The
Dispatch The newsletter for Watco
June 2022
Table of Contents Safety Anniversaries __________________________________________________________________________________ 3 Safe Performance Center Ceremony __________________________________________________________________ 3 Handling Sand Just Got Easier for Watco’s Decatur River Port Team ___________________________________ 4 Oil and Gas Industry Honors Watco Team Member _____________________________________________________ 5 TrackMaster Is One Cool Tool _________________________________________________________________________ 6 Southern Team Members Complete TSIC Training in Louisiana _______________________________________ 7 Switch Operators Move Record Number of Railcars __________________________________________________ 8 Your Go-To Resource for Benefits ______________________________________________________________________ 9 Watco’s 2022 Scholarship Recipients _______________________________________________________________ 10-11 Watco’s 2022 Graduates __________________________________________________________________________ 12-13 Team Member Anniversaries _______________________________________________________________________ 14-15
Highlights
On the Cover The
Dispatch The newsletter for Watco
Celebrate the Red, White, and Blue With a Watco T-shirt Order now through June 7 on watcogear.com Shirt sales benefit the United Service Organizations, Inc. Toddler and Youth S-L: $12 Adults XS-XL: $15
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Adults 2XL-5XL: $18
June 2022
The New Johnsonville Dedicated Terminal team uses its new electric material handler to a barge. The new equipment will save more than 10,000 gallons of diesel and reduce carbon emissions by 112 tons, annually. Photo by Derek Damesworth.
Safety Anniversaries May 2 – Blue Ridge Southern Railroad (BLU) – 1 year May 20 – Blytheville Marine Terminal (AR) – 5 years May 21 – Cincinnati Marine Terminal – 8 years May 22 – Pittsburg Transload Terminal – 5 years May 26 – Louisville River Road Marine Terminal – 2 years
Safe Performance Center Ceremony
From left to right: Watco AVP of Government and Industry Relations Ken Lucht, Rep. Rod Scott, Sen. Dan Roberts, Watco CEO Dan Smith, Watco SVP of Environmental Health and Safety Travis Herod, and Birmingham Business Alliance President and COO Emily Jerkins.
Watco recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the newly expanded Safe Performance Center in Fairfield, Alabama. The expanded center now features a new 11,000-square-foot building, equipped with multiple classrooms, a conference room, and a locomotive simulation lab. June 2022 | The Dispatch 3
Handling Sand Just Got Easier for Watco’s Decatur River Port Team A new stacker-conveyor system operating at the Decatur River Port in northern Alabama is creating efficiencies and being kinder to the environment. Six conveyors and a radial telescopic stacker were ordered to accommodate new business acquired in January 2021 from a sand customer. The system components were ordered from Masaba in South Dakota in March of 2021 and were due to arrive several months later. Meanwhile, the terminal used three dump trucks, two excavators, and two loaders to transport and stockpile the sand. When the conveyor system finally arrived in November 2021, one set of conveyors was damaged. After coordinating repairs with Masaba and an electrician, and working on the installation between freight shipments, the system was completed in April 2022. The new equipment has freed up all three dump trucks, one excavator, and one loader for use elsewhere. Without those five pieces of equipment involved, “it’s a lot less handling of the sand,” said Terminal Manager Donnie Gunter, “which is a lot less emissions on that product transfer. And we expect it to be more efficient.” The new system is on wheels. It has three 60-foot and three 70-foot conveyor belts, each 36 inches wide, that extend upward at an angle, carrying sand up to the stacker, which releases it into a stockpile. The team is still getting used to the new equipment, but is already thinking about modifications for improvement. “It’s still brand new to us,” said Gunter. “But we want to add feeder hoppers to the conveyors to make the sand flow better,”. “I think the way it can stack, it’s going to be a big deal after we make sure we have everything like it needs to be.” 4 The Dispatch | June 2022
Curtis Olson, measurement specialist
Oil and Gas Industry Honors Watco Team Member Curtis Olson, a measurement specialist based at Greens Port, recently received a Citation for Service certificate from the oil and gas industry for his role as chair of a committee creating a standard for tank car calibration. These awards are given to members of the American Petroleum Institute (API) who achieve larger than normal goals for bringing API standards up to date or who take on key roles in getting standards over the finish line and published for the industry. Olson led the committee responsible for the major task of bringing the tank car document, written in the 1960s, up to current industry standards.
Don’t Procrastinate, Nominate Be the Difference award nominations accepted through June 30
watco.com/btd June 2022 | The Dispatch 5
TrackMaster Is One Cool Tool There’s a group of Watco team members, skilled in information technology, who are behind the proprietary software applications created for Watco team members and customers. Whether it’s Roam, CrewConnect, Dock, or others, these applications save time, money, and headaches. In this and future issues of The Dispatch, we’ll look at a few key apps and those who help design, implement, and maintain them. This time, it’s TrackMaster. Isn’t the right tool just the best? Like the all-in-one gizmo that cuts open and slices an avocado, and removes the seed if you like. Or a cordless drill. (A cordless anything, really.) One cool tool at Watco is TrackMaster, a software app that maintenance of way (MOW) inspectors use to check Watco-operated track and switches, and log any issues. Watco’s U.S. railroads must meet or exceed the standards established by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Inspectors carry iPads and log their name, location information like the subdivision and milepost, whether they’re on foot or using a hi-rail vehicle, and other details. If they find an issue, they can record it by checking a box in a drop-down menu of exceptions. TrackMaster contains nearly 300 FRA exception codes for logging issues with track condition, alignment, and more. As a Canadian property, the Agawa Canyon Railroad has its own drop-down list of exceptions in TrackMaster, required by Transport Canada. TrackMaster keeps track of it all. Until a few months ago, an older and less-efficient version of TrackMaster had been in place since 2006. “Before,” said Josh Williams, roadmaster at the Alabama Southern Railroad (ABS), “it was doing a paper log in the field or they had a notepad — something they could write on. At the end of the day, they’d have to go through the track management system, locate defect codes, and enter those. It was probably a 30-minute process.” Williams and others at the ABS helped pilot the new TrackMaster app last fall. “Now, since we have the iPads, there’s no paper,” Williams said. “They’re entering their reports as they’re performed. All they have to do when they get to the office is hit ‘print.’ So the convenience aspect is well beyond what we had been experiencing.” With TrackMaster, inspectors make entries in real time. They can search for key words like “tie” or “gauge” to narrow down the list of codes. Or they can type in a familiar code series number like “121” for rail joints or “133” for switches to help narrow down the selections. “You can go with a code or a keyword,” said Jason Jewell, an inspector at the ABS. “You’re a lot less likely to miss anything. It’s faster, it’s simpler, it’s easy.” “Our goal in building this system was to make it more accurate and mobile,” said Bekah Garner, who helped implement TrackMaster. “The roadmaster doesn’t have to review every inspection now to see if there’s a paperwork problem.” 6 The Dispatch | June 2022
Because users are familiar with the manual process of logging inspections, it takes only a week or two to fully implement TrackMaster at a location. After the October 2021 pilot with ABS, TrackMaster was rolled out to another 120-some users at 14 additional Watco railroads. In June, another 29 locations will come on board. Key Team Members on TrackMaster • Information Technology: Design Analyst Hayley Becker (functionality and ease of use), Enterprise Application Support Specialist Bekah Garner (implementation and support), QA (quality assurance) Team Lead Shawna Mateo (project management), Software Architect C.J. Stremick (development) • ABS (testing): Josh Williams, ABS roadmaster, and inspectors Ian Price and Jason Jewell
Southern Team Members Complete TSIC Training in Louisiana
Pictured L-R: (Front row) Kyle Peterson, McIntosh, Alabama, switch operator; Austin Lott, DeRidder, Louisiana, switch operator; Travis Robertson, Hahnville, Louisiana, switch operator, Melton Field, Vicksburg Southern Railroad conductor/engineer ; Fred Williams, Freeport, Texas, yardmaster. (Back row) Coley Hatter, Dutchtown Southern Railroad conductor; Marvin Quinn, Bogalusa Bayou Railroad conductor/engineer; Justin Dempsey, Mississippi Southern Railroad conductor/engineer; Chris Moya, Seadrift, Texas, switch operator; Chris Faust, Seadrift, Texas, lead trainmaster; Gaven Dufrene, Hahnville, Louisiana, conductor/ engineer; Chase Williams, Freeport, Texas, engineer/operator; and Tim Jones, Hahnville, Louisiana, engineer.
Developing our team members is one of Watco’s core values. Watco University’s Team Safety & Improvement Committee (TSIC) training is one of the key ways we build our team’s leadership skills, by empowering them with tools they need to make their workplaces safer and boost morale. Congrats to the latest team members who completed TSIC training in Bossier City, Louisiana, on May 19. June 2022 | The Dispatch 7
Switch Operators Move Record Number of Railcars
From left to right Switch Operators Thomas Deaton and Clarence Brindley
Small but mighty is the best way to describe the Watco switching team at a customer site in Cherokee, Alabama. This three-person team consists of Location Manager Jason Jeane and Switch Operators Thomas “Ty” Deaton and Clarence “Steve-o” Brindley. Faced with a temporary uptick of railcars to move recently, the customer questioned whether Watco should add to their team. Jeane declined, and the Watco team stepped up by working extra hours and weekends. “Whatever the plant needs, we’re here to help,” Jeanne said. “Ty and Steve-o go with the flow. They always want the customer to be happy with the service we provide.” From start to finish, switching railcars takes this team several hours to complete. For Deaton and Brindley, this involves moving empty railcars for cleaning and then back to the loading rack to get filled. Finally, they take all loaded railcars to the scale to get weighed before the train departs to the next destination. At the end of the month, they moved 282 railcars out of the facility — a number that far surpassed the customer’s expectations. It’s also a record for this small Watco team. For now, the team resumes a regular work schedule. But Deaton and Brindley are always ready to ramp up operations when necessary. Jeane said, “The guys want to work here and do their best. In many ways, they embody the Watco culture and our three Foundation Principles: value our customers, value our people, and safely improve every day.” 8 The Dispatch | June 2022
Your Go-To Resource for Benefits Where can you access important benefits information, like insurance plan documents, provider contact list, and 401(k) forms? BenefitFocus is your go-to source for all these items and more. Available to access 24/7 on your desktop or mobile device, BenefitFocus is a comprehensive benefits portal where you can enroll for Watco benefits each year, or update your benefit selections following a qualifying life event, such as marriage or the birth of a child. Other resources include the Healthcare Bluebook, Doctor on Demand, and mental health resources, just to name a few. Enter your team member login on watco.com to access BenefitFocus. Or download the BenefitFocus mobile app, Benefitplace, available on the App Store or Google Play. On the app, enter the company code, watcocompanies, and then create an account. Questions? Contact a member of the Benefits team at (844) 859-2826 or benefits@watco.com.
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Watco’s 2022 Scholarship Recipients Each spring, Watco awards scholarships to high school seniors who are eligible dependents of Watco team members. This year’s recipients will receive a $2,000 scholarship to attend a post-secondary institution within a year of graduating high school with $1,000 being distributed each semester. Congratulations to these 10 scholarship winners and their families: Austin Wagner Austin is the son of Charles and Melissa Wagner. Charles is the general manager of trucking for MID-Ship Logistics and is based in Mars, Pennsylvania. An accomplished saxophonist, Austin has been a member of the Mars Area High School Marching Band for the last five years. He also played for his high school’s concert and jazz bands. Since 2018, he’s volunteered with the T-Bones Martian Big Band, an organization that plays for area nursing and retirement homes. This fall, Austin will attend West Virginia University. Brooke Berguin Brooke is the daughter of Aubrey Berguin and Cheryl Williams. Aubrey is a safety manager working remotely. Since the age of 7, Brooke has been involved in cheerleading and most recently was on her high school’s varsity cheer team. She’s also a member of the Texas Women’s Empowerment Foundation, where she helps maintain an urban garden for families in need. She plans to study architecture and interior design at Louisiana State University. Ashley Sistos Ashley is the daughter of Noey and Crystal Sistos. Noey is a conductor and engineer at the Lubbock & Western Railway. Most recently, Ashley was captain of the varsity cheerleading team and served as student council vice president. A member of the National Honor Society, Ashley was also on the track team and played in the high school band. She will attend South Plains College in Levelland, Texas. Grace Bolyard Grace is the daughter of Garrett and Trisha Bolyard. Garrett is vice president of operations for Division 2. Grace was a four-year varsity volleyball and basketball player and served as captain of both sports teams her junior and senior years. She’s also an accompanist for elementary, high school, and church choirs. In her spare time, she volunteers for a number of different causes including distributing food to those in need. This fall, Grace will begin studying at Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa. 10 The Dispatch | June 2022
Jalen VanBecelaere Jalen is the son of Danny Davis and Crezentia VanBecelaere. Crezentia is a demurrage coordinator and is based in Pittsburg, Kansas. Throughout high school, Jalen was active in theater and on the football, basketball, track and field, and baseball teams. He’s also a member of Catholic Youth Ministries and Young Apostles. Jalen will continue his studies at Pittsburg State University this fall in Pittsburg, Kansas. Brandon Freeman Brandon is the son of Brian and Betsy Freeman. Brian is the director of mechanical purchasing and is based in Pittsburg, Kansas. In his free time, Brandon volunteers for a number of nonprofits including the Special Olympics and Toys for Tots. In high school, he was a member of the National Honor Society and lettered in football, baseball, and powerlifting. This fall he plans to attend the University of Kansas. Kendall Forbes Kendall is the daughter of P.J. and Stephanie Forbes. P.J. is the vice president of operations for Division 1. Kendall was a captain of her high school’s varsity basketball and softball teams. She served on the school yearbook staff, most recently as section editor. She was also a house captain for St. Dominic Savio, where she planned volunteer activities for 22 other students. Kendall will play softball at Pittsburg State University, where she wants to major in nursing. McKynze Dawes McKynze is the daughter of Alicea Dawes. Alicea is a revenue account specialist and is based in Pittsburg, Kansas. McKynze volunteered at her church and for local food drives throughout high school. A former gymnast, McKynze won a national gymnastics competition with her floor routine. She was a member of her high school’s honor roll and the philosophy club. She plans to attend Labette Community College in Parsons, Kansas. Olivia Cullen Olivia is the daughter of Lance and Natalie Cullen. Lance is a people services manager and is based in Pittsburg, Kansas. At Girard High School, Olivia was a four-year athlete participating in volleyball, basketball, and track and field. Among her other activities were the Catholic Youth Organization, Kayettes Service Club, and Future Farmers of America. Olivia plans to attend Pittsburg State University, where she’ll continue to be a student-athlete, playing volleyball. Tessa Miller Tessa is the daughter of Ed and Stephanie Miller. Stephanie is a special projects coordinator and is based in Pittsburg, Kansas. Tessa has volunteered as a tutor for middle and high school students. She also volunteered with her youth group at St. Peter’s Catholic Church. A soccer player since age 10, Tessa hopes to continue playing at Crowder College in Neosho, Missouri. June 2022 | The Dispatch 11
Watco’s 2022 Graduates
Morgan Andrews, daughter of James Andrews, locomotive director, graduated from Independence High School in Independence, Kansas. Jennifer Blomberg, daughter of Denice Poseley, dispatcher, graduated from Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota. Jennifer graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
CJ Blomberg, son of Denice Poseley, dispatcher, graduated from Westwood High School in Gillette, Wyoming.
Grace Bolyard, daughter of Garrett Bolyard, vice president of operations, graduated from Twin Falls Christian Academy in Twin Falls, Idaho.
Elijah Bolyard, son of Garrett Bolyard, vice president of operations, graduated from John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Elijah graduated with a degree in construction management. Kenissa Brown, fleet services supervisor, graduated from Nevada State College in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kenissa graduated with a degree in criminal justice.
McKynze Dawes, daughter of Alicea Dawes, revenue account specialist, graduated from Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, Kansas.
Kendall Forbes, daughter of P.J. Forbes, vice president operations, graduated from Bishop Carroll Catholic High School in Wichita, Kansas. Brandon Freeman, son of Brian Freeman, director of purchasing, graduated from Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, Kansas.
Jenna Hoobler, daughter of Matt Hoobler, assistant vice president - policy & natural resources, graduated from East High School in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Kelis Martinez, daughter of Ricky Martinez, senior site leader for Division 5 in Freeport, Texas, graduated from Angleton High School in Angleton, Texas.
Tessa Miller, daughter of Stephanie Miller, special projects coordinator, graduated from Carl Junction High School in Carl Junction, Missouri.
Ashley Sistos, daughter of Noey Sistos, Lubbock & Western Railway conductor/engineer, graduated from Ralls High School in Ralls, Texas.
Kinley Smith, daughter of Dan Smith, chief executive officer, graduated from Girard High School in Girard, Kansas.
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Robert Trevino, son of Robert Trevino, Ann Arbor Railroad engineer, graduated from Henry Ford II High School in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
Caleb Tripp, son of Donald Robert, chief mechanical officer of the Savannah and Old Fort Railroad, graduated from Richmond Hill High School in Richmond Hill, Georgia.
Jalen VanBecelaere, son of Crezentia VanBecelaere, demurrage coordinator, graduated from St. Mary’s Colan High School in Pittsburg, Kansas.
Matthew Woodfill, Jr., grandson of Tex Inman, director of locomotive support, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Matthew earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering and a minor in chemistry and bio-engineering.
Ryan Robichaux, son of Ronald Robichaux Metairie, Dutchtown Southern Railroad conductor, graduated from Archbishop Rummel High School in Metairie, Louisiana.
Austin Wagner, son of Charles Wagner Mars, general manager of trucking for MID-Ship Logistics, graduated from Mars Area High School in Mars, Pennsylvania.
Olivia Cullen, daughter of Lance Cullen, people services manager, graduated from Girard High School in Girard, Kansas.
Brooke Berguin, daughter of Aubrey Bergin, safety manager, graduated from Klein High School in Spring, Texas.
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Team Member Anniversaries Congratulations to the following team members celebrating June anniversaries: 1 Year: Jonathan Alexander, Joaquin Alvarez, Ryan Anderson, Roger Ardon Varela, Eric Bailey, Patrick Becerra, Juan Beltran, Travis Berry, Devon Billingsley, Dalton Bollinger, Bradford Boyce, Jason Brown, Devon Bush, Kayden Camp, Darren Carlson, Jarvis Casey, Anthony Clark, Marcos Collazo, Charles Denny, James Diehl, Shawn Dilldine, Scott Ebersole, Jason Eliot, Wilmer Frederick, Kaila Frye, Victor Garcia, James Garrett, Chase Goleman, Thomas Gould, Marc Greger, Dylan Heiselman, William Hill, Lavorius Horne, Alisha Houser, Mark Huantes, Kenneth Jackson, Raul Jimenez, Jerrome Kirsch, Tanner Lafountain, Anthony Lashua, Jett Loenneke, Jesenia Lopez, Matthew Luebeck, Cristian Luna, Leonard Lyles, Russell Macias, Seth McBryde, Jacob McGrath, Sean Mendez, Julian Mendoza, Alec Mesa, Brianna Moers, Brandon Ofili, Audrey O’Toole, Danielle Potter, Juan Romo, Ralph Rosas, Raul Sanchez, Zachary Schendel, Jordan Seideman, Ajele Smith, Chris Smith, Tena Smith, Troy Smith, Cameron Steers, Byron Thomas, Justin Trullinger, Hunter Walker, Heather Weber, Tyler Westhoff, Jeremiah Whitt, Shawn Williams, Michael Wolfe, Garrett Young 2 Years: Adam Christman, Oscar Cisneros Nunez, Marcus Cobb, Vincent Deering, George Diamantakos, Richard Hughes, Timothy Jones, 14 The Dispatch | June 2022
John Korndorffer, Austin Kropp, Isaac Martinez, Joel Nunneley, Jisela Perez Castaneda, Phillip Pizzolato, Kyle Roy, James Sebroski, Kirk Sheltman, Saengphet Soulivong, Pamela Travis, Edward Wilson, Jeffrey Wolf, Aaron Young 3 Years: Ruth Becker, Ruby Blackwood, Joshua Buee, Randall Campbell, Kyle Cleland, Adrian Cooks, Tyson Covert, Jermaine Estes, Eugene Finkley, Courtenay Harry, Alonzo Kimbrough, Casey Mckinney, Donald Monroe, Brandi Orr, Donald Paulat, Lashunda Poole, Hagen Presley, Jesse Prine, Darren Scott, Harrison Short, Candace Smith, Ailsa von Dobeneck, Amanda Widmer, Jennifer Zettler 4 Years: Clifford Birch, Gina Bradley, Robert Cooper, Joseph DaRonche, Joshua Dreese, Marquet Freeman, Hunter Griggs, Joshua Klossen, Michael Lawver, Saleh Mothana, Patrick Nemec, Caleb Schmidt, Riley Seger, Travis Sinn, Ivan Smith, Justin Vaclavik, David Weber 5 Years: Michelle Bowling, Brian Dolan, Ryan Frazier, Ladarion Johnson, Rene Mendoza, Casey Miller, Jamie Owens, Amber Reeves, Jerick Staker, James Trollope, Leon Williams Jr, Wayne Wiza
6 Years: Jacob Baker, Jaime Poncio, Gregg Robbins, Nicholas Sharp, Jordan Wagner, Joseph Zachmann 7 Years: Jay Benedict, Cameron Benson, Josiah Breeden, William Butler, Brantley Chambliss, Julie Christensen-Chock, Arla Cress, John Jansen, Douglas Jones, James Rehm, Olen Reid, Brandon Vaughn, Stacey Wilberding 8 Years: Robert Ayers, Timothy Chew, David Eller, Jerod Gofourth, Daniel Gross, Cris Hatcher, Michael Hernandez, Michael Hovan, Michael Kot, Jonathan Lacy, Zachary Leingang, Jason Longfellow, Brent Morrison, Breana Nalesnik, Javier Pertuz, Kathryn Price, Jose Rios, Jose Rodriguez, Joseph Rowan, Jason Wetta, Shari Wilson, Eric Wolfe 9 Years: Cassidy Arnold, Timothy Hart, Philip Hennessee, Edwin Himmerich, Sergio Lara, Jenna Maiseroulle, Arturo Montemayor, Jason Sigman, Paul Suarino 10 Years: Sean Benzmiller, Susan Buffington, Tara Carpenter, Jordan Cheatham, Sean Cox, Stephen Garcia, Curtiss Hemby, Jeff Kelly, Audie Pankhurst, Justin Pankhurst, Steven Renn, Jose Rodriguez, Angela Schaefer, Amanda Shanholtzer, Duff Wagnon, Dana Wilkerson, Lloyd Young
Team Member Anniversaries 11 Years: Brian Keithan, Nathan Kime, Kristi Nunnelley, Michael Stotts, Felicia Strickland, Johannes Yocum 12 Years: Silvestre Garza, Russell King, Melissa Pennington, Thomas Scheidemantel, Douglas Steed 13 Years: Sean Crowe, Brent Marsh 14 Years: James Hite, Richard Smith, Rendall Thompson, 15 Years: Michelle Shuttlesworth, Curtis Testerman, Leon Williams 16 Years: Randall Chaney, Phillip Forrest, Pete Tavernaro
17 Years: Raul Campos, Frankie Carpino, Paul Christenson, David Gonzales, Nicolas Hanson, Jeremy Hollis, Leslie Kissel, Cameron Lundy, James Marr, Angelina Pridemore
25 Years: Chad Wilson 26 Years: Jason Ford 27 Years: Brian Lanham
18 Years: Nolan Darthard, Joey Meadows, Marco Mendoza, Billy Mott, Chad 29 Years: Schilleman Willis Iverson, James McDaniel 19 Years: Donnie Creed, Mark Glover, Wade Lunt, James Waite 20 Years: Matthew Diestler, Carl Silcox, Mark St Aubin 22 Years: Barbara Crawford, Colin Schneider 24 Years: Christopher Jacobson, Jason Rossman, Daniel Tank
30 Years: John Nippa 33 Years: Gary Harville, Michael Pollard 34 Years: Janice Ferrin 41 Years: Michael Koon
Please share your birth announcements To submit your new arrival send a photo and information to marketing@watco.com
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