The
Dispatch The newsletter for Watco
January 2024
Table of Contents Greens Port Toy Drive a Success______________________________________________________________________3 Message from Watco CEO Dan Smith _______________________________________________________________ 4 St. Charles Industrial Rail Connects with Local High Schools__________________________________________5 Resolve to Get (All Kinds of) Fit_____________________________________________________________________6-7 Three Team Members Recognized as Difference Makers ___________________________________________8-9 Watco Christmas Train______________________________________________________________________________ 10 Watco by the Numbers_____________________________________________________________________________ 11 New Arrivals ________________________________________________________________________________________ 11 Team Member Anniversaries______________________________________________________________________12-13
Highlights
We are always looking for stories about our Watco team members to feature in The Dispatch, Watco’s monthly newsletter. If you think you might have an interesting story to share, please contact the Marketing team at marketing@watco.com with your idea.
2 The Dispatch | January 2024
On the Cover
The Wisconsin Southern Railroad plows through fresh snow on a winter day. Photographer: Danny Kucej
Safety Anniversaries
December 1 -Pittsburg Maintenance and Repair Terminal (KS) - 16 years December 1 - Swan Ranch Railroad (WV) - 12 years December 2 - Watco Dock & Rail - 2 years December 5 - Seadrift Industrial Rail (TX) - 1 year December 12 - Elizabeth Dedicated Terminal (NJ) - 1 year December 15 - Memphis Channel Avenue Marine Terminal (TN) - 7 years December 17 -Decatur River Port (AL) - 7 years December 20 - Guntersville (AL) - 7 years December 20 - Alabama Warrior Railroad (AL) - 4 years December 22 - Ferndale Dedicated Terminal (WA) - 1 year December 23 - Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad (IL, IN) - 1 year December 29 - Glendale Transload Terminal (AZ) - 1 year December 30 - Coffeyville Maintenance and Repair Terminal (KS) - 3 years
Greens Port Toy Drive a Success Greens Port team members recently raised funds and purchased toys for local grade school students at Woodland Acres Elementary. This is the team’s latest effort in giving back to the neighborhood they work in and that many call home.
January 2024 | The Dispatch 3
Watco Team: For many of us, the beginning of a new year marks a time that we reflect. You think about what’s been working. You think about what’s not working. You set plans for how to improve. As we kick off 2024, we should all feel very thankful for the position that the Watco team is in. We serve more customers than we ever have before, we provide more services than we ever have before, and we do it safer than we ever have before. When I think about the depth and breadth of what we do, I also think about how we’re going to continue to do it better each day. To continue our success, and to reach even greater heights, we’re going to have to keep things simple and – Do What Matters. So, what matters? This should be a short list: Take care of those around you, provide world-class service to your customers, and get home safely. It doesn’t have to be more complicated than that. As you move through each day, I’d ask that you do a few things.
• Prioritize. Don’t say yes to everything. Ask yourself, “Is this business-critical?” “Does this create value for the Watco team and our customers?” If not, put it lower on your list.
• Stay focused. It’s incredibly easy to be distracted these days. We have texts, emails, and other messages coming at us all the time. When you’re bombarded, get rid of the noise. Go back to your core list. Do what matters.
• Boil things down to the essentials. If we can simplify and get down to what matters, our customers will succeed, and our business will continue to grow. I’m looking forward to a focused, safe, and productive 2024 with the best team in the industry. Dan Smith Watco CEO
4 The Dispatch | January 2024
St. Charles Industrial Rail Connects with Local High Schools St. Charles Industrial Rail recently hosted some special visitors. Twenty local high school seniors toured the Louisiana industrial rail facility, where they met and learned about operations from maintenance of way and switching team members, as well as General Manager Shaun Maurin. Starting this winter, three students will return to St. Charles Industrial Rail to begin semester-long internships. The students will learn about Watco’s culture and railroad safety as well as pick up knowledge by shadowing the track, rail, and locomotive teams. Maurin said, “Our partnership with local high schools has been beneficial for everyone involved. Students get to see what we do every day. And we get to introduce a new generation to switching and railroading.”
January 2024 | The Dispatch 5
Resolve to Get (All Kinds of)
In a March 2023 poll, Forbes found that improving mental health was the most common New Year’s resolution, followed by improved fitness, losing weight, improving dietary habits, and improving finances. If any of these is in your plan for the new year, Watco is here to support you. Check out these resources and start checking off your 2024 goals! Improve mental health. These two services are free to all team members and their dependents. • New Directions. This resource has phone, text, online, and face-to-face options to lighten your
Resolutions Poll
mental load when it comes to personal, legal, and
Improved Mental Health
45%
financial matters. Download the New Directions EAP app, or go to their website and select EAP
Improved Fitness
39%
Weight Loss
37%
Members. Use the company code “Watco.” Use their online training webinars, or connect with someone for coaching or counseling. The New
Improved Diet
33%
Directions number is (800) 624-5544.
Improved Finances
30%
• First Stop Health. Another place to find
0
10
20
30
Forbes March 2023 Poll 6 The Dispatch | January 2024
40
50
counselors is through the First Stop Health app or by calling (888) 691-7867.
Improve Fitness, Lose Weight, Improve Diet. The first two services listed are for those enrolled in a Watco health insurance plan. • My Health Novel – Get the Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Toolkit app or go online. Look under Benefits for My Health Novel, which has resources for weight management. • BCBS Discounts – In the BCBS toolkit, under Resources, see Blue365®. Blue365’s many resources include discounts on things like fitness centers, and it offers wearable health trackers by Fitbit, Garmin, and others. Blue365 also features weight loss and nutrition programs. • New Directions. Seek out free healthy recipes through New Directions. Look in their Health Resource Library for the Recipes tile. Improve Finances. We have resources to help your financial health. • New Directions. New Directions has a large library of resources for all team members. And you can call 800-624-5544 for a free, 30-minute financial consultation. • BOK Financial. Use their app, Start Right, or sign in through their website. Besides being the place to see your 401(k), this is where you’ll find articles, videos, and calculators related to investing, tax planning, retirement planning, and more. • SmartShopper. For those with health insurance through Watco, there’s a new SmartShopper tool that went into effect January 1. As you make health care choices, take advantage of this tool to save money. By using eligible tests and facilities, you can earn cash rewards. Find SmartShopper in the BCBS toolkit. Select “Find Care” and search to compare pricing and more. Team members can also call the concierge line at (888) 355-0080 for assistance in searching and scheduling appointments. Here’s one more resolution to consider. Stop Using Tobacco. The BCBS toolkit offers help. • Quit for Life. Under Wellness, see Quit for Life. Their contact information is (866) QUIT-4-LIFE (866-784-8454) or quitnow.net.
These annual health screenings are covered at 100% if you’re part of a Watco health plan:
• Annual checkup • Annual blood work/labs • Mammogram
• Colonoscopy • Vaccinations • Dental exam and cleaning
An annual eye exam is also a good idea. With Watco vision coverage, an eye exam is a covered expense, with a copay. January 2024 | The Dispatch 7
Three Team Members Recognized as Difference Makers
What does it take to make an impact at Watco? We’re thrilled to announce the final Be the Difference winners of 2023: Kyle Moore, Joely Gath-Phelps, and Garrett Ferree. Each award recipient receives $250 for their outstanding efforts. “These team members represent Watco’s values to a T,” said Watco CEO Dan Smith. “In 2024, let’s remember to continue to do what matters: value our customers and one another while always prioritizing safety.”
8 The Dispatch | January 2024
One Watco Award - Given to an individual or group of team members whose teamwork generates an exceptional result
2024
for a Watco customer. Customers and team members can count on Transportation Coordinator Kyle Moore. Most recently, he was there to help a customer fulfill a last-minute delivery request that came in after hours, over a holiday weekend. Kyle Moore Watco Logistics Springdale (AR)
Keep reading to learn how he makes a difference.
Extra Mile Award - Given to an individual or a group of team members who go above and beyond the call of duty at work
2024
or in the community. The team in Pittsburg, Kansas, credits Joely Gath-Phelps for routinely bringing them together. She’s known for regularly organizing food drives and spirit weeks, and even led Watco’s return to Corporate Challenge in 2023. Joely Gath-Phelps Revenue and Contracts Pittsburg (KS)
Read more to learn more about our newest Extra Mile Award winner.
Safe Performance Award - Given to an individual or group of team members who take action to ensure safety for fellow
2024
team members, customers, suppliers, or property. Garrett Ferree has only been on the team for a year, but Terminal Manager Nick Marshall already considers him an expert transload operator. To date, Ferree’s maintained a perfect safety record moving commodities from railcar to truck. Garrett Ferree Crafton Transload Terminal (PA)
Check out how he keeps a constant focus on safety at the terminal.
Q1 2024 Be the Difference award nominations now open through March 1. Nominate a team member at watco.com/btd or email btd@watco.com.
January 2024 | The Dispatch 9
Watco Christmas Train Nearly 600 Crawford County, Kansas, first-grade students, teachers, and staff recently rode the annual Christmas Express. Santa, Mrs. Claus, and one of their elves joined the South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad and Pittsburg office teams to host train rides on Dec. 7. The train departed Pittsburg and traveled several miles out of town and back, while the students got Christmas cookies, sang carols, and had their tickets punched by Heart of the Heartlands Train Club members. This was the largest group of students Watco’s hosted for these rides.
10 The Dispatch | January 2024
Watco by the Numbers
Watco by the Numbers Watco is a single-source transportation and supply chain services company. We own and operate a diverse network of short line railroads, terminals, and ports. We are uniquely equipped to serve any market and solve any challenge.
TERMINALS & PORTS
TRANSPORTATION
8,250
78
Track Miles
Track Miles
45
Railroads
38
23
29
Marine Terminals
1.1M
Railroad
Carloads
Contract Switching Operations
Carloads Moved Annually
Terminals & Ports
17
Transload Terminals
Dedicated Terminals
REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE
LOGISTICS
$500M 25,000+ 27
Freight Under Management
11 4
Licensed Motor Carriers Under Contract
Locations with Nationwide Coverage Global Network
Listed as an A&A top 25 3PL Supply Chain Provider
Repair and Railcar Repair Terminals Maintenance
Railcar Repair Shops
4
Mobile Repair Units
3
Dedicated Repair Sites
INDUSTRIES SERVED
SAFETY ALWAYS
use this link to get the most updated #s
Dedicated Safety Training Center
• State-of-the-art training simulators • On-site, hands-on training • Equipping people to work more safely and efficiently Safely Improve
Agriculture
Wind Energy
Contact Us
Waste
Oil/Gas
Automotive
Chemical
Retail
Construction
Coal
Lumber
Steel
Every Day
2022 ASLRRA RAILROAD SAFETY AWARDS
1
President's Safety Award
23
Jake Awards with Distinction
4
Jake Awards
watco.com
New Arrivals Lydia Michelle Vandeventer Jackson Vandeventer and Cierra Hall announce the birth of their daughter, Lydia Michelle Vandeventer, born on December 1, 2023. Lydia weighed 6 pounds, 9.1 ounces, and was 20.5 inches long. Jackson works as a conductor/engineer for the Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad in Charleston, Illinois.
January 2024 | The Dispatch 11
Team Member Anniversaries Congratulations to the following team members celebrating January anniversaries: 1 Year:
Kameron Anderson, Amos Archer, John Beazley, Danny Bosquez, Chad Brinker, Joshua Brown, Christopher Cafiero, Raul Carbajal, Patrick Christy, Derek Davis, Gunnar Davis, Anthony DeGood, Oscar Delgado, Jake Dellasega, Jeremiah Dodd, Miguel Dominguez, Noah Downs, Tyler Dzierzek, Darrell Espinoza, Todd Fisher, Jason Fitzgerald, Ricardo Fuentes, Jason Gaca, Margarito Garcia, Odalis Garcia Corrales, Keri Garris, Antonio Gonzalez, Ryan Graciano, Ryan Gutowski, Mason Hair, Jacob Hamilton, Fredrick Heldreth, John Howsden, James Hutchinson, Nathaniel Kelly, Shane Kessel, Calvin Klein, Arturo Ledezma, Michael Leftwich, Jaime Lepez, Jason Lessard, James McCree, Luis Medina, Garrett Medlin, Caitlyn Michon, Ashley Miller, Herman Miller, Miguel Molina, Robert Motley, Phillip Moxley, Juan Munguia, Monique Murphy, Eric Negrete, Kareem Nester, Keaton Nichols, Luke O’Dwyer, Martin Page, Colin Pell, Anissa Pierce, Anthony Prince, Marquis Proctor, Molly Puffler, Jesus Quintero, Hayden Rake, Thomas Rhame, Craig Robbins, Jacory Robinson, Tama Robinson, Andrew Ronquillo, Dominic Rossini, Stephen Rowe, Halston Ryan, Jose Saavedra, Jose Saavedra Jr, Joseph Salvator, Tessa Shaw, Dantrell Romont Smith, Jason Sosa, Genesis Soto, Tyler Stapleton, Kelvin Taper, Bryan Turner, Christopher Viles, Luis Villafan, Casey Westwood, Emily Wieczorek, Jason Wilbanks, Terran Wilkerson, Bradley Wofford, Terry Woodley 12 The Dispatch | January 2024
2 Years:
Paul Anderson, Dwain Arview, Joshua Becker, Brian Blackburn, Blake Bosworth, Daniel Brisbane, Alex Brown, Noah Burgess, James Carpenter, Dusten Coleman, Cory Collins, Scott Commins, Calvin Coutee, Angela Crum, Pablo Cruz, Jeffrey DiCorpo, Melisa Douglas, Trevor Drake, Luke Elliott, Marc Galindo, George Garrity, Ethan Goodger, Riley Hampton, Leo Harron, Mark Hazelton, Philip Hensley, Fatima Hernandez, Gonzalo Ibarra, Steven Jolganovski, Raymond Jones, Eric Kapusta, Benjamin Krkovski, Travis Kroker, Stephen Kronenburg, David Lumpkins, Robert Luster, Bruce McFadden, Barry Morrison, Artavius Moses, Adrian Nettlefold, Nicholas Ochman, Alejandro Pena, Karim Perez, Victor Perez, Sean Philbrick, David Piccirillo, Nick Pillow, Clayton Prewitt, Natalie Roberts, Rene Rodriguez, Glenn Ryan, Shenekia Sanders, Zachary Shiever, Colton Smith, Trevor Sparkes, Aubrey Strange, Anthony Whipple, Alex Wied, Brandy Williams, Larry Williams, Scott Charles Woods, Scott Darran Woods, Paul Wright
3 Years:
Brandon Carver, James Cowling, Chad Cumberland, Michael Denny, Victor Figueroa, Kevin Hickerson, Calvin Holmes, Cory Holmes, Philip Huttmann, Jaroslav Jirasek, James Mahoney, Francisco Moreno, Aaron Patterson, Mathew Pirihi, Raymond Plain, Samuel Sedillo
4 Years:
Jamie Babetch, Francisco Bassols, Matthew Beard, Dereck Brown, Jeffery Cornett, Thomas Fenton, Kyle Forsman, Stephen Fulton, Andrew Hanretty, Wendell Held, Gary Li, Melissa Mansfield, Justin Piland, Reandell Poindexter, Charles Polach, Humberto Rojas Zuniga, Dustin Sellars, Todd Stimpson, Kelly Stringer, Andre Wheaton, Zest Wilson, Joe Wyse
5 Years:
Alberto Cervantes, Deante Converse, Norman Dishman, Brandon Douglas, Michael Foyle, Curtis Frazier, Dani Gosch, Kayla Jensen, Russell Johnston, Devin Jurs, Paul Lewis, Carlos Lopez, Franklin Palomo, Dan Peak, Alexander Rodriguez, Michael Schwartz, Sami Taha, John Thomas, Joe Torres III, Menno Valkenborg, Kevin Vanhoozer, Kevin Webb
6 Years:
Jonathan Audsley, Jamaar Benton, Mark Bonar, Donald Brayman, DeAnne Burdick, Jose Cardoza, Gabriel Chavez, Julio Diaz, Andrew Dill, Anthony Escobar, Sam Gardner, Nolan George, Jody Hyndshaw, Marissa Jordan, Carl Joseph, James Nettleton, Scottie Shafer, Jaime Velasco
7 Years:
Jennifer Alons, Brenton Andrew, Derek Batterton, Justin Cole, Cooper Cose, Stephen Dominguez, Tremayne Duncan, Joel Foster, Troy Frank, Johnny Garza, Matthew Gordon, Tyler Hamilton, Esteban Hernandez,
Team Member Anniversaries Christopher Hunley, Isaac Jaramillo, Shawna Mateo, Laura McNichol, James Riggs, Bonifacio Vieyra
8 Years:
Michael Aleknewicus, Joshua Breth, William Ethridge, Sue King, Justin Marr, Lance McHan, Adam Pope, Dan Roth, Richard Wampler, Ryan Yanez
9 Years:
Melissa Amaya, Mike Berry, Nathaniel Burke, Daniel Coiner, Corey Crutchfield, Edis Cruz, Jorge Dela Torre, Archie Fields, Patrick Forbes, David Fugge, Brittany Hodge, Jesus Ibarra, Amy Iori, Keith Lacaze, Jordan Vasquez, Solomon Watkins, Marcus Wiley
10 Years:
Luther Boothe, Nick Coomes, Richardjames Drummondo, Amanda Haggerty, George Hutchinson, Casey Lorbiecki, Laura McKinney, Juan Moreno, Jessica Nielson, Brad Peot, Eric Rahmaan, Theodore Savage, Perry Thomas, Jonathan Thompson
11 Years:
Michael Barajas, Robert Campbell, Gregory Ferguson, Jaime Henry, Travis Luinstra, Kevin Martin, Ronald Seevers, Tina Swallow, Joseph Whitaker, Cyle Windsor
12 Years:
Peter Black , Christopher Ellis, Justin Haisch, Dean Harris, Danelle Kenny, Russell Koczur, Curtis Nobis
13 Years:
Daniel Caine, Jesse Garrett, Kevin Grant, Daniel Harkness, Miranda Kichler, Steve Rodriguez
14 Years:
23 Years:
Kenneth Parkin
26 Years:
Melvin Davis
Eric Bowlin, Rolando Cantero, Seth Morris, Angel Vazquez
28 Years:
15 Years:
29 Years:
James Carter, Joe Martinez, Servando Mendez
16 Years:
John King, Charles Lambert, Jonathan Mihalic, Robert Ward
17 Years:
Melissa Faughn, Kevin Gonzales, Jason Green, Jean Guerrier, Steve Iseli, Herman Lewis, Frank Nichols
18 Years:
Thomas Addison, Derek Brown, Johnny Fields, Michael Gray, Robert Gray, Anthony Kirkland, Joshua Leslie
19 Years:
Matt Heeren, Santos Polanco, Timothy Watson
Billy Gathright
Shannon Knisley
32 Years:
Michael Beatty, John Pond
34 Years:
William Gast
47 Years:
Tex Inman
20 Years:
Gary Griswold
21 Years:
Patrick Peabody
22 Years:
Jonathan Evans, Michael McGee, Leon Odom, Samuel Winegarner
January 2024 | The Dispatch 13
