Safety Anniversaries
October 1 – Arkansas Southern Railroad (AR, OK) – 19 years
October 1 – Ft. Saskatchewan Industrial Rail (AB, Canada) – 4 years
October 1 – Southwest Brooklyn MTS Dedicated Terminal (NY) – 6 years
October 5 – Boise Valley Railroad (ID) – 1 year
October 20 – New Martinsville Dedicated Terminal (WV) – 7 years
October 28 – Autauga Northern Railroad (AL) – 4 years
Safely Improve Every Day
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Honoring the Service of Our Veterans
At Watco, we’re proud to have more than 300 veterans representing all service branches on our team. In honor of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, we thank each of you for your service and dedication to our country. We’re also highlighting two veterans-turned-Watco team members, Steven Ayala and Roosevelt England. Steven Ayala, roadmaster at the Ann Arbor Railroad (AA)
A first-generation American, Steven Ayala joined the Army at 22 years old. From 1993 to 1996, he was stationed at forts Knox, Jackson, and Bragg (now Liberty), where he received training and ultimately became a heavy-wheel mechanic.
He returned home to Toledo, Ohio, in 1996, and joined the Army National Guard while also working full time for a railroad contractor. That’s when he began working on projects for the AA.
After missing an unexpected call one day from the AA superintendent, Ayala recalls thinking he must have made a mistake on a project. He said: “I thought he was calling because I did something wrong. I told my dad and he said, ‘you better call him back.’”
That’s what Ayala did, and it turned out to be a job offer with the AA. He accepted and started doing track maintenance for the short line. Over the years, he’s been promoted to track foreman and most recently, roadmaster. And in 2013, Watco acquired the short line.
“Like anywhere else, we’ve experienced ups and downs at the Ann Arbor,” said Ayala. “But the one thing that stands out for me is that everyone works together as a team. When we get in a crunch, everybody has their boots on the ground ready and willing to help with whatever is asked of them.”
Roosevelt England, conductor at the Vicksburg Southern Railroad (VSOR)
During his six years of service, the Army took Roosevelt England across the world to Bosnia, where he fought as a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division during the Kosovo War.
This experience was one he’ll never forget, when he regularly jumped from airplanes to enter hot zones under attack.
Immediately following his service, he joined the Army Reserve while also working full time as a civilian. His first experience working on a railroad was for a Class I. Then, in 2017, he came across an online job listing for a conductor/ engineer on the Louisiana Southern Railroad (LAS). He joined the team quickly after.
He said, “It was a good change for me. I found Watco and the LAS to be a very family-oriented team environment.”
He left the LAS in 2018, but didn’t stay away from Watco for long. He moved to be closer to his family in eastern Louisiana and later joined the VSOR as a conductor.
England said, “It’s good to be back home. And I’m enjoying my time on the Vicksburg Southern.”
Watco Military Program Recognized
Watco is a recipient of a 2024 HIRE Vets Medallion Award from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS).
The honor is “for exemplary efforts in recruiting, employing, and retaining our nation’s veterans,” according to the Labor department. It is the only federal award recognizing exceptional achievement in veteran employment.
Shannon Parker leads Watco’s military and veteran recruiting. “Watco being federally recognized as a Gold Medallion recipient demonstrates our commitment to our nation’s veterans’ success,” she said. “It shows that we are a company that recognizes the positive impact veterans bring to our company and hopefully will attract more veterans to Watco.”
The award is the latest for Watco’s program for members of the military and veterans who are transitioning to the civilian workforce. Watco also is the recipient of Veterans Engagement Award from the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, the Military Friendly Employee Veteran Leadership and Veteran Champions of the Year in Corporate America awards, and the VETS Indexes 3 Star Employer Award.
El Dorado Switching Celebrates 30th Anniversary
On October 1, Watco’s El Dorado Switching in Arkansas celebrated 30 years of serving LSB Industries. The team catered lunch for our customer, handed out Watco hats and shirts, unveiled a banner, and presented the plant manager with a plaque commemorating the decades-long partnership.
Location Manager Danyale “Peanut” Norman has been at the facility for 26 years, and part of the Watco team for 24. He recalled that when he first started, it was just a three-person switching team, who worked one shift Monday-Friday. Now, El Dorado has 10 team members across two shifts, providing service seven days a week.
“As the years have gone on, our partnership keeps getting better,” Norman said. “As the customer has grown, we’ve grown with them. We have great communication because we care about them, and they care about us. “
Pictured above: (from left to right) Kyle Moody (CMO), Demetrius Moore (Switchman), Michael Harris ( Switchman), Myron Gunter (Switchman), Danyale ‘Peanut” Norman (Location Manager), Kory Crutchfield (Switchman), Mickey Glenn (Switchman), Blaine Dillahunty (Mechanic), Trent Carnes (Switchman), not pictured ; Trevor Rice and Loren Slifer.
Pictured left: (from left to right) Carl Bradley (LSB Logistics Operations Manager), Howard Stevens ( LSB General Manager ElDorado), Danyale “Peanut” Norman (Watco Location Manager).
Kanawha River Railroad Crew Battles Blaze
A Kanawha River Railroad (KNWA) train crew’s vigilance, level-headedness, and quick action recently allowed them to prevent a disaster after a fire broke out on one of their locomotives.
The crew was delivering a loaded coal train to interchange. The grades and curves of West Virginia meant this 109-car unit train had four locomotives up front and four more helpers on the rear. About 20 miles from their destination in Elmore, as they headed downhill, the dynamic brakes on the second lead locomotive burst into flames.
Engineer Jason Brown and Engineer Trainee Marshall Brown were in the lead locomotive and noticed the fire in a mirror as they rounded a curve. Sparks and molten metal flew as they brought the train to a stop. Much of West Virginia is experiencing a severe drought, so on top of the locomotive fire, the crew now faced the threat of a brush fire in the surrounding forest.
Conductor Major Dunbar was following the train in a truck, and Engineer Travis Grose monitored the pusher locomotives at the rear. While both Browns worked to extinguish the flaming locomotive, Dunbar put out the small fires that had started nearby while Grose walked the tracks looking for any cinders that could start more fires.
“We were lucky to have this crew on the train,” said Thomas Nicholson, KNWA general manager. “There’s a lot of experience there and it showed. This isn’t something we train for, but they didn’t panic and kept cool heads while taking quick action.”
The crew notified Nicholson and the local fire department, but they’d already taken care of the imminent threats before backup arrived. After shutting down the damaged locomotive and ensuring it was safe to travel, the team continued to interchange and delivered the train to our Class I partner.
“I don’t really know how to express my gratitude for their quick actions,” Nicholson said. “This is a tight-knit team. This event proved how well they work together and communicate. Thankfully, they were over the steepest grade and could still make it to the destination after losing that much power.”
Pictured above: (from left to right) Jason Brown, Major Dunbar, Marshall Brown, Travis Grose
Free Health Benefits for Watco Team Members
The health and well-being of our team members and their families is one of our top priorities at Watco. That’s why we offer many health benefits available at no cost to you.
Here are a few resources made available to everyone at Watco and their family members:
First Stop Health
Talk to a doctor 24/7 by phone or video. This free resource is helpful for treating mild symptoms such as a cough, ear infection, or skin rash. Virtual counseling is also available free of charge, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Get started today by downloading the First Stop Health app on the App Store or Google Play. You can also visit fshealth.com or call (888) 691-7867.
Smart Connect
Are you or a family member turning 65 soon? If so, consider reaching out to Smart Connect. This complimentary Medicare support program pairs you or a loved one with a licensed insurance agent to find a health plan that best fits the needs of the member. Visit gps.smartmatch.com or call (833) 460-5483 to learn more.
Below are services available to team members and their dependents enrolled in Watco’s HRA or HSA health plans:
My Health Novel
If you’re looking to lose weight, lower stress, improve mobility, or struggling with a women’s health issue like fertility, My Health Novel can help. Log in to myhealthtoolkitks.com and take a short quiz to get matched with an online wellness program that best suits your needs.
Tria Health
Save money on prescriptions with Tria Health. Eligible team members receive free generic prescriptions and 50% off select brand medications. Call Tria Health at (888) 799-8742 to learn more.
Another service available to team members and their dependents enrolled in the HRA, HAS, or SIHRA plans:
Private Health Management’s (PHM) ClearCancer Program
This year, Watco launched a free supplemental benefit program for team members and their family members diagnosed with cancer. PHM’s ClearCancer program offers participants access to a personal care team that works alongside healthcare and insurance providers to help determine the best treatment plan.
Support services, such as assistance with scheduling appointments, are also available. For more information, visit myphmcare.com/watco. Or contact PHM at watco@privatehealth or (310) 248-4050.
Watco Team Member Receives Rail Industry Honor
Tara Carpenter, director of Revenue Accounting, has been named to the annual list of “Women in Rail” by Railway Age.
“I’m so shocked I was selected,” said Carpenter. “I am sincerely honored just to be nominated by Watco for this award. My accomplishments over the past 12 years at Watco have been a collective effort, made possible by incredible support and collaboration.”
Railway Age notified its 25 honorees in October, selecting them based on “their leadership, vision, innovation and accomplishments.” Judges for the 2024 Railway Age Women in Rail awards were KellyAnne Gallagher, CEO of the Commuter Rail Coalition, and Barbara Wilson, Senior Advisor at Railroad Financial Corporation. They took note of nominees’ achievements at their companies, community involvement, and impact on the rail industry.
A leader in Watco’s Revenue Accounting department, Carpenter has worked closely with Infor-mation Technology for several years to create a new in-house system for managing interline set-tlements (agreements for sharing revenue when multiple railroads are involved in a shipment). The project is ongoing. Soon, she will begin working on an automated process to improve Watco’s in-voice management system.
Carpenter has served for nine years leading multiple task forces for Railinc, part of the American Association of Railroads that provides data and messaging for North American freight railroads. To-day, she is vice chair of Railinc’s Interline Revenue Committee and the Revenue Pipeline Task Force. The committees adopted her recent proposal to reduce the amount of testing required for companies that currently participate in the interline settlement system (ISS) but are registering a new railroad. This improvement will tie up fewer resources and shorten the window of time for new railroads to become ISS participants.
Several industry counterparts who know Carpenter from Railinc shared positive thoughts about her for the Women in Rail nomination, which was submitted by Vice President of Revenue Accounting Kris Hemby. “This award is a testament to all the impact Tara has made,” said Hemby. “I am so extremely proud to have her on my team!” Carpenter credited the Revenue Accounting team, saying, “I could not have achieved any of this without their dedication and encouragement.”
In addition to her company and industry involvement, Carpenter contributes to her community of Pittsburg, Kansas. She is a longtime member of the local Rotary Club and volunteers for a Pittsburg food kitchen, the Salvation Army, and other organizations.
Emphasizing Rail Safety During See Tracks? Think Train Week
Watco Industrial Rail teams at Deer Park (top) and Freeport (bottom) in Texas collaborated with our customer to promote awareness of rail safety topics like trespass prevention and crossing safety.
The Alabama Southern Railroad celebrated See Tracks? Think Train Week by hosting a cookout to thank the team for their constant focus on safety.
Several Watco teams across the country participated in See Tracks? Think Train® Week hosted by Operation Lifesaver. They hosted law enforcement on trains and shared rail crossing safety and trespass prevention tips.
“Rail safety isn’t just about our people working on-site. It’s about all of us. See Tracks? Think Train Week is about creating awareness in our communities to keep them safe,” said Vice President of Safety Brad Walker.
During See Tracks, Think Train Week, Watco team members in Overland Park, Kansas, experienced what operating a locomotive is like by using a simulator.
Watco Rewards
Team members now have the chance to win a $200 e-gift card of their choice. Download the Watco Benefitplace app, play trivia, and complete tasks within the app to be automatically entered.
To view the list of actions eligible for Watco Rewards, open the app and select Quick Links. Five winners will be chosen monthly through March 31, 2025.
Scan the code to download the app today
November Births
Rosalia Martha Coomes
Isaac and Jen Coomes announce the birth of their daughter, Rosalia Martha Coomes, born on July 30, 2024. Rosalia weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces and was 19 ¾ inches long. Isaac is a senior accountant for Watco, living in Phillipsburg, Kansas.
Alex Gabriel Dakar, Jr.
Alex and Rachel Dakar announce the birth of their son, Alex Gabriel Dakar, Jr., born on September 25, 2024. Alex weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces and was 19 ¾ inches long. Alex Sr. is a conductor/engineer at the Plaquemine, Louisiana, industrial rail location.
Drew Linden Hinrichs
Emily and Nick Hinrichs announce the birth of their son, Drew Linden Hinrichs, born on September 12, 2024. Drew weighed 8 pounds, 12 ounces and was 21 inches long. Drew is the grandson of Watco Executive Vice President and CFO Rick Baden and his wife Susan. Rick is based in the Overland Park, Kansas, office.
Team Member Anniversaries
Congratulations to the following team members celebrating November anniversaries:
1 Year:
Gerhardt Bezuidenhout, Arron Brunskill, Taylor Carson, John Carver, Chad Coleman, James Czarnocki, Connor Dobson, Dylan Duff, Preston Everett, Levi Glover, Robert Harrison, Caleb Haskins, Jailen Hull, Demetrius Johnson, Matthew Kelly, Mark Kirtwright, Kevin Knight, Tanner Knight, Tandish Kuzvinzwa, Daniel Lancaster, Benjimen Langdon, Edgar Martinez, Martin Martinez, Donald Mason, James Mayo, Dustin McCormick, Justin McElhaney, Matthew Meehan, Rene Morquecho, Daniel Nelson, Amanda Nielsen, Jarrot Norris, James Nunnery, Monica Oljace, Eric Orsburn, Jason Poage, Brock Prestholt, Ricky Richards, Miguel Rodriguez, Austin Rose, Hayden Sarenich, Donald Savage, Jessica Simington, Amandeep Singh, Seth Stafford, James Sullivan, Dakotah Tucker, Artavious Turner, Anthony Ultreras, Taj Van Heekeren, Chance Winterbourne
2 Years:
Daniel Alioto, Lionel Batiste, Blake Burgess, James Clevenstine, Austin Cope, Tyler Davis, Nicholas DelSignore, Reginald Dickens, Zane Ellis, Garrett Ferree, Hunter Garza, Jason Gaskin, Brett Hargis, Ryden Hastie, Joe Herbert, Katherine Humbird, Ryan Husted, Timothy Johnson, Kirstin Kirsch, Bernell Leblanc, Jason Martinez, Micheal Meerdink, Deandre Minniefield, Benjamin Reams, Noah Reeves, Trevor Rice, Robert Rodrigo, Charles Scheriger, Todd Sears, Alexander Staheli, Pakira Tata, Jordan Van Ark, Jonathan Van Maanen, Garrett Wouldridge
3 Years:
Ervin Adams, Ansil Antoine, Bea Baranano, Justin Boatright, Marquetta Cebulski, Enrique Cortes, Holly Donathan, Zachary Ergle, Elizabeth Garcia-Mejia, Andrea Graham, Roberto Guajardo, Luis Gutierrez Mejias, Devon Gutowski, Terry Hipp, Colton Hoggle, Joseph Hubbard, Michael Hull, Graham Job, Gary Johnson, Harley Kay, Jason King, Seth Kirsch, Alex Kluck, Craig Lee, Joshua Medina, Bryan Mueller, Noah Obley, Benjamin Parsons, James Powell, Kourtney Roberson, Heriberto Rubio Villalva, Aleksandar Stevanovic, Julien Stower, Tyler Strange, Mark Tarin, Azavier Vara, Christopher Washington, Michael Yocum
4 Years:
Stephen Barclay, David Barlow, Lisa Bonner, Michael Booth, Alston Combs, Reginald Daniels, Wyatt Fisher, Nahum Garcia, Michael Garza, Sarai Garza, Nova Graves, Justin Haskins, Thomas Hinton, Sandy KeosySymoungphone, Rutilio Mejia, Christopher Miller, Alan Riddle, Xavier Salazar, Aaron Sessions, Paul Voss, Christopher Wiles
5 Years: Lisa Adkins, Stephen Anderson, Scott Behn, Jeffrey Biskup, Stephanie Bunger, Graham Burgemeister, Reagan Chalupnik, Victor Cisneros, Rodney Corn, Lucas Culbertson, John Ellenburg, Anthony Endean, Hector Franco, Jason Fraser, Jason Gray, Raphael Griffin, Joseph Helire, Christopher Hunter, Henry Legg, Marlon Maldonado, Carolyne Manuel,
James McKay, Patrick Mondy, Nyree Outley, Devon Rodrigue, Shawn Schaefferkoetter, Robert Stanley
6 Years:
Daniel Amejorado, Drew Burns, Anthony Cooper, Jordan Davis, Mason Hoven, Dorian McGowen, Thomas Napoli, Zachary Orr, Benjamin Pike, Joshua Spude
7 Years:
Gerod Allen, Thomas Coward, Norman Fair, Drew Fitzwater, David George, Anita Grimes, Jonathon LeBleu, Michael Lenhart, Lacie Moore, Kenneth Peters, Andres Rivera, Chad Simpkins, Charles Sizer, Jemma Turner, Robert White, Willie White, Sam Yim
8 Years:
Donald Frazier, Guy Heffington, Tonya Holmes, Robert Jansson, James King, Bryan Leonard, Richard Thomas
9 Years:
Shalae Bastian, Kirsty Burlinson, Fabiola Cervantes, Corey Davis, Renita Edwards, Travis Freeman, Andy Nielsen, Zachary White
10 Years:
Andrew Beard, David Boissenin, Brad Bourbina, Nicholas Bowers, William Burns, Daniel Duron, Ryan Fayet, Marcus Graham, Marty McClendon, Anthony Oliva, John Patton, Brady Sansom, Jeremy Spates, Cameron Swaine
Team Member Anniversaries
11 Years:
Jayson Banks, James DeGraaf, Brian Freeman, Nick Golian, Terry Gooch, Justin Mead
12 Years:
Matthew Adams, Amanda Bradbury, Dennis Burt, Timothy Humphrey, Aaron Jensen, Brian McDermott, Michael Trull
13 Years:
Gregory Bartholomew, Everts Batista, James Chinowith, Erik DeHoyos, Marcus Diaz, Justin Gaulrapp, Robert Hill, Lester LaCaze, Hilda Morin, Zachary Parker, Eric Turner, Brooke VanBecelaere, Gregory Wooldridge
14 Years:
Alan Cheek, Timothy Lewis, Michele Spielman, Kevin St Aubin
15 Years:
Chad Davis, Kevin Hampton, Brian Kemp, Jacob Link
16 Years:
Derek Brau, Andrea Harville, Joseph Magruder, Jeffrey Pierce
17 Years:
Charles Chipman, Shawn Coates, Philip Roberts, David Rotz
18 Years:
Joshua Jewell, Gerald Lewis, Ron Spencer
19 Years:
Dale Bright, John Dozier, Robert Godfrey, Charles McCall, Leon Norrgard
20 Years:
Rick Baden, Joshua Braden, Zachary Henwood, Scott Holmes, Michael Marino
21 Years: Eric Slimp
25 Years:
Steven Ayala, Cyril Bangari, Jesus Cepeda, Steven Russelburg, Kelley Scarrow
28 Years: Paul Loper
30 Years: Julie Sanchez
31 Years: Terry Showalter
33 Years: James Belsha
36 Years: Charlie Estes, Bruce Ferrebee
39 Years: David Bidleman
41 Years: Charles Faraone
