November 19-20, 2026
New York Marriott Downtown
85 West Street at Albany Street
November 19-20, 2026
New York Marriott Downtown
85 West Street at Albany Street
RailTrends 2026 moves to a new downtown setting near FiDi—bringing the rail industry's top decision-makers together in the heart of New York City.
The premier intelligence summit for rail, it convenes senior leaders across finance, operations, government, investment, and more. What sets it apart: substance and access. The insights are sharper, deeper, and ahead of the curve.
Founded in 2005 by Tony Hatch of ABH Consulting and presented with Progressive Railroading magazine, RailTrends is the singular, can't-miss event for those shaping the future of the industry.
Click on a speaker to view more about them
(Bio coming soon)
Chuck Baker joined ASLRRA as President in February 2019 after a 15-year career in the railroad industry. Before joining ASLRRA he was a Partner at Chambers Conlon & Hartwell (CC&H), where, in addition to the ASLRRA, he represented clients such as the National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC), the OneRail Coalition, the American Railway Development Association, Norfolk Southern, and Canadian National. For the NRC, Mr. Baker also served as its President. In that capacity, he had responsibility for all of the association's core financial, operational, and legal programs, including the federal legislative and regulatory program in front of both Congress and the Administration. For the OneRail Coalition, a coalition of freight rail, intercity passenger rail, commuter rail, rail labor, and rail supply industry interests, Mr. Baker coordinated the group's activities and messaging.
Prior to joining CC&H, Mr. Baker worked with the Surface Transportation Policy Project in Washington, D.C. Mr. Baker has also worked for Deutsche Bank Securities as an investment banker specializing in Corporate Finance and Mergers & Acquisitions in San Francisco, CA. Mr. Baker is a native of Baltimore, MD, and a graduate of Rice University in Houston, TX.
Fink previously served as President of Pan Am Railways, where he modernized operations, elevated safety standards, and spearheaded technological innovation, including championing the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) and other advanced safety systems. His efforts contributed to measurable reductions in rail accidents and improvements in operational reliability.
Fink holds a Master of Science in Business Administration from Pennsylvania State University and a Bachelor of Science in Transportation and Physical Distribution Management from Northeastern University. Fink and his wife of 40 years live in New Hampshire; they have two children and recently welcomed their first granddaughter.
Eric Gehringer has served as executive vice president-Operations since 2021. He is responsible for all aspects of Union Pacific's operations, including the Transportation, Engineering, Mechanical, Dispatching, Customer Care and Support, and Premium Operations departments.
Gehringer joined Union Pacific in 2006 as a management trainee. He previously served in numerous positions, including senior vice president-Transportation, Operating's chief mechanical officer as well as chief engineer. Prior to joining Union Pacific, he held positions at Northwest Airlines and Daimler Chrysler.
A graduate of St. Louis University with a degree in aerospace engineering, Gehringer received an MBA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
He serves on the Board of Directors for Children's Nebraska Foundation and is a member of the United States Strategic Command Council.
Eric was appointed President and CEO of the Railway Association of Canada (RAC) in February 2025. He has more than 25 years of experience in transportation law, policy, and regulation. Before joining RAC, he served as Assistant General Counsel, Policy and Legislative Affairs, at Canadian National Railway (CN). In this role, he led CN's work on major legislative and regulatory initiatives, including reviews of the Railway Safety Act and the Canada Transportation Act, while guiding the company's engagement with federal decision-makers. Prior to this role, he managed the rail regulatory group at CN, providing advice on safety and economic regulation.
Earlier in his career, Eric worked in Ottawa for federal transportation regulators and agencies, gaining deep knowledge of public-sector policy development and oversight in rail and other modes.
Eric received his law degree from the University of Ottawa and subsequently, a Masters in law from King's College London.
At RAC, Eric advocates for safe, efficient, and sustainable railways, emphasizing supply-chain reliability, investment, and modern regulation to strengthen Canada's integrated transportation network.
Francisco Fabila is a prominent leader in North American logistics and infrastructure, currently serving as the President of the Mexican Railway Association (AMF) and the General Manager of Ferrovalle (Ferrocarril y Terminal del Valle de México). With a background spanning over a decade in corporate affairs, legal compliance, and strategic public policy, Fabila is a driving force behind the modernization of Mexico's freight and passenger rail networks.
Prior to his current executive roles, he managed government relations for Kansas City Southern de México (KCSM) and oversaw regional regulatory compliance for Walmart Mexico & Central America. Recognized as the "Logistics Businessman of the Year" by Grupo T21 for his leadership in major infrastructure investments, Fabila holds a law degree with advanced specializations from IPADE Business School. His current agenda focuses on cross-border logistics integration, public-private transport partnerships, and the sustainable transition from road to rail freight.
As the Association of American Railroads (AAR's) president and CEO, Jefferies advocates for and works with member railroads to ensure the continued viability of America's railroad industry. Prior to assuming the role on January 1, 2019, Jefferies was the senior vice president of AAR's government affairs where he led the development, promotion and implementation of legislative priorities for the AAR.
Before joining the AAR, Jefferies cultivated more than a decade of experience working within government. From 2009 to 2013, Jefferies served as a senior policy advisor to the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. In this role, Jefferies provided policy guidance on a host of transportation issues, including railroad economic regulation, rail safety and passenger rail. Jefferies also led the successful development, negotiation and reauthorization of major infrastructure legislation and managed the successful conference of Committee legislation relating to the 2012 surface transportation reauthorization law, MAP 21.
Jefferies began his career in government serving as a Senior Advisor to the Mayor of Lexington, Kentucky, before transitioning to the federal government. Prior to serving in the United States Senate, he worked for the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Inspector General and the U.S. Government Accountability Office. In these roles, Jefferies led program reviews on a variety of issues including infrastructure development, international trade, major weapon systems acquisition and federal contracting.
Jefferies received his Master of Science in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA and his Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY. Jefferies and his wife reside with their three children in Alexandria, VA.
Katie Farmer was named President and Chief Executive Officer in 2021 and also leads BNSF's Board of Directors. With more than 30 years of railroading experience, Katie most recently served as executive vice president and Chief Operations Officer, where she oversaw the entire BNSF Operations organization, including train operations; maintenance of track, structures, and rolling stock; as well as sourcing, safety and training.
Prior to serving as executive vice president and Chief Operations Officer, Katie served as vice president, Service Design and Transportation Support since July 2017. In this role, she was responsible for the scheduling of railroad operations to meet customer expectations and optimize use of the BNSF network as well as service design functions for the Agricultural, Industrial, Consumer Products, and Coal business units in addition to Capacity Planning, Joint Facilities, Shortline Development, and Passenger Operations.
Katie began her career in the railroad industry with Burlington Northern in 1992 as a management trainee in Fort Worth, Texas. Katie has held a variety of positions in sales and marketing in the Chemical, Plastic, and Minerals business units. She also held positions in finance, customer solutions, and network operations. In 1998, after a field sales position in Houston, Texas, she returned to Fort Worth as director of Plastics Marketing. In 2001, she was appointed to general director of Chemical Products Sales. In 2002, she was promoted to the position of assistant vice president of Carload Equipment, supporting the Carload, Agricultural Products, and Coal business units. In December 2005, she was named vice president, sales, Industrial Products, and in June 2010 was appointed vice president, Domestic Intermodal. Beginning in January 2013, she served as group vice president, Consumer Products.
Keith Creel became the first President and CEO of CPKC on April 14, 2023 with the combination of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern.
Mr. Creel previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Pacific (CP), a position he assumed in January 2017, becoming the 17th person to lead CP since 1881.
Under Mr. Creel's leadership, CP achieved industry-leading safety performance and delivered more efficient ways to connect customers to domestic and global markets, playing a prominent role in connecting communities across North America.
Mr. Creel was appointed CP President and Chief Operating Officer in February 2013 and joined the CP Board of Directors in May of 2015.
Prior to joining CP, Mr. Creel was Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer at Canadian National Railway (CN). He held various positions at CN including Executive Vice-President Operations, Senior Vice-President Eastern Region, Senior Vice-President Western Region, and Vice-President of the Prairie Division.
Mr. Creel began his railroad career at Burlington Northern Railway in 1992 as an intermodal ramp manager in Birmingham, Alabama. He also spent part of his career at Grand Trunk Western Railroad as a superintendent and general manager and at Illinois Central Railroad as a trainmaster and director of corridor operations, prior to its merger with CN in 1999. He currently serves on the board of the Association of American Railroads.
Mr. Creel holds a Bachelor of Science in marketing from Jacksonville State University and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. Mr. Creel has a military background as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, during which time he served in the Persian Gulf War in Saudi Arabia.
Recognized for his leadership, he was named by Progressive Railroading as Railroad Innovator for 2014 and 2024 and by Railway Age as Railroader of the Year in 2021 and co-Railroader of the Year in 2022. The Globe and Mail newspaper's Report on Business Magazine named Mr. Creel its 2021 CEO of the Year and 2021 Strategist of the Year.
He is honored to be married to his wife of over 30 years, Ginger, and proud father of Tanner and Caitlin.
Larry Gross is a forty-three-year veteran of the freight transportation sector. He is the President and Founder of Gross Transportation Consulting of Durango, CO, an independent consulting practice specializing in the North American intermodal sector (www.intermodalindepth.com).
Larry is an acknowledged expert on intermodal who is quoted often in the press and makes frequent appearances before the transportation community, including the "Intermodal Analyzed" webinar series for the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA). He produces Intermodal in Depth, a monthly deep-dive analytical report on the intermodal sector and authors a monthly column for the Journal of Commerce. He has played a key role in the creation of educational content for students studying Supply Chain Management as the author of numerous business case studies, many of which have been used over the years in the "IANA Academic Challenge" competition.
Larry posts frequently on intermodal matters on LinkedIn using the name linkedin.com/in/intermodalist. He can be reached at lgross@intermodalindepth.com.
Mark George is President and Chief Executive Officer at Norfolk Southern Corporation. Since 1827, Norfolk Southern has safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network that serves a majority of the country's population and manufacturing base, with connections to more than 54 inland, lake, river, and sea ports. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid approximately 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. The railroad's dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, operate the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern US, and originate more automotive traffic than any other Class I Railroad.
In his current role, George oversees all areas of the company's business and operations, building a customer-centric and operations-driven organization. George has more than 30 years of experience in financial management, strategy, and business development. During his time at Norfolk Southern, he has enhanced the company's focus on productivity and cost control — utilizing his expertise across multiple industrial segments. Most recently, George served as Chief Financial Officer and first joined the company in 2019. In that role, George was responsible for overseeing the company's Finance teams as well as Investor Relations, Sourcing, and Corporate Strategy teams.
Prior to joining Norfolk Southern, he held successive roles of responsibility across multiple commercial and business segments of United Technologies Corporation and its subsidiaries, including six years in Asia as the regional CFO for the Otis Elevator Company. He held roles of increasing responsibility and ultimately served as the Global CFO for both the Otis Elevator Company and the Carrier Corporation from 2008 to 2019.
George is also on the Board of Directors for Trane Technologies plc (NYSE: TT), where he serves on the Finance and Audit Committees. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement of Georgia. He earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Central Connecticut State University and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Patrick Fuchs was designated as Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board by President Donald J. Trump, effective January 20, 2025. He was first sworn in on January 17, 2019, as a Member of the Board and was re-confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 14, 2024. His second term expires on January 14, 2029.
Prior to his appointment, Mr. Fuchs was a senior professional staff member working on surface transportation and maritime issues for the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation under the leadership of Chairman John Thune of South Dakota.
Mr. Fuchs has played an integral role in the development and enactment of major railroad legislation, including the 2015 reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Board, the first since the agency's creation in 1996. He also worked on legislation to improve infrastructure project delivery, railroad financing, and transportation safety, all of which were enacted as part of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), the five-year, $305 billion surface transportation authorization.
Mr. Fuchs helped develop and enact the first reauthorization of the National Transportation Safety Board in over a decade. He also worked on legislation to increase safety by addressing opioid abuse in transportation, reforms that were enacted as part of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act. His work also includes reauthorization of the Federal Maritime Commission as well as three reauthorizations of the Maritime Administration, enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Acts for Fiscal Years 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Prior to serving Chairman Thune, Mr. Fuchs was a policy analyst and Presidential Management Fellow at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), where he managed railroad and maritime regulatory reviews. During his time at OMB, he worked on regulations pertaining to railroad technology, railroad operating practices, and transportation safety and security, among other issues. His experience also includes time with the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Government Accountability Office, and the National Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education.
A Wisconsin native, Mr. Fuchs graduated with distinction in economics and political science and earned an M.P.A. from the University of Wisconsin.
Patrick Lortie was appointed Senior Vice-President and Chief Strategy and Stakeholder Relations Officer in October 2025. In this role, he leads the development and implementation of CN's corporate strategy, including an enhanced focus on network strategies. Patrick is also responsible for government affairs, public affairs, media relations and corporate communications, ensuring a unified approach to internal and external engagement and advocacy.
Patrick is a recognized expert in designing growth strategies and leading business transformations in the transportation industry. He has advised Boards and Executive Teams on a global basis for more than two decades. Before joining CN, he was at Oliver Wyman, where he led the firm's global Transportation and Services Practice and oversaw the firm's activities in Canada. He was also a member of the firm's Global Leadership Council. Prior to that, he worked for regional airlines in France and Argentina, and for Virgin Trains, a leading passenger train operator in the United Kingdom.
Patrick holds a bachelor's degree in computer engineering from the École Polytechnique de Montréal, an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, and a certificate in Strategies for Sustainable Business from MIT Sloan School of Management.
Tracy Robinson was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of CN on February 28, 2022 and is responsible for CN's strategic direction and leadership.
Prior to joining CN, Tracy was Executive Vice-President of TC Energy, President of Canadian Natural Gas Pipelines and President of Coastal GasLink.
Tracy's deep experience in the railway industry stems from her 27 years at Canadian Pacific Railway. There, she served in executive roles in the commercial, finance and operating functions, including as General Manager of Transportation Services, Vice President and Treasurer, and Vice President of Marketing and Sales.
Tracy is a seasoned executive with a proven track record in the transportation industry. She is known for her ability to drive innovation and foster collaboration among diverse teams and stakeholders. Her passion for mentoring the next generation of leaders and her advocacy for inclusive leadership have further solidified her reputation as a forward-thinking leader.
She is Chair of the Board of the Business Council of Canada. She is also a member of the Campaign Committee and the Dean's Advisory Council at the Edward's School of Business of the University of Saskatchewan.
Tracy holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Saskatchewan. She received her Institute of Corporate Directors designation in 2015.
(More speaker info coming soon)
Click on a speaker to view more about them
(Bio coming soon)
Chuck Baker joined ASLRRA as President in February 2019 after a 15-year career in the railroad industry. Before joining ASLRRA he was a Partner at Chambers Conlon & Hartwell (CC&H), where, in addition to the ASLRRA, he represented clients such as the National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC), the OneRail Coalition, the American Railway Development Association, Norfolk Southern, and Canadian National. For the NRC, Mr. Baker also served as its President. In that capacity, he had responsibility for all of the association's core financial, operational, and legal programs, including the federal legislative and regulatory program in front of both Congress and the Administration.
For the OneRail Coalition, a coalition of freight rail, intercity passenger rail, commuter rail, rail labor, and rail supply industry interests, Mr. Baker coordinated the group's activities and messaging. Prior to joining CC&H, Mr. Baker worked with the Surface Transportation Policy Project in Washington, D.C. Mr. Baker has also worked for Deutsche Bank Securities as an investment banker specializing in Corporate Finance and Mergers & Acquisitions in San Francisco, CA. Mr. Baker is a native of Baltimore, MD, and a graduate of Rice University in Houston, TX.
Fink previously served as President of Pan Am Railways, where he modernized operations, elevated safety standards, and spearheaded technological innovation, including championing the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) and other advanced safety systems. His efforts contributed to measurable reductions in rail accidents and improvements in operational reliability.
Fink holds a Master of Science in Business Administration from Pennsylvania State University and a Bachelor of Science in Transportation and Physical Distribution Management from Northeastern University.
Fink and his wife of 40 years live in New Hampshire; they have two children and recently welcomed their first granddaughter.
Eric Gehringer has served as executive vice president-Operations since 2021. He is responsible for all aspects of Union Pacific's operations, including the Transportation, Engineering, Mechanical, Dispatching, Customer Care and Support, and Premium Operations departments.
Gehringer joined Union Pacific in 2006 as a management trainee. He previously served in numerous positions, including senior vice president-Transportation, Operating's chief mechanical officer as well as chief engineer. Prior to joining Union Pacific, he held positions at Northwest Airlines and Daimler Chrysler.
A graduate of St. Louis University with a degree in aerospace engineering, Gehringer received an MBA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
He serves on the Board of Directors for Children's Nebraska Foundation and is a member of the United States Strategic Command Council.
Eric was appointed President and CEO of the Railway Association of Canada (RAC) in February 2025. He has more than 25 years of experience in transportation law, policy, and regulation. Before joining RAC, he served as Assistant General Counsel, Policy and Legislative Affairs, at Canadian National Railway (CN). In this role, he led CN's work on major legislative and regulatory initiatives, including reviews of the Railway Safety Act and the Canada Transportation Act, while guiding the company's engagement with federal decision-makers. Prior to this role, he managed the rail regulatory group at CN, providing advice on safety and economic regulation.
Earlier in his career, Eric worked in Ottawa for federal transportation regulators and agencies, gaining deep knowledge of public-sector policy development and oversight in rail and other modes.
Eric received his law degree from the University of Ottawa and subsequently, a Masters in law from King's College London.
At RAC, Eric advocates for safe, efficient, and sustainable railways, emphasizing supply-chain reliability, investment, and modern regulation to strengthen Canada's integrated transportation network.
Francisco Fabila is a prominent leader in North American logistics and infrastructure, currently serving as the President of the Mexican Railway Association (AMF) and the General Manager of Ferrovalle (Ferrocarril y Terminal del Valle de México). With a background spanning over a decade in corporate affairs, legal compliance, and strategic public policy, Fabila is a driving force behind the modernization of Mexico's freight and passenger rail networks.
Prior to his current executive roles, he managed government relations for Kansas City Southern de México (KCSM) and oversaw regional regulatory compliance for Walmart Mexico & Central America. Recognized as the "Logistics Businessman of the Year" by Grupo T21 for his leadership in major infrastructure investments, Fabila holds a law degree with advanced specializations from IPADE Business School. His current agenda focuses on cross-border logistics integration, public-private transport partnerships, and the sustainable transition from road to rail freight.
As the Association of American Railroads (AAR's) president and CEO, Jefferies advocates for and works with member railroads to ensure the continued viability of America's railroad industry. Prior to assuming the role on January 1, 2019, Jefferies was the senior vice president of AAR's government affairs where he led the development, promotion and implementation of legislative priorities for the AAR.
Before joining the AAR, Jefferies cultivated more than a decade of experience working within government. From 2009 to 2013, Jefferies served as a senior policy advisor to the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. In this role, Jefferies provided policy guidance on a host of transportation issues, including railroad economic regulation, rail safety and passenger rail. Jefferies also led the successful development, negotiation and reauthorization of major infrastructure legislation and managed the successful conference of Committee legislation relating to the 2012 surface transportation reauthorization law, MAP 21.
Jefferies began his career in government serving as a Senior Advisor to the Mayor of Lexington, Kentucky, before transitioning to the federal government. Prior to serving in the United States Senate, he worked for the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Inspector General and the U.S. Government Accountability Office. In these roles, Jefferies led program reviews on a variety of issues including infrastructure development, international trade, major weapon systems acquisition and federal contracting.
Jefferies received his Master of Science in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA and his Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY. Jefferies and his wife reside with their three children in Alexandria, VA.
Katie Farmer was named President and Chief Executive Officer in 2021 and also leads BNSF's Board of Directors. With more than 30 years of railroading experience, Katie most recently served as executive vice president and Chief Operations Officer, where she oversaw the entire BNSF Operations organization, including train operations; maintenance of track, structures, and rolling stock; as well as sourcing, safety and training.
Prior to serving as executive vice president and Chief Operations Officer, Katie served as vice president, Service Design and Transportation Support since July 2017. In this role, she was responsible for the scheduling of railroad operations to meet customer expectations and optimize use of the BNSF network as well as service design functions for the Agricultural, Industrial, Consumer Products, and Coal business units in addition to Capacity Planning, Joint Facilities, Shortline Development, and Passenger Operations.
Katie began her career in the railroad industry with Burlington Northern in 1992 as a management trainee in Fort Worth, Texas. Katie has held a variety of positions in sales and marketing in the Chemical, Plastic, and Minerals business units. She also held positions in finance, customer solutions, and network operations. In 1998, after a field sales position in Houston, Texas, she returned to Fort Worth as director of Plastics Marketing. In 2001, she was appointed to general director of Chemical Products Sales. In 2002, she was promoted to the position of assistant vice president of Carload Equipment, supporting the Carload, Agricultural Products, and Coal business units. In December 2005, she was named vice president, sales, Industrial Products, and in June 2010 was appointed vice president, Domestic Intermodal. Beginning in January 2013, she served as group vice president, Consumer Products.
Keith Creel became the first President and CEO of CPKC on April 14, 2023 with the combination of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern.
Mr. Creel previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Pacific (CP), a position he assumed in January 2017, becoming the 17th person to lead CP since 1881.
Under Mr. Creel's leadership, CP achieved industry-leading safety performance and delivered more efficient ways to connect customers to domestic and global markets, playing a prominent role in connecting communities across North America.
Mr. Creel was appointed CP President and Chief Operating Officer in February 2013 and joined the CP Board of Directors in May of 2015.
Prior to joining CP, Mr. Creel was Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer at Canadian National Railway (CN). He held various positions at CN including Executive Vice-President Operations, Senior Vice-President Eastern Region, Senior Vice-President Western Region, and Vice-President of the Prairie Division.
Mr. Creel began his railroad career at Burlington Northern Railway in 1992 as an intermodal ramp manager in Birmingham, Alabama. He also spent part of his career at Grand Trunk Western Railroad as a superintendent and general manager and at Illinois Central Railroad as a trainmaster and director of corridor operations, prior to its merger with CN in 1999. He currently serves on the board of the Association of American Railroads.
Mr. Creel holds a Bachelor of Science in marketing from Jacksonville State University and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. Mr. Creel has a military background as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, during which time he served in the Persian Gulf War in Saudi Arabia.
Recognized for his leadership, he was named by Progressive Railroading as Railroad Innovator for 2014 and 2024 and by Railway Age as Railroader of the Year in 2021 and co-Railroader of the Year in 2022. The Globe and Mail newspaper's Report on Business Magazine named Mr. Creel its 2021 CEO of the Year and 2021 Strategist of the Year.
He is honored to be married to his wife of over 30 years, Ginger, and proud father of Tanner and Caitlin.
Larry Gross is a forty-three-year veteran of the freight transportation sector. He is the President and Founder of Gross Transportation Consulting of Durango, CO, an independent consulting practice specializing in the North American intermodal sector (www.intermodalindepth.com).
Larry is an acknowledged expert on intermodal who is quoted often in the press and makes frequent appearances before the transportation community, including the "Intermodal Analyzed" webinar series for the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA). He produces Intermodal in Depth, a monthly deep-dive analytical report on the intermodal sector and authors a monthly column for the Journal of Commerce. He has played a key role in the creation of educational content for students studying Supply Chain Management as the author of numerous business case studies, many of which have been used over the years in the "IANA Academic Challenge" competition.
Larry posts frequently on intermodal matters on LinkedIn using the name linkedin.com/in/intermodalist. He can be reached at lgross@intermodalindepth.com.
Mark George is President and Chief Executive Officer at Norfolk Southern Corporation. Since 1827, Norfolk Southern has safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network that serves a majority of the country's population and manufacturing base, with connections to more than 54 inland, lake, river, and sea ports. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid approximately 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. The railroad's dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, operate the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern US, and originate more automotive traffic than any other Class I Railroad.
In his current role, George oversees all areas of the company's business and operations, building a customer-centric and operations-driven organization. George has more than 30 years of experience in financial management, strategy, and business development. During his time at Norfolk Southern, he has enhanced the company's focus on productivity and cost control — utilizing his expertise across multiple industrial segments. Most recently, George served as Chief Financial Officer and first joined the company in 2019. In that role, George was responsible for overseeing the company's Finance teams as well as Investor Relations, Sourcing, and Corporate Strategy teams.
Prior to joining Norfolk Southern, he held successive roles of responsibility across multiple commercial and business segments of United Technologies Corporation and its subsidiaries, including six years in Asia as the regional CFO for the Otis Elevator Company. He held roles of increasing responsibility and ultimately served as the Global CFO for both the Otis Elevator Company and the Carrier Corporation from 2008 to 2019.
George is also on the Board of Directors for Trane Technologies plc (NYSE: TT), where he serves on the Finance and Audit Committees. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement of Georgia. He earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Central Connecticut State University and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Patrick Fuchs was designated as Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board by President Donald J. Trump, effective January 20, 2025. He was first sworn in on January 17, 2019, as a Member of the Board and was re-confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 14, 2024. His second term expires on January 14, 2029.
Prior to his appointment, Mr. Fuchs was a senior professional staff member working on surface transportation and maritime issues for the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation under the leadership of Chairman John Thune of South Dakota.
Mr. Fuchs has played an integral role in the development and enactment of major railroad legislation, including the 2015 reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Board, the first since the agency's creation in 1996. He also worked on legislation to improve infrastructure project delivery, railroad financing, and transportation safety, all of which were enacted as part of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), the five-year, $305 billion surface transportation authorization.
Mr. Fuchs helped develop and enact the first reauthorization of the National Transportation Safety Board in over a decade. He also worked on legislation to increase safety by addressing opioid abuse in transportation, reforms that were enacted as part of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act. His work also includes reauthorization of the Federal Maritime Commission as well as three reauthorizations of the Maritime Administration, enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Acts for Fiscal Years 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Prior to serving Chairman Thune, Mr. Fuchs was a policy analyst and Presidential Management Fellow at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), where he managed railroad and maritime regulatory reviews. During his time at OMB, he worked on regulations pertaining to railroad technology, railroad operating practices, and transportation safety and security, among other issues. His experience also includes time with the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Government Accountability Office, and the National Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education.
A Wisconsin native, Mr. Fuchs graduated with distinction in economics and political science and earned an M.P.A. from the University of Wisconsin.
Patrick Lortie was appointed Senior Vice-President and Chief Strategy and Stakeholder Relations Officer in October 2025. In this role, he leads the development and implementation of CN's corporate strategy, including an enhanced focus on network strategies. Patrick is also responsible for government affairs, public affairs, media relations and corporate communications, ensuring a unified approach to internal and external engagement and advocacy.
Patrick is a recognized expert in designing growth strategies and leading business transformations in the transportation industry. He has advised Boards and Executive Teams on a global basis for more than two decades. Before joining CN, he was at Oliver Wyman, where he led the firm's global Transportation and Services Practice and oversaw the firm's activities in Canada. He was also a member of the firm's Global Leadership Council. Prior to that, he worked for regional airlines in France and Argentina, and for Virgin Trains, a leading passenger train operator in the United Kingdom.
Patrick holds a bachelor's degree in computer engineering from the École Polytechnique de Montréal, an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, and a certificate in Strategies for Sustainable Business from MIT Sloan School of Management.
Tracy Robinson was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of CN on February 28, 2022 and is responsible for CN's strategic direction and leadership.
Prior to joining CN, Tracy was Executive Vice-President of TC Energy, President of Canadian Natural Gas Pipelines and President of Coastal GasLink.
Tracy's deep experience in the railway industry stems from her 27 years at Canadian Pacific Railway. There, she served in executive roles in the commercial, finance and operating functions, including as General Manager of Transportation Services, Vice President and Treasurer, and Vice President of Marketing and Sales.
Tracy is a seasoned executive with a proven track record in the transportation industry. She is known for her ability to drive innovation and foster collaboration among diverse teams and stakeholders. Her passion for mentoring the next generation of leaders and her advocacy for inclusive leadership have further solidified her reputation as a forward-thinking leader.
She is Chair of the Board of the Business Council of Canada. She is also a member of the Campaign Committee and the Dean's Advisory Council at the Edward's School of Business of the University of Saskatchewan.
Tracy holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Saskatchewan. She received her Institute of Corporate Directors designation in 2015.
Tony Hatch has been a senior transportation analyst on Wall Street for more than 20 years, starting at Salomon brothers; proceeding to Argus, PaineWebber, and NatWest Markets (USA) prior to starting his independent analyst/consultancy in 1999.
Pat has more than 25 years of reporting and editing experience. He oversees the editorial operation of Progressive Railroading magazine and ProgressiveRailroading.com
Kirk has an extensive background in communications, marketing, advertising, management, and sales. He has been involved in the rail industry for over 20 years, including the past 10 years with Progressive Railroading. In addition to being the co-master of ceremonies, Kirk also oversees sponsorship sales for RailTrends.
General Questions? Contact education@tradepress.com
Join us as we relocate from RailTrends' former Times Square location to the New York Marriott Downtown, in the heart of Lower Manhattan and steps from Wall Street and the Financial District.
This vibrant new venue offers a fresh setting for networking, learning, and connecting with the leaders shaping the future of rail.
Sleeping rooms are available at the New York Marriott Downtown at discounted rates. The deadline to book your room is October 18.
Wendy Dietzler
Director of Events & Education
(414) 228-7701 ext. 458
wendy.dietzler@tradepress.com
RailTrends 2027
November 18–19, 2027
New York Marriott Downtown
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