premier rail franchise. For more
information, contact Kathryn Blackwell, 402-544-3753 DATASOURCE:
Union Pacific Corporation CONTACT: Kathryn Blackwell of Union
Pacific Corporation, +1-402-544-3753
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