Reflecting on Train 188 Veterans Hiring Update 40 Years of Amtrak

ink
A Monthly Publication for and by Amtrak Employees
Volume 20 • Issue 3 • May/June 2015
Reflecting
on Train 188
Veterans Hiring
Update
40 Years of Amtrak
at Beech Grove
APD Officer of the Year
Train of Thought
A
mtrak recently experienced a
great tragedy when a Northeast
Regional train traveling
between Washington and New York
derailed in Philadelphia. The entire
Amtrak family mourns those who died.
Our hearts go out as well to those who
were injured. The passengers, crew
members, families and loved ones of
Train 188 remain in our thoughts and
prayers.
Joseph H. Boardman
Safety and security are and always
will be our first priority. Amtrak continues to work with the
National Transportation Safety Board investigation, and we are
committed to understanding what happened and how we can prevent a similar accident from occurring in the future.
Amtrak thanks all the first responders and hospital personnel who attended to the injured, as well as the City officials who
quickly implemented a response plan. Employees from across the
company swiftly responded to the emergency. Personnel from the
Amtrak Police, Emergency Management & Corporate Security and
System Safety departments were joined by senior Amtrak leadership at the scene to assess the situation and coordinate with city
and federal agencies.
Soon after the incident, Amtrak established both a Family
Assistance Center to work closely with families of those on the
train, and an Amtrak Incident Hotline to answer questions from
families and loved ones. Employees worked with individuals and
families to help with transportation, lodging, medical bills and
funeral expenses. Within Amtrak, Employee Assistance Program
counselors spoke with employees and their family members.
As we responded to the losses and injuries from the accident,
we had a parallel obligation to restore the railroad and service.
Table of Contents
Engineering and Operations planned for repairing the roadbed,
tracks and catenary wire. This herculean effort continued around
the clock so that the first trains left Philadelphia and New York
early on the Monday following the incident. Repairs were made
with the utmost care and emphasis on safety, including complete
compliance with Federal Railroad Administration directives.
Amtrak remains on schedule to meet a federal mandate by the
end of 2015 to install Positive Train Control (PTC) on tracks for
which it is responsible. PTC is a system that analyzes track conditions and equipment speed for optimal safety. The Advanced Civil
Speed Enforcement System (ACSES), a form of PTC, is already
operating on 206 of the 401 route miles of track that Amtrak is
responsible for on the NEC spine between Washington and Boston.
Amtrak is also upgrading locomotives used outside the corridor to
ensure they are compatible with the host railroads’ PTC systems.
No other large, Class I railroad has progressed as far as Amtrak in
installing PTC technology.
In response to the incident, I’ve instructed that inward-facing
video cameras be installed on all ACS-64 locomotives in service
on the NEC by the end of this year. We are also developing a
plan for installing inward-facing cameras in the rest of our locomotive fleet, including Acela Express power cars and diesel units.
The cameras add an additional layer of safety to the outward
facing cameras already in place on locomotives, as well as to the
advanced systems that monitor locomotive and engineer actions.
This technology bolsters the thorough training, oversight and
coaching systems for our crews, as well as the layered signal system that provides trains with multiple levels of protection.
We must continue to demonstrate to our customers that Amtrak
services are safe and secure. This means recommiting ourselves to
practicing safe behaviors and encouraging our co-workers to do the
same. Everything we do should set the right example so our customers continue to trust in Amtrak as a safe way to travel. n
2Train of Thought
1 040 Years of Amtrak at Beech Grove
4Moving Forward
13Amtrak Train Days Begin
mtrak Police Department
Hiring Initiative
14Voneterans
6AHonors
Officer of the Year
Track for Success
7Operation Lifesaver Needs You 16Bulletin Board
8Leadership Q&A: Chief Human 17Awards and Recognition
Capital Officer Barry Melnkovic
18Milestones
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Amtrak Ink
On the Cover
ink
for and by Amtrak Employees
A Monthly Publication
• May/June 2015
Volume 20 • Issue 3
Reflecting
on Train 188
Veterans Hiring
ss
on Track for Succe
ak
40 Years of Amtr
at Beech Grove
Year
APD Officer of the
Background image: Amtrak crews repair
tracks and catenary wire at Frankford Jct.
Left, from top to bottom: Amtrak President
and CEO Joseph Boardman speaks at a
Philadelphia news conference (AP Photo/
Mel Evans); a dove is released during a
service of reflection near the site of the
Train 188 derailment (AP Photo/Joseph
Kaczmarek); and workers position a new
track panel.
Reflection
In Memoriam
The Amtrak family mourns the eight passengers who died in the derailment of Northeast Regional No. 188 on the evening of
May 12, 2015. The deceased are:
Laura Finamore
Bob Gildersleeve
Giuseppe Piras
Jim Gaines
Dr. Derrick E. Griffith
Justin Zemser
Abid Gilani
Rachel Jacobs
We offer our deepest sympathies and prayers for them and their loved ones.
Supporting Our Passengers, Crew and Families
Amtrak is thankful to the people of Philadelphia, including first responders, hospital personnel, municipal officials and
residents, who rushed to assist passengers, render aid, assess
the situation and implement a clear response plan following
the derailment on the Northeast Corridor.
Employees from departments across Amtrak worked tirelessly to assist the affected passengers and their families by
staffing the Family Assistance Center and answering questions
through the Amtrak Incident Hotline.
Senior leadership and colleagues from the Amtrak
Police, Emergency Management & Corporate Security and
System Safety departments worked closely with the National
Transportation Safety Board and local agencies to provide
support at the scene, and they continue to assist the ongoing
investigation into the cause of the incident.
At the Amtrak Mid-Atlantic Reservations Sales Contact Center, customer
service representatives assist passengers affected by the derailment.
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter (second from left) speaks with Amtrak
Police Chief Polly Hanson (center) and officers near the incident scene.
Family care liaisons receive instruction from Amtrak EMCS staff before
deploying to hospitals to support hospitalized passengers and their families.
Amtrak Government Affairs and Corporate Communications
Joe McHugh, Sr. Vice President
Government Affairs & Corporate
Communications
Rod Gibbons
Vice President, Corporate
Communications
Marlon Sharpe
Sr. Manager Creative Services
Patrick Kidd
Sr. Communications Specialist
Lisa V. Pulaski
Sr. Graphic Designer
Chuck Gomez
Sr. Multimedia Specialist
Amtrak Headquarters
60 Massachusetts Ave., NE
Washington, D.C. 20002
[email protected]
Amtrak Ink is a monthly employee
publication of Amtrak, the National
Railroad Passenger Corporation,
published 10 times a year.
® AMTRAK is a registered service
mark of the National Railroad
Passenger Corporation.
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reporting numbers that normally are displayed on
page 2 will appear in the next issue of Ink.
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May/June 2015
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Moving Forward
Safety and Security Are Guiding Principles
Amtrak employees play an important role in educating
passengers and the public about the importance America’s
Railroad places on safety and security. Along with Financial
Excellence and Customer Focus, Safety and Security are
guiding principles of our Strategic Plan.
Passenger railroading is fundamentally about people, and
our first priority is the safe transport of our passengers and
crews. Amtrak has a strong safety record and continues to
search for opportunities to further improve.
Amtrak moved approximately 31 million people last
year, and 17 million of those passengers traveled over
some part of the Northeast Corridor (NEC). On a daily
basis, about 750,000 trips are made on the NEC—either on
Amtrak or one of eight commuter railroads that use our
infrastructure. That adds up to more than 2,100 passenger
trains and 60 freight trains operating on portions of the corridor every day.
From 2000 to 2014, the total annual accident rate per
million passenger miles fell from 4.1 to 1.7, and annual derailments fell from 80 to 28 over the same period. According
to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the overall
count of Amtrak incidents decreased from 148 in 2000 to 67
in 2014. Incidents caused by track problems have fallen by
two-thirds since 2000, while those caused by human error
have been reduced by 50 percent.
Implementing Positive Train Control
Since Amtrak gained ownership of the NEC in 1976,
all Amtrak trains on the corridor have included a system
called Automatic Train Control (ATC). ATC ensures that
trains comply with the wayside signal system, by providing
a notification to the engineer through signals in the locomotive, when the train approaches a more restrictive signal.
If the engineer does not respond, the system will automatically apply the train’s brakes and protect the train against a
collision.
All trains operating along the NEC are equipped with
ATC including those using the segment of line owned, maintained and dispatched by Metro-North Railroad between
New Rochelle, N.Y., and New Haven, Conn.
In the 1990s, Amtrak worked with industry partners
to develop the nation’s first Positive Train Control (PTC)
system, known as the Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement
System (ACSES). Amtrak developed ACSES as an integral
component of plans for Acela Express service. ACSES went
into operation in 2000, and is currently installed and operating on 206 of the 401 route miles of track that Amtrak is
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Amtrak Ink
Trackside signals, such as those shown on the signal bridge above, employ
colored lights, singly or in combination, to signal the engineer to take
needed actions.
responsible for on the NEC spine.
ACSES has several components that build on the protection provided by ATC. It provides protection against
derailment from excessive speed, and includes programmable track transponders that store and transmit information
on track condition and speed, wayside interface units, a
temporary speed restriction server system and an onboard
installation on the locomotive. These systems are linked by
radio, and the transponders are programmed with data about
track configuration and permanent speed restrictions.
The ACSES wayside components have been installed on
the remainder of the NEC south of Newark, N.J., but the system is not yet operational; testing, Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) approval and radio equipment installation need to be completed. Metro-North intends to install
ACSES on its 56 mile line, but the installation is still several
years away.
Amtrak leads all other large, Class I railroads in the
installation of PTC systems, having spent $110.7 million since
2008. The next step will be the installation and testing process for the radio system on our NEC locomotive fleet over
the next few months. Amtrak remains on schedule to complete the full activation of PTC in the Northeast Corridor in
accordance with the federal deadline of December 31, 2015.
Amtrak has also been working to upgrade locomotives used
outside the NEC to ensure they are compatible with the host
railroads’ PTC systems.
To learn more about these efforts, visit the official
Amtrak Blog (Blog.Amtrak.com). n
Restoring Full Service on the NEC
Looking Ahead
Through strong interdepartmental collaboration,
Amtrak restored service between Philadelphia
and New York on the morning of May 18.
Prior to departure of the first trains, Amtrak
complied with a Federal Railroad Administration
directive to modify the Automatic Train Control
system at Frankford Jct. to automatically limit
train speed on the curve at which the derailment
occurred. Amtrak also initiated an analysis of
all curves on the NEC; in areas where approach
speed is significantly higher than curve speed,
the appropriate technology intended to prevent
over-speed derailments was implemented.
inspection car is used to
A catenary maintenance and
Frankford Jct. Right, a
at
wire
nary
cate
the
ing
restr
track panel.
worker helps position a new
a Service of Reflection and
The City of Philadelphia held
17, the day prior to service
May
ay
Sund
Remembrance on
rak officials participated in
Amt
.
being restored along the NEC
the service.
Photos courtesy of Joe Rago and Craig Schulz.
Employees from the
Track, Bridges & Buildings,
Communications & Signaling and
Electric Traction groups worked
together at Frankford Jct. to repair
the roadbed, lay track panels and
string new catenary wire.
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APD Officer of the Year
P
olice Officer Shawn McClister
was named the Amtrak Police
Officer of the Year (2014) at a
recent ceremony held in Washington,
D.C. This honor is the most prestigious
award presented by the Amtrak Police
Department (APD).
McClister has been employed with
the APD since April 29, 2013, and is
currently assigned to the Mid-Atlantic
North Division in Philadelphia. He
started his law enforcement career as a
police officer in June of 2008 with the
Tullytown Borough Police Department
in Bucks County, Pa.
In addition to his patrol duties,
Officer McClister actively participates
in the Anti-Crime Unit, performing
plainclothes work with outside law
enforcement agencies, and the APD
Criminal Investigations Unit.
Officer McClister was awarded
Officer of the Month for January
and August 2014, and is the recipient
of nine letters of commendation, a
Lifesaving Award and a Distinguished
Unit Citation Award. His outstanding
work supporting law enforcement
efforts of the APD, which included
numerous arrests to combat illegal
Officer McClister patrols Philadelphia 30th Street
Station.
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Amtrak Ink
Amtrak Board Member Albert DiClemente presents Officer McClister with the Board Resolution naming
him as Officer of the Year.
drug use and trafficking, and preventing a potential suicide, earned him
national recognition within the APD.
“Officer McClister has consistently
and diligently performed the best
police work possible through exemplary service and dedication to duty,”
said Chief Polly Hanson during the
awards ceremony. “We are extremely
proud to count Shawn among the
Amtrak Police Department’s finest.”
Amtrak Ink took a moment to
ask Officer McClister a few important
questions about his career and future
plans:
What are you must proud of from
your time with the force?
The thing I am most proud of
is being able to do the work that it
takes to keep the stations and trains
safe places for our passengers and
employees.
What is the most valuable thing
you’ve learned while working with
the APD?
The most valuable thing is the
teamwork within our department.
Without the help of my co-workers
and partners I would not be able to
perform my job at the level that I have
been capable of so far.
Tell us about your colleagues at
30th Street Station.
Everyone is great to work with.
The K-9 team members are a great
asset here, they help us tremendously
and the members of CIU (Criminal
Investigations Unit) always come in at
any time to assist. The supervisors and
commanders are all excellent and great
people to work with.
How are you going to celebrate
your award?
I’ll be with my friends and family
to celebrate the event. My mom and
dad and my aunt and uncle will be
in the audience and I think they are
really proud of the career I’ve chosen
and the work that I’ve done.
What’s your next step?
I will keep looking for whatever
advancement opportunities might
become available to keep me moving
forward in my career with the APD. n
Operation Lifesaver Needs You
A
bout every three hours in the United States, a person
or vehicle ends up in the path of a moving train
and is struck. According to the Federal Railroad
Administration, trespasser fatalities rose 21.8 percent from
2013 to 2014 to reach 526, while injuries over that same
period declined a modest 2.8 percent to 419.
These sobering statistics point to the importance of
educating the public about safety in and around railroad
property. “As employees of the nation’s only intercity passenger rail operator, we all have a responsibility to ensure we
practice safe behavior on the railroad, thereby setting a good
example for our customers and the public,” says Amtrak Vice
President and Chief Safety Officer Michael Logue.
Amtrak is proud of its strong collaboration with
Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OL), a national non-profit organization with a mission to end collisions, deaths and injuries at
highway-rail grade crossings and on railroad property. Nearly
100 Amtrak employees are trained as Operation Lifesaver
Authorized Volunteers (OLAVs). They help spread the word
about trespassing dangers and grade crossing safety to civic
organizations, first responder classes and schools nationwide.
Last year Amtrak created a specific OL liaison position
within the Operations Safety department. This enabled
Amtrak to more closely work with the non-profit to recruit
volunteers and carry out a national rail safety public awareness campaign. Barbara Petito currently serves in that position.
“Amtrak is doing it right and I couldn’t be more proud to
serve in this capacity,” Petito says. “Our goal with Operation
Lifesaver is for Amtrak to be an industry leader in rail safety
messaging, and we’re off to a great start. By the close of 2015,
more than one million people will have watched our grade
crossing and trespassing awareness video nationwide.”
Petito notes the top three goals guiding the Amtrak-OL
partnership:
• Increase the number of Amtrak OLAVs and presentations delivered;
• Through our Trespassing and Rail Grade Education
Team or “TARGET” initiative, heighten police presence and enforcement activities in areas where grade
crossing and trespassing incidents occur; and
• Continue to build on our national public awareness
campaign to educate the public on the consequences of
trespassing on railroad property and failing to comply
with grade crossing warnings.
In an effort to recruit more OLAVs, the Operations
department created the company’s very first guidelines
Ramona Dottery (r), an Amtrak OLAV based in Oakland, Calif., has initiated rail
safety outreach to the Bay Area homeless community.
covering an Amtrak OLAV conducting OL presentations.
This opportunity is open to agreement and non-agreement
personnel who qualify, and must be approved by one’s direct
supervisor. Presentations cannot conflict with hours of service requirements or business needs. OLAVs who are On
Train crew members may only conduct OL presentations
during relief days as a precaution against possible fatigue or
interference with proper rest.
“Having railroaders involved in OL work is crucial because
they understand the rail safety message like no one else,”
Petito says. According to the new guidelines, OLAVs are permitted to use a total of four straight time hours per month
(including all travel time) to conduct an approved presentation.
All Amtrak employees are invited to volunteer with OL;
the process is easy and includes online training. Lead Claims
Specialist Ramona Dottery, based in Oakland, Calif., became
involved with OL after responding to a vehicle-train collision. “Each incident affects our crews,” says Dottery, “and
volunteering with OL helps ease those effects because we
know we are doing what we can to share the message of railroad safety and raise awareness to prevent tragic incidents.”
OLAVs must commit to perform a minimum of four presentations annually. Qualified non-agreement OLAVs who
conduct at least four presentations may count that service as
a measureable success factor toward reaching a developmental safety and security goal. Those who participate in 12 or
more presentations are eligible to receive a “thank-you” gift
chosen from a pre-approved catalog.
Getting started is simple—visit www.OLI.org and click
on “Become a Volunteer.” Also check out the OL webpage
on the company Intranet at Safety>Operation Lifesaver. n
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Leadership Q&A
Hard Choices and an Investment in Learning Position
Amtrak for the Future: An Interview with Chief Human
Capital Officer Barry Melnkovic
I
nk recently sat down with Barry
Melnkovic, Executive Vice
President & Chief Human Capital
Officer, to discuss the value the
Human Capital department brings to
the business, as well as the evolution of
Amtrak Total Rewards and Integrated
Talent Management—and what they
mean for Amtrak employees.
What are the driving forces behind
the significant transformation we
have seen in Human Capital over
the last couple of years?
Value. If we aren’t driving alignment
to our strategy, improving efficiency,
reducing waste, fostering innovation
and tapping into our employees’ discretionary effort as a Human Capital
function, then there is no need for the
function. Every day, my team and I are
looking for new ways to deliver value
to the business.
Describe how Human Capital
delivers value to the enterprise.
Human Capital continues to create
value and competitive advantage for
our business by ensuring we have the
right rewards, organizational structure,
people and culture to execute on our
business strategy. As a team, we have:
Introduced a competitive and
consistent total rewards structure—
We’ve redesigned the Amtrak pay and
benefits offering to more directly link
employee rewards to the Strategic
Plan. Total Rewards and Integrated
Talent Management expand and
enhance the plans and programs we
can deploy to attract, reward, recognize, motivate and develop Amtrak
employees throughout their careers.
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Differentiated pay and rewards
based on performance—The new
Performance Management process
and Short-Term Incentive Plan reward
employees based on their performance
as it relates to our Strategic Plan.
While there’s more to do, it’s a dramatic change for our culture.
Improved our investment in learning and strengthened career growth
and development opportunities for all
of our employees—In 2015, Amtrak
will invest more than $1.5 million in
the Amtrak Leadership Development
Excellence (ALDE)—our leadership
development program—and more
than $7 million in technical training.
We have made substantial investments
in technology to support employee
performance management and career
development including SuccessFactors
and My CareerTrak.
Reduced our costs—We’ve taken
control of our retiree liability, which will
result in $1.4 billion in savings over 20
years. The most recent retirement program changes will improve the Amtrak
balance sheet by an additional $655
million over the next five years. And,
we’ve implemented a strategic wellness
program that will generate $5 million
in savings in the next five years—not
to mention improve the health of our
employees and their families.
Improved processes—As of
April 2015, 15 high volume processes
within Human Capital have met
ISO certification—an international
standard used for certification of an
organization’s quality management
system. Amtrak identified ISO 9001
as a rigorous system to ensure its
Human Capital processes and systems
were designed to achieve process efficiency, consistency and cost reduction,
while addressing the gap in service
Leadership Q&A
quality identified by Amtrak’s Office
of Inspector General (OIG).
The Amtrak Board of Directors
recently approved significant
changes to the retirement program
for non-agreement employees and
retirees. Why were those changes
made?
The truth is we simply couldn’t
afford the retirement program we had
in place. In fact, our projections indicated that Amtrak costs for pay and
benefits exceeded our overall ticket
revenue, thereby limiting money for
other critical investments.
These high benefit costs impeded
our ability to be cost-competitive on
contracts for new business. The costs
continued to rise and the impact of
delaying the inevitable decision compounded year over year.
In 2013, the Board closed the
Amtrak retiree medical and pension
plan to new employees hired on or
after April 1, 2013. Those changes had
a substantial impact: Amtrak reduced
its benefits liability and is projected to
save more than $1 billion over the next
20 years.
But even with that change, the
projected financial obligation for our
pension and retiree medical plans
was still almost $1 billion, and would
continue to vary significantly based on
investment returns, medical inflation
and regulatory requirements.
As Amtrak continued to allocate
more of its budget toward retirement
programs, other companies increased
investments in performance-based
pay, tied directly to organizational
outcomes, and put more money into
the learning and development of their
people. We are now beginning to close
the gaps we have in employee learning
and career development.
Will the agreement-covered
employees see similar changes?
We are one company. The issue of
rising costs doesn’t only impact the
retirement program for non-agreement
employees. It is an issue that affects all
of our employees. We continue to work
with the Amtrak unions to make sure
all of our pay and benefit programs
are affordable for Amtrak and our
employees and retirees—as well as sustainable for the long-term.
What can employees expect to see
in the future in terms of learning
and career growth opportunities?
We are really excited about the
investments we are making in learning
at Amtrak. A few years ago, we established the Amtrak Learning Council
(ALC), a cross-functional team of
senior leaders, to define the knowledge, skills and capabilities we need to
develop in our workforce. The ALC is
crafting a three-year strategy to guide
our future investments in training and
employee development.
What is Amtrak doing to build the
workforce of tomorrow?
We already talked about the substantial investment we are making in
training and employee development.
To me, that is about ensuring the
team members we have in place today
continue to develop their knowledge, skills and abilities. But building
tomorrow’s workforce is also about
identifying the new skills we need,
recruiting new people and ensuring
our team better reflects the diversity of
our customer base.
To get there, we are strengthening
Amtrak’s employer brand—how we
are viewed in the marketplace from a
talent perspective. We have improved
our presence in career-related social
media, community outreach and
participation in national conferences
and recruitment events. We have also
made a significant commitment to
hire America’s women and men who
serve—setting an ambitious goal to
ensure 25 percent of our new hires
by the end of this fiscal year are
veterans.
People are recognizing the progress
we have made at Amtrak. In April,
Amtrak was named to the first-ever
“America’s Best Employers 2015” list
issued by Forbes magazine. We were
also ranked on the annual “Military
Friendly® Top 100 List” published in G.I.
Jobs®, Military Spouse and Vetrepreneur
magazines. In addition, Amtrak made
the inaugural list of “STEM JobsSM
Approved Employers.” The companies
and institutions on the list excel in hiring for positions in the fields of science,
technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); creating STEM-focused
career paths; encouraging workforce
diversity; and aligning careers with
STEM education programs. n
Important Deadlines
Approaching
Medicare-eligible Amtrak
Retirees (age 65 and older)
July 1, 2015—Deadline to
enroll in supplemental medical
coverage.
Contact: OneExchange
855-259-6082
www.medicare.oneexchange.com/
amtrak
Non-Agreement Employees
July 1, 2015—New features in
the Amtrak Retirement Savings
Plan-401(k) begin:
Increase in maximum company
match (from 5% to 7%); new
Roth contribution feature.
Contact: Fidelity Investments
877-477-AMTK (2685)
www.mysavingsatwork.com/
amtrak
For questions, contact the
Amtrak Benefits Service Center
by phone at
(800) 481-4887 or email:
[email protected].
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Main photo by Lisa Pulaski.
Amtrak Celebrates 40 Years at Beech Grove
O
n April 1, Beech Grove
employees and Plant Manager
Bob Moriarty were joined by
Amtrak leadership including Chief
Mechanical Officer Mario Bergeron
and General Manager Long-Distance
Mark Murphy to celebrate 40 years
of Amtrak ownership over the Beech
Grove heavy maintenance facility.
The complex has a rich history that
dates to 1904. Prior to purchasing the
shops in 1975, Amtrak contracted out
preventative maintenance and overhaul work there to Penn Central.
In Fiscal Year 2014, more than 500
employees rebuilt, overhauled or performed wreck repairs on Superliner,
Viewliner, Surfliner and Horizon cars,
as well as P32, P42 and F59 locomotives used across the system. Two
hundred and seventy-five pieces of
equipment underwent heavy overhaul,
periodic maintenance, repainting and
other upkeep.
Rick Burton, Manager Mechanical
Operations, opened the ceremony, held
in the vast trim shop, by introducing
12 employees from various crafts who
have been with Amtrak since the
takeover. They gathered for a photo in
which they sported custom blue polo
shirts; they also wore anniversary caps
given to all employees.
Plant Manager Bob Moriarty
followed with brief remarks and highlighted the Long-Distance Business
Line Summit taking place that week at
Beech Grove. The summit is the result
of an ongoing collaboration between
the business line and the Beech Grove
Improvement Committee (BIC). The
BIC brings together management and
labor employees at our principal heavy
maintenance facility to identify ways
to streamline car overhauls, work more
efficiently and focus on business opportunities. As Moriarty finished, cheers of
“40 more!” could be heard in the crowd.
During his speech, Bergeron
thanked the employees on behalf
of President and Chief Executive
Officer Joe Boardman, Executive Vice
President & Chief Operations Officer
DJ Stadtler and the entire Amtrak
HEP conversion program
concludes
Amfleet coach No. 21222 rebuilt and returned
to service as business and inspection car No.
10001—better known as the Beech Grove
Program to convert Heritage cars to head-end power (HEP) begins
On April 1, Amtrak and Conrail
gain control of Beech Grove
facility from Penn Central
1975
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Amtrak buys out Conrail for
full ownership of the shops
1978
May/June 2015
Amtrak Ink
1981
leadership team. He added, “The
congratulations to the Beech Grove
maintenance facility are really congratulations to the men and women working
here. You offer unique skills and capabilities that support and complement
the entire Amtrak system…some of
you are from a family of railroaders and
now carry the flag of our heritage.”
John Feltz of the Transport
Workers Union (TWU) read from
remarks prepared by Gary Maslanka,
TWU Rail Division Director:
“Congratulations on...40 years of
keeping the backbone of America’s
Railroad, its equipment fleet…in a
state of good repair. Without your
commitment and skills, the core of
Amtrak’s purpose, providing safe rail
transportation to millions of customers
annually, would not be possible.”
Employees had a chance to view
a slide show and posters during
the celebration created by the BIC
Communications Subcommittee. They
traced the shops’ evolution, with a special focus on the Amtrak era.
Under contract to Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie, S. p. A., Amtrak begins to assemble 294
rapid transit cars for the Washington, D.C.,
area subway system
1982
1983
Prototype Viewliner cars assemble
the interior modules, wiring and c
1984
1986
While talking with employees after
the ceremony, Bergeron noted: “The
men and women of Beech Grove are
passionate about Amtrak and the shops.
They are becoming more engaged with
the BIC and taking true ownership for
their performance. I think everyone
here knows that we all have a role in
improving our business—we are committed to do just that and are moving
forward.” He and Moriarty also highlighted a new hire agreement with shop
crafts that incorporates a mentorship
program for new employees.
Asked to highlight recent Beech
Grove accomplishments, Moriarty
points to efforts that support our
Stategic Plan. In the first half of the fiscal
year, FRA-reportable injuries declined
by more than 31 percent compared to
last year, while lost duty reportable injuries declined by 88 percent. The facility
has also achieved a high-functioning
designation under Safe-2-Safer.
Streamlined work methods have
resulted in significant savings that
can be reinvested in other areas. The
shops were ahead of the maintenance
and overhaul schedule by four cars
in April, a noteworthy improvement
compared to the same period in FY
2014. Twelve of 19 programs have also
Beech Grove employees gathered in the vast trim shop to recognize 12 longtime employees, hear
congratulatory speeches, view a history slide show and enjoy a buffet lunch.
demonstrated solid improvements.
On average, Beech Grove now completes a car overhaul with 7.1 percent
fewer labor hours and an 8.9 percent
reduction in material costs when compared to a year ago. The savings per
locomotive are greater at 12.4 percent
and 10.1 percent, respectively. Internal
dwell time—the number of days a car
spends in the shops—has also dropped.
Moriarty credits this progress to ongoing discussions between the BIC and
the long-distance business line.
“Our success is a product of running the shops like a business and
working to meet our customers’ expectations,” says Moriarty. “Listening and
collaborating with our partners ensures
that they will continue to look to Beech
Grove for all of their maintenance and
overhaul needs. We look with excitement to Beech Grove’s next 40 years.”
Continued on page 12.
Cars overhauled for
the Alaska Railroad
First wrecked Superliners returned to service
following significant overhauls
ed to include
car systems
1998
Tornado strikes facility and
damages coach shop 3
2002
With American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act funding, more than 100 new employees
hired to help with overhaul and repair of
wrecked cars
“Good Morning America”
charter train produced
2003
2008
Veterans Locomotive (P42 No. 42) painted
Amtrak 40th Anniversary
Exhibit Train created
2009
2011
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2013
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11
Beech Grove continued from page 11.
Reflecting on 40 Years of Amtrak at Beech Grove
Steve Osburn
Sheet metal worker Steve Osburn
was hired by Penn Central in May
1970 after serving four years in the
United States Air Force. He came to
Beech Grove two years later and is
now the longest-serving active Amtrak
employee at the shops. Osburn is
proud to tell people that he is a third generation railroader.
Half of his siblings have also worked in the industry, and two
of his children are carrying on the tradition at Beech Grove.
Osburn initially repaired the pressure lines on the steamheated passenger cars that Amtrak purchased and leased
from the predecessor railroads. Over the years, he’s also
worked in the powerhouse, ordered parts for the diesel shop
and rebuilt valves and trucks. Asked about what’s changed in
railroading and the shops over four decades, Osburn notes a
strong emphasis on safety, which includes hardhats and protective eyewear, as well as programs such as Safe-2-Safer that
encourage positive behavioral change.
“Helping someone else, you help yourself too,” notes
Osburn as he recounts the mentors who helped him perfect
his craft and advance his career. Asked what advice he has
for new Amtrak employees, Osburn replies, “Amtrak is a
good organization and will be a big part of the future. People
starting [their careers] need to get out and ride the train,
learn the system…they should be ambassadors for Amtrak.”
Gary Woods
Summing up four decades with
Amtrak, Foreman 3 Gary Woods
reflects, “It’s been a hell of a job that
allowed me to make a good living.”
Like many of his colleagues, Woods
belongs to a family with a long railroad history: five generations have
worked at Beech Grove. He started at the facility in January
1974 as an 18 year old, working as a carman in the truck
shop. Later he served as the general foreman in coach shop 2
where employees refurbish cars that have been stripped and
inspected. Today he oversees the forge shop.
Woods recalls changes to the complex and its operations,
including replacement of the original dirt floors with concrete
in the 1990s, the switch from DC to AC power and conversion
of machinery from steam power to modern hydraulic systems.
With the passing of years, Woods notes that certain skill sets
have faded and been replaced by others. For example, numerous blacksmiths used to work at Beech Grove, crafting custom
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May/June 2015
Amtrak Ink
parts for cars and locomotives. Today, boilermakers, who use
pre-made components, are more common around the shops.
“I’m not afraid to get out on the floor and show how to
get the job done,” Woods says when asked about mentoring
new hires. He adds that it’s important to transfer skills and
knowledge to the next generation before they are lost.
John Milenbaugh
“Railroading is one of the greatest
industries…I love being a railroader,”
says carman John Milenbaugh, who
started at Beech Grove in January
1975. Initially he worked as a coal
passer—shoveling coal into boilers at
the facility’s power plant—but within
three months had become a carman helper; a year later he
was promoted to a carman.
For more than three decades, Milenbaugh has worked in the
trim shop on the southeast end of the property. There he paints
cars for Amtrak and the various railroads for which Beech
Grove performs contract work. Asked about improvements
over time, he cites “modernized spray guns, protective gear and
scaffolding.” He particularly enjoyed working on the five locomotives that received heritage paint schemes for the Amtrak
40th Anniversary, as well as the P42 Veterans Locomotive.
Crediting mentors who “taught me to be a better man,”
Milenbaugh emphasizes the importance of being a good teacher.
He also sits on the Beech Grove Improvement
Committee, noting, “One of the best things about my job and
time with Amtrak is being a labor leader because I have a
say in how the railroad is run, and I appreciate the opportunity to work with management.” n
A dozen employees have been at the Beech Grove facility for the entire
Amtrak period. L-r: Joe Hoff, Mike Young, David Patton, Darrell Buis,
Brian Cooper, Steve Osburn, John Milenbaugh, Gary Woods and Jack
Sappington. Not shown: Joe Kriech, Mike Farmiga and Tony Gallagher.
First Amtrak Train Days Events Attract Large Crowds
Amtrak Train Days (ATD) officially kicked off at Chicago Union
Station on May 9. Attendees explored the Amtrak Exhibit Train and
the interactive Amtrak Experience display, took excursion rides and
participated in behind-the-scenes tours of the station and Joseph
Szabo Control Center.
a County
included (l-r): Ottaw
At Toledo, dignitaries
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Paula Hicks-Hudson
More than 150 communities in 37 states are scheduled to hold ATD
celebrations from May through November.
Employees interested in volunteering at an ATD event should visit the
Amtrak Intranet>News>Amtrak Train Days.
More than 3,000 guests attended ATD in Temple,
Texas. A highlight was the large model railroad at the
Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum.
In Kirkwood, Mo
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Lupe Medina (l) and Javier
Customer Service Representatives
Paso, Texas.
Rodriguez greeted attendees in El
Veterans Hiring Initiative: On Track for Success
J
une marks two years since
Amtrak President and CEO
Joseph Boardman gathered with
employees and members of Congress
to announce an Amtrak commitment
to employ veterans of the United
States Armed Forces as 25 percent of
total new hires by the close of Fiscal
Year 2015. Boardman, a Vietnam
veteran, noted at the time: “The
leadership, reliability and high-tech
skills veterans bring to the job are a
great resource.”
Amtrak was selected as a Top
100 Military Employer for 2014. This
honor is indicative of our robust
efforts to engage, inform, recruit and
train veterans and welcome them into
our railroad family. Besides valuable
technical skills, Amtrak recognizes
that veterans also possess personal
1in5
and work attributes that are a good
fit for the railroad industry, including
the ability to provide leadership, react
quickly in dynamic situations and practice strict safety standards.
From June 2013 to the present, 21
percent of new hires—approximately
600 people—have been veterans. Craig
Kramer, Veteran Talent Acquisition
Program Manager, notes: “Initiatives
such as the Employee Assistance
Program, our online military skills
matching tool and dedicated hiring
resources in Human Capital ensure
that military veterans in the Amtrak
family are fully supported.”
•
•
•
•
•
Veterans Hiring Initiative
Accomplishments
•
• Hired a veteran talent acquisition program manager to provide
•
current Amtrak
employees is a veteran
of the U.S. Armed Forces
45
veterans a specific point of contact
during the hiring process;
Created a team of dedicated
recruiters that works with military
professionals to understand their
skills experience and training;
Partnered with national organizations such as Hiring Our Heroes;
Attended more than 50 military hiring events since July 2013;
Established partnerships with
Military Transition Assistance
Program Offices, which help separating service members transition back
into civilian life;
Hosted the first Veterans Virtual
Hiring event on January 28, 2015;
Increased social media presence
focused on veterans; and
Created a specific veterans page on
the Amtrak Careers website.
Partnerships with
Military Transition
Assistance Program
Offices
INCREASED
SOCIAL
MEDIA
21%
JUNE 2013 TO PRESENT
of new hires
are Veterans
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May/June 2015
‘13
On track
%
25
GOAL
Amtrak Ink
‘14
‘15
ATTENDED
M I L I TA RY
Hiring events
50
+
PRESENCE
FOCUSED
ON
VETERANS
Veteran is NEC
Engineer in Training
Jeff Geozeff oversaw critical pieces
of our nation’s security while serving
with the U.S. Air Force. In a career
that spanned 24 years in the armed
forces, he served as chief at the Joint
Information Operations Warfare
Command and area desk officer at the
Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
Geozeff graduated from the Air Force
Academy and then pursued a master’s
degree in Aviation Safety before serving at various posts around the country
and overseas. Upon retirement,
Geozeff was looking for a challenging
career that also revolved around a personal passion—transportation.
“Amtrak seemed like a perfect fit.
I also appreciate the investment that
Amtrak has put into identifying and
supporting veterans as they transition
to rewarding careers in the civilian
world,” says Geozeff, who recently finished 10 weeks of rigorous training to
prepare him for work as an engineer on
Acela Express and Northeast Regional
trains. He must now complete approximately a year and a half of on-the-job
training designed to familiarize himself
with equipment, infrastructure and stations along the NEC before he assumes
the driver’s seat.
Asked why he chose Amtrak,
Geozeff says, “I remember my dad
always talking to me about trains as I
was growing up...Also, working with
complex engineering systems is something I’m familiar with.” It’s exactly
that kind of specialized training developed in the Air Force that makes
Geozeff a perfect match for the company. “A lot of my skill sets from the
Air Force translate very well to my
work now—especially a mission-oriented mindset and teamwork.”
Meet Craig Kramer: Amtrak Veteran Talent
Acquisition Program Manger
Craig Kramer, a former Senior Non-Commissioned
Officer in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard,
helps Amtrak identify and recruit top veteran talent. He
puts a background in education and human resources
to use in translating veterans’ military skills to job opportunities at Amtrak.
“Because military skills are so specialized, it often takes a veteran to understand what another veteran brings to the table.”
Kramer dedicates his time to getting the word out to potential veteran
hires that are retired or transitioning from military careers to careers in
the private sector. “I think that many veterans would feel right at home at
Amtrak. Military values are very similar to values on the railroad—leadership,
dependability, integrity and a commitment to excellence.”
Veterans can turn to Kramer for questions they may have or resources
they may need to thrive in their new positions. “We want to provide veteran
hires with support at the beginning of their application, all the way through
their careers here at Amtrak,” he explains.
Learn more about our veterans hiring initiative and find out about upcoming career fairs by following the @AmtrakVets Twitter handle.
Veteran Helps Streamline
Internal Processes
Antoinett Williams’s 11 year
career with the U.S. Coast Guard
touched on many different facets of
the military branch’s functions, from
marine safety to personnel management. As a Lean Six Sigma (LSS)
analyst in the Information Technology
department, Williams puts this unique
skill set to work analyzing systems for
maximum efficiency and minimum
waste.
“LSS was originally a manufacturing methodology that sought to
analyze how companies organized
themselves and their work,” she says.
“Tasks or procedures that are analyzed
using LSS principles are looked at
according to their effectiveness and
ways in which we can standardize them
to streamline efforts and save the company time and money.”
Williams serves as a mentor in the
LSS training process to employees in
various departments. She also applies
LSS principles to the Quality Control
Testing Process, which ensures that IT
functions are effectively supporting
Amtrak daily operations.
Williams says her experience in
the Coast Guard prepared her well for
work at Amtrak. “Both are large organizations with thousands of members,
and both deal with complex processes
and systems. My experiences in the
military translate very well to Amtrak,
and I’m excited to apply my skills
to supporting our company goals of
safety and security, financial excellence
and customer focus.” n
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Bulletin Board
Officer Jeremy Kosmac presented the Trejo
children with their own APD patches.
Making a Wish Come True at
Toledo Amtrak Train Days
Amtrak employees welcomed
two special guests from the Make-AWish program at Toledo Amtrak Train
Days: nine year old Tyler Trejo and
his 10-year-old brother Spencer. Both
boys were born with a life-threatening
genetic condition that causes premature
aging. Tyler is a major train enthusiast,
and through Make-A-Wish, he asked
for a train hobby room where he could
work on models. While Tyler and his
family recently enjoyed the Indianapolis
Lionel Train Convention, volunteers put
together his train room as a surprise. He
loves controlling the trains and working
on new models for his miniature city.
Tyler and Spencer attended
Toledo ATD with their parents and
two sisters. On Friday, the entire family toured the Amtrak Exhibit Train,
Superliner equipment, an Amtrak
locomotive and two freight locomotives. The kids were invited to go
inside one of the freight locomotives
where they rang the bell and blew the
whistle—leading to broad smiles all
around. Amtrak Police Officer Jeremy
Kosmac then presented each of the
kids with an Amtrak Police patch.
At the opening ceremony on
Saturday morning, Tyler and Spencer
were designated the official Train Day
Ambassadors. Goodie bags provided by
Amtrak, Norfolk Southern and Trinity
Transportation (the local Thruway bus
vendor) included engineer hats, model
train engines and posters. “It was an
honor to have Tyler and Spencer with
us for Amtrak Train Days,” says District
Station Manager II Dave Kuhn. “For
me and many others, it was the most
memorable Train Day ever.”
In celebration of Earth Day, Amtrak staff participated in a clean-up event organized by the
Environmental team in the Mantua neighborhood near Philadelphia 30th Street Station. Back row, l-r:
Kim Carter*, Maxwell Toth, Kelsey Gibbons, Jameson Harris*, Joanne Maxwell, Mary Bannan, Danelle
Hunter, Beth Termini, Donna Griffin* and Cecilia Kopp. Front row, l-r: Anthony DeDominicis, Christopher
Benson*, Laura Fotiou, Aaron Wright*, Jeffrey Keno* and Julius Brown* (*We Are Mantua! Employees)
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In Memoriam
Doras M. Briggs
July 4, 1918 – May 4, 2015
Doras M. Briggs,
96, of Emeryville,
Calif., passed away
on May 4, 2015.
Briggs was
a founding
member of the
Amtrak Customer
Advisory Committee, created
Photo by Greig Pirie
in 1997 to recommend service improvements and
enhancements on behalf of all Amtrak
passengers. In 2002, Amtrak honored
Briggs with a President’s Service and
Safety Award. It in part recognized
her work to create the Station Host
Association of California in 2001.
Joe McHugh, Senior Vice President
of Government Affairs and Corporate
Communications, recalls Briggs’s spirit:
“Back in 1996 or 1997, we were facing
some very challenging times on Capitol
Hill regarding long-distance trains. Senate
Commerce Committee staff asked if
there was someone who might be able to
testify and get people to think differently
about why these trains were important to
our country. Tim Gillespie, then our Vice
President of Government Affairs, had
met Doras and thought that there’d be no
finer person to speak. On her own dime,
she traveled across the country by train to
appear before the committee.
Well into her seventies, and dressed
in her host uniform, she gave one of the
most powerful presentations about the
importance of Amtrak, so that by the end
she had even some of our harshest critics
stumbling over themselves to praise her
and Amtrak. She made a difference that
day and every day she put on the uniform to help passengers. She was a dear
friend of mine and of this company, and
we will miss her very much.”
Our condolences to Doras’s family
and friends. n
Awards & Recognition
The winning Philadelphia 30th Street Facilities Team celebrates during an award ceremony.
30th Street Station Engineering
Subgroup Takes the Prize
On March 19, the Philadelphia 30th
Street Facilities Team was recognized
as the best among its Engineering
subgroup peers along the Northeast
Corridor (NEC) for Fiscal Year 2014
in meeting goals and budgets. During
a ceremony held at the station, team
members received plaques recognizing
their collective accomplishment. Team
leaders include Division Engineer Dan
Karczeski, Deputy Division Engineer
Bill Bentley, Manager Facilities-30th
Street Station Paul Roddy, Supervisor
John Brooks, Supervisor Justin
Jaworowski and ARSA Foreman 3
Glen Zolnierz.
All of the Engineering subgroups
along the NEC, including Track,
Bridges & Buildings, Communications
& Signaling and Electric Traction, were
evaluated on how well they met FY
2014 Engineering department goals,
which are closely aligned to the Amtrak
corporate goals of safety and security,
financial excellence and customer
service, as well as environmental stewardship and energy conservation. Areas
examined for each subgroup included
core expenses, capital expenses, absenteeism, movable bridge incidents,
Federal Railroad Administration equipment audits and energy consumption.
The 30th Street Station subgroup
earned the prize by meeting core
expenses within 0.01 percent of a $6
million budget, initiating the installation of new, cohesive, ADA-compliant
signage in the station (fully funded
by the Pennsylvania Department of
Transportation), installing a new 2.2
million gallon chiller and cooling
tower, completing major high-voltage
substation improvements and building
a new National Police Call Center.
Team members also undertook
numerous improvements to the public
areas of the historic station—the third
busiest in the national system—including restoration of the Great Hall ceiling
and marble replacement to eliminate
tripping hazards. Congratulations!
Progressive Railroading
Recognizes Amtrak Employee
Celia Ann Pfleckl, Amtrak Senior
Sustainability Manager, has been
named a “Rising Star” by Progressive
Railroading magazine for her work
to make Amtrak a more sustainability-conscious company. The honor
recognizes people under the age of 40
“who are making a positive difference
in railroading.”
Pfleckl joined Amtrak in July 2009
and is responsible for developing the
enterprise’s Sustainability Program.
One of her major initiatives was the
creation of the Amtrak Sustainability
Policy, which was approved in July
2013. She also oversees annual reports
to the Carbon Disclosure Project
and the company’s greenhouse gas
inventory, and is proud to have participated in projects to develop our first
Green Power Purchasing Policy and
to repower two switch locomotives
at the Ivy City Yard through a Diesel
Emissions Reduction Act grant.
Pfleckl co-chairs the Amtrak
Climate Change Strategy SubCommittee, which is charged with
developing cohesive climate change
strategies for the company and shaping
supporting programs, procedures and
initiatives. “I work with an amazing
group of individuals,” she says, “and
I’m proud of our efforts to familiarize
employees with the concept of sustainability and what it means for Amtrak.”
Following graduate studies in
chemical engineering and technology
management at Vanderbilt University,
Pfleckl entered the environmental consulting field. Early clients included CSX
and Conrail, thereby introducing her
to the railroad industry, and she later
managed several projects for Amtrak.
Asked to give advice to the next
generation of railroaders, Pfleckl
reflects: “Bring fresh ideas, but be willing to listen and understand the current
culture.” n
Celia Ann Pfleckl has been named a “Rising Star” in
the railroad industry.
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Employee Milestones
Congratulations to All of You!
Please note that the calculation for time of service was recently changed to account for breaks in service as outlined in Human
Capital Management Policy 7.28.2, Employee Recognition (Amtrak Intranet>Library>Policies>Amtrak Policy and Instruction
Manual>7.0 Human Capital Management). This may affect the date of your expected milestone.
20-Year
Anniversary
ROSA, HARRY
Southampton St. Yard
March 2015
SUTTON, WYMAN
Chicago Union Station
MOHLENHOFF,
RICHARD
New York Division HQ
VELTRI, MICHAEL
CNOC, Wilmington
25-Year
Anniversary
March 2015
AGUILAR, YVONNE
San Diego Station/
Mechanical
ANDREWS, LEITA
Wilmington Station
BOONE, GARY
Los Angeles 8th St.
Coach Yard
CANSELO, PAUL
Pelham Tower
COWAN, LILIANA
Los Angeles Offices
EIGHMY, STEVEN
Providence MOW Base
GINYARD, CRAIG
NY Penn Station
HEBERT, PATRICIA
New Orleans Station
LANERS, JOHNNY
Beech Grove Material
Control Facility
MENDEZ, JOE
Kansas City Station
MONTGOMERY,
DARRELL
Miami Mechanical
Yard
MORALES, JUAN
WRSCC, Riverside,
Calif.
MURPHY, RONALD
New York Penn Station
QUIROZ, JOSEPH
Chicago Mech. &
Terminal Offices
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ZINNO, MICHAEL
New York Division HQ
35-Year
Anniversary
CANADIATE,
GESSNER
Orlando Station
LEWIS, MICHAEL
Union Station
Washington, D.C.
25-Year
Anniversary
CHESTER, GARY
Flagstaff, Ariz., Station
LOWE, NICHOLAS
Chicago Mech. &
Terminal Offices
ANDERSON, DAVID
Orlando Station
CLARK-WALCZAK,
NANCY
Raleigh, N.C., Offices
CONNELL, JOSEPH
30th Street Station
MANNING, PATRICIA
New York Division HQ
MURPHY, RICHARD
Rensselaer, N.Y.,
Station
April 2015
BELL, BARBARA
Chicago Mech. &
Terminal Offices
COBURN, JAMES
Miami Station
March 2015
DAVENPORT,
MARCITA
MARSCC, Philadelphia
DAVIS, DANNY
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
DEBELLIS, FRANK
Los Angeles
Commissary
PEARSON, RICHARD
Auto Train Lorton
Station
GALES, GLENN
Washington Union
Station
DETRICK, MICHELE
Wilmington Shops
SALZMAN, THOMAS
Paoli, Pa., Station
FERTIG, RICHARD
Denver Station
DORRIS, JACK
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
SEARS, MARCIA
Seattle Transportation
Bldg.
FRENCH, ROBERT
New Haven Station
EDLER, KARL
Transportation Bldg.
Washington, D.C.
SMITH, MARY
LOUISE
MARSCC, Philadelphia
FUNK, OMAR
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
TOLLIVER, KEITH
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
FURLOW, RONALD
Mechanical Office
TORRES, JOE
Los Angeles Offices
GRIFFITH, RANDY
T&E Crew Base - Ft
Worth
TRACHTENBERG,
GAIL
30th Street Station
HALL, SHERMAN
Merced, Calif., Station
WELSH, STANLEY
Los Angeles Offices
HERRELL, GLEN
Ivy City Maint. Facility
ZUSIS, ISAAK
Chicago Locomotive
Shop
HERRON, TIMOTHY
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
MCKISSICK, LARRY
Chicago Mech. &
Terminal Offices
RENTMEESTERS,
GREGORY
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
SNODGRASS,
MICHAEL
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
40-Year
Anniversary
March 2015
VAN LENTEN, MARK
Williamsburg, Va.,
Station
Retirees
HILLBLOM, BRUCE
Chicago Offices
HURD, WILLIAM
Baltimore Station
March 2015
INGERSOLL, JOEL
New York Division HQ
BARTON, DONNA
Boston South Station
JOHNSON, PAMELA
Bear Car Shop
CALVIN, CYNTHIA
Los Angeles Offices
LAPAN, LEV
Brighton Park Facility
May/June 2015
Amtrak Ink
ODOM, CONNIE
Bear Car Shop
COOPER, TIMOTHY
T&E Crew Base,
Ft. Worth
DOWD, ARTHUR
New Haven Station
GREENE,
BENNEDETTE
30th Street Station
JACKSON, RENEE
10 G Street,
Washington, D.C.
KEIM, KATHRYN
30th Street Station
LUU, JOHN
Boston South Station
MEW, WILLIAM
New York Division HQ
MONTESANO,
GEORGE
Rensselaer Station
MORAN, THOMAS
Ivy City Maint. Facility
20-Year
Anniversary
NEAL, MICHAEL
New Haven Station
April 2015
RAM, DAIWANAMAH
30th Street Station
BENJAMIN, DALE
Wilmington Shops
SADLER, MARK
Salt Lake City Crew
Base
GRAY, HERBERT
30th Street Station
KANE, ROBERT
30th Street Station
SKEENS,
GWANTONAMO
Southampton St. Yard
Employee Milestones
Congratulations to All of You!
SLAY, JESSIE
New York Penn Station
SNOWDEN, JEFF
Oakland Station
TEGTMAN, WILLIAM
Chicago Crew Base
THOMAS, CONSUELA
30th Street Station
VATSEND, DONALD
Salt Lake City Station
WILMOT, ROXANNE
REA Bldg, Washington,
D.C.
ZEMAITIS, SANDRA
Chicago Union Station
ZIPOLI, GERARD
Miami Mechanical
Yard
30-Year
Anniversary
April 2015
DILL, SUZANNE
CNOC, Wilmington
MCCALLION, JOSEPH
Rensselaer, N.Y.,
Station
TOLLERTON, LEONARD
Rensselaer Mech.
Facility
VARGAS, HERMINIO
Los Angeles Offices
WHEELER, PAMELA
30th Street Station
35-Year
Anniversary
CUBELLO, PATRICK
Odenton, Md.,
M/W Base
SAPPINGTON, JOHN
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
DALE, GREGORY
Wilmington Shops
Retirees
FLOTTE, MARIO
WRSCC, Riverside,
Calif.
FREYMAN, MARK
30th Street Station
GRAVES, PAULA
CNOC, Wilmington
IRISH, DAVID
New York Division HQ
COLLINS, STEPHANIE
New York Penn Station
FLEMMING, RALEIGH
New York Penn Station
SCOTT, ROBERT
Transportation Bldg.,
Washington, D.C.
GILSON, DAVID
Conn DOT Commuter
GONZALEZ, ENRIQUE
New York Division HQ
SPENCE, NANCY
MARSCC, Philadelphia
JEZYK, TIMOTHY
Wilmington Shops
GILL, RICHARD
T&E Toledo Crew Base
THOMPSON, CHET
Conn DOT Commuter
MARION, JEFFREY
Wilmington Shops
GOMER, DAVID
30th Street Station
WATERMAN, MICHAEL
Depew, N.Y., Station
PRATHER, DONALD
30th Street Station
HANSEN, PATRICIA
CNOC, Wilmington
WEBSTER, BRIAN
30th Street Station
SMITH, GREGORY
Ivy City Maint. Facility
HONER, RAYMOND
Lancaster, Pa., Station
TIFFITH, LEE
Los Angeles Offices
JOHNSON, SHIRLEY
New Orleans Maint.
Facility
WELCHKO, RICHARD
Chicago Locomotive
Shop
MAKOWSKE,
RONALD
30th Street Station
UNGAR, NANCY
WRSCC, Riverside,
Calif.
VAN SANT, KEITH
CNOC, Wilmington
April 2015
HOFF, JOSEPH
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
JORDON-CLUGSTON,
MARIE
Davis, Calif., Station
KAPLAN, PHILIP
New York Division HQ
KEITH, DAVID
30th Street Station
KOPROSKE, FRANK
Chicago Mech. &
Terminal Offices
KOZMEL, THOMAS
Chicago Union Station
LECH, LORRAINE
30th Street Station
MILENBAUGH, DAVID
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
MACMICHAEL, JOHN
10 G Street,
Washington, D.C.
OSBURN, STEVEN
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
MAGERS, DONALD
W. Oakland Maint.
Facility
CHITTENDEN, KEVIN
Rensselaer, N.Y. Station
ROSE, MARK
Amtrak Corporate HQ
STUMPE, WILLIAM
Chicago Locomotive
Shop
40-Year
Anniversary
CHILDS, LESLIE
C&S HQ, Wilmington
BUTLER, BEN
Auto Train Sanford
Station
BLAKE, DONNA
Ivy City Maint. Facility
Washington, D.C.
ELLIS, BERNARD
30th Street Station
DESTEFANO,
ELIZABETH
30th Street Station
KERSHAW, WILLIAM
NW Base,
New Brunswick, N.J.
BASILE, MARIO
30th Street Station
CARY, JOHN
30th Street Station
BEHRENS, GARY
Springfield Station
POWELL, JEFFREY
Perryville, Md.,
M/W Base
SPISAK, WILLIAM
Chicago Mech. &
Terminal Offices
April 2015
CALLAN, WILLIAM
30th Street Station
BASORE, JONATHAN
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
PAGE, MICHELE
Chicago Union Station
DALY, SEAN
New York Sunnyside
Yard
KATZ, LINDA
New York Penn Station
WIEDMAN, DOUGLAS
C&S Construction,
Linden, N.J.
BRAITHWAITE,
DOUGLAS
Hunter Yard
April 2015
O’BRIEN, WILLIAM
Southampton St. Yard
KOVALESKI, KEITH
Trenton Station
LEEN, THOMAS
Pontiac, Mich.
Crew Base
LENOX, DONALD
Trenton Station
NGUYEN, THANH
Boston South Station
OPPONG, LINDA
New York City Office
PARKINSON, ERIC
Sacramento Station
PARMAR,
SUKHCHAIN
New York Penn Station
20-Year
Anniversary
May 2015
RUIZ, SALVADOR
New York Division HQ
CONYERS, SEAN
30th Street Station
TESNO, HAROLD
New York Division HQ
KREYSKOP, VLADIMIR
30th Street Station
TURCOL, LINDA
Wilmington Shops
LOCKARD, DARIN
Lancaster, Pa., Station
VIRGIL, TOD
Niles, Mich., Station
MEINARD
YEARWOOD, MARGIA
Baltimore Penn Station
WHALEN, KATHLEEN
30th Street Station
WILLIAMSON, GEORGE
New York Division HQ
25-Year
Anniversary
May 2015
BEATTIE, ROBERT
30th Street Station
Amtrak Ink
WILSON, SCOTT
Rensselaer, N.Y. Station
A continuation of
May anniversaries
will appear in the
July issue of Ink.
May/June 2015
|
19
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Washington, D.C. 20002
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In Amtrak History
•
JUNE 12, 1993
On this date, Amtrak officially dedicated the Western Reservation Sales
Contact Center (then known as the
Western Reservation Sales Office) in
Riverside, Calif.; the first call was received
the next day. The WRSCC was established
in 1971 in Seattle; it later moved to San
Francisco and then Los Angeles where it
remained for almost two decades. In 1990
the Amtrak Board of Directors approved
capital funds for the purchase of land
and construction of a new call center in
Riverside.
Between the WRSCC and the MidAtlantic Reservation Sales Contact Center
in Philadelphia, Amtrak can answer customer questions and take reservations
for train travel 24 hours a day, 365 days of
the year. In Fiscal Year 2014, the contact
centers handled almost 10 million calls
and booked revenue of approximately
$517 million. In addition to calls from the
public, employees handle email inquiries,
respond to social media and send out
train notices to passengers impacted by an
event.
Learn more about Amtrak
history by visiting
History.Amtrak.com