2008 employees of the year - bnsf.com€¦ · matt rose bnsf chairman, president and ceo “pure”...
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2008 Employees of the Year
Congratulations on being named a 2008 BNSF Railway Employee of the Year.
While 2008 was full of challenges, your hard work, creativity and focus on getting the job done safely and efficiently helped in truly modeling the way.
Without you – your energy, drive and vision – BNSF could not have achieved these successes. You should be proud of the role you play and know that it makes a difference. Your contributions at work and in the community are more important than ever.
In 2008, nearly 440 BNSF Achievement Awards were presented to members of Team BNSF. Of those, we have selected 19 outstanding individual and team achievements. Tonight, we have 100 of these honorees with us.
We also honor six Safety Employees of the Year, each representing a different segment of Operations, as well as 33 work groups as Best of the Best in safety for 2008.
Thank you for making BNSF a leader in the rail industry.
Sincerely,
Matt Rose BNSF Chairman,
President and CEO
“Pure” High-Cube Shuttle Trains
Four employees in Fort Worth, Texas, increased “pure” high-cube capacity shuttle trains by 40 percent. The team established
metrics, identified shuttle trains to be purified, coordinated across functions to determine where and when sets would be
purified, and developed processes to sustain progress. A $16 million value was placed on this initiative for 2007. This level of
purity had been sustained through mid-2008, when the team was nominated.
TEAM
Tracy Alves* Assistant Manager, Marketing Industrial Products Fort Worth, Texas
Michael Garrison* Manager, Grain Operations Agricultural Products Fort Worth, Texas
Grover Smith* Manager, Grain Operations Agricultural Products Fort Worth, Texas
Tonya Whang* Senior Analyst, Agricultural Planning Agricultural Products Fort Worth, Texas
Equipment Modification for Grain Hoppers
The team implemented equipment modifications for grain hoppers. In Kansas City, Kan., employees implemented replacement
adapters on 57 trains and identified other components to replace using condition-based maintenance technology and running
historical data at Murray Yard. The grain trains were back in service within 24 hours 91 percent of the time. Two Newton,
Kan., foremen replaced adapters on 59 trains and had them back in service within 24 hours 88 percent of the time. And in the
Pacific Northwest, three foremen replaced standard adapters on 30 trains through condition-based maintenance and avoided
costs of $380,000.TEAM
Tim Cousineau* Mechanical Foreman II Mechanical Pasco, Wash.
Mark Grubbs General Foreman III Mechanical Kansas City, Kan.
Donald Hust* General Foreman II Mechanical Pasco, Wash.
Rudy Jaramillo Jr.* Mechanical Foreman II Mechanical Newton, Kan.
Rick Kulmus Assistant General Foreman Mechanical Pasco, Wash.
Mark Riley* General Foreman Mechanical Newton, Kan.
Charles Sherrill III* General Foreman II Mechanical Kansas City, Kan.
Ronnie Thomas * Assistant General Foreman Mechanical Kansas City, Kan.
Road Salt Team
Ten employees in Fort Worth, Texas, grew the road salt moves by encouraging two mines to develop unit-train capabilities to
three destinations. In coordination with Equipment and Operations teams, this effort realized nearly $4 million in additional
revenue at significant contribution levels.TEAM
Steve Bryant* Senior Project Manager, Cost/Profit Analysis Marketing Fort Worth, Texas
David Danielson* Manager, Trackage Operations Safety Omaha, Neb.
Chuck Johnson Manager, Opportunity Management Marketing Fort Worth, Texas
Gene Knipp* Senior Manager Service Design Fort Worth, Texas
Shane Markham* Assistant Manager Marketing Fort Worth, Texas
Tom Martin* Manager, Unit Train Operations Service Design Fort Worth, Texas
Pat Mitchell* Manager, Freight Equipment Marketing Fort Worth, Texas
John Roberts* Manager, Unit Train Operations Service Design Fort Worth, Texas
Kreigh Valkenaar* Manager, Sales Marketing Fort Worth, Texas
Carrie Whitman* Director Marketing Fort Worth, Texas
* ATTENDING CEREMONY
Winnipeg Grain Team
Six employees from Fort Worth, Texas, and Grand Forks, N.D., increased Winnipeg, Canada, grain opportunities and
successfully met customer expectations. The team first focused in 2007 on new growth in Manitoba. The team worked with
customers, researched the Winnipeg rail network and determined BNSF’s rights and obligations under the Canadian
Transport Agency regulations. In 2008, the team coordinated efforts to open a seventh elevator (the third unit-train elevator
BNSF serves in this area). The result has been greater visibility and opportunity in the marketplace, protection and expansion
of the franchise, more than 4,300 cars of new business and $10 million of new contribution.TEAM
Patricia Collins* Director, Agricultural Marketing Agricultural Products Fort Worth, Texas
Frederick (Fritz) Doll Manager, Grain Operations Service Design Fort Worth, Texas
Peiter Hjertstedt* Terminal Manager Transportation Grand Forks, N.D.
Patrick Ryan* Trainmaster/Road Foreman Transportation Grand Forks, N.D.
Jeffrey Smith* Manager, Grain Operations Service Design Fort Worth, Texas
Jim Titsworth* Director, Interline Development Network Development Fort Worth, Texas
Port of Vancouver, Wash., Agreements
Three Fort Worth, Texas, employees and one Vancouver, Wash., employee structured and concluded agreements on Dec. 23, 2008,
with the Port of Vancouver, Wash., permitting implementation of the West Vancouver Freight Access Project. This resulted in
port and public investment of $137 million of rail-access infrastructure on a committed timeline. Additionally, BNSF will sell
nearly 17 acres to the port with full environmental indemnification.TEAM
Brian Aman* Director, Contracts North Safety Fort Worth, Texas
Christopher Delargy* Terminal Superintendent Transportation Vancouver, Wash.
Aaron Hegeman* Director, Public Projects Partnerships Network Development Fort Worth, Texas
Steve Kuzma* Manager, Land Revenue Management Facilities and Property Management Fort Worth, Texas
TSS Xpress Team
Thirty-six exempt team members from Network Control Systems, Transportation and Technology Services conceived,
developed and implemented TSS Xpress, which is a front-end to TSS and shortens the time needed for Transportation new
hires to become proficient with their tool kit. It supports BNSF’s Workforce Planning strategic initiative and the Service
Excellence Best Way initiative.TEAM
Michael Acosta Manager II Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Brandon Archambeau Corridor Superintendent Transportation Fort Worth, Texas
Rick Batten Yardmaster Transportation Lincoln, Neb.
Heather Booth Senior Systems Developer I Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Fletcher Bornschlegl * Consulting Systems Developer II Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Paula Corniel Senior Technical Analyst I Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Mick Fitzpatrick Senior Systems Developer II Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Janet Galassi Director Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
James Gibson Senior Consulting Systems Engineer Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Richard Goodwin* Consulting Systems Developer II Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
* ATTENDING CEREMONY
Terry Gordon Senior Systems Devloper II Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Mike Griffin Consulting Systems Engineer II Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Amy Hall Implementation Coordinator Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Chris Hui* Consulting Systems Developer II Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Kent Julian Manager II Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Carolyn Kamperman Senior Systems Developer II Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Mark Kowalczyk* Technical Consultant II Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Bob Kremer Trainmaster Transportation LaCrosse, Wis.
Shawn Kuiper Terminal Manager Transportation Guernsey, Wyo.
Tom Maahs* Manager I Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Jack Mattox Yardmaster Transportation Alliance, Neb.
Jennifer Maxwell* Manager I Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Burt McCoy* Manager I Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Shannon McGovern Director Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Steve Nettleton Terminal Superintendent Transportation Alliance, Texas
Silvina Petersilge Consulting Systems Developer II Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
David Priest Senior Systems Developer II Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Rance Randle Terminal Superintendent Transportation Alliance, Texas
Lucky Randolph Manager II Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Scott Riffel* Consulting Systems Developer II Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Kimberly Ross* Consulting Systems Developer II Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Sharon Swagerty Senior Systems Developer I Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Jeff Talley Senior Systems Engineer II Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Christy Thomas* Manager I Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Jay Tollerene Systems Developer Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Dale Trepanier Terminal Manager Transportation Northtown, Minn.
Catastrophic Accident Response Team
A cross-departmental team including Resource Protection, Corporate Relations and Claims, worked with the Lafayette, La.,
community to evacuate 3,000 residents and process claims after a hazardous materials leak. Team members worked 12- to
14-hour days for more than a week overseeing the claims process, responding to community concerns and assisting with the
recovery process. TEAM
Shawn Avants Claims Representative Law Fort Worth, Texas
Suzanne Belmarez Jaroch Senior Special Agent Resource Protection Solutions Team Temple, Texas
Steve Brockwell Claims Manager Law Albuquerque, N.M.
Larry Dodd Senior Claims Representative Law Oklahoma City
Jeanne Exford Claims Analyst Law Fort Worth, Texas
Joseph Faust* Regional Director, Public Affairs Corporate Relations Fort Worth, Texas
Dan Fisher Senior Claims Representative Law Fort Worth, Texas
Daniel Flatten Jr.* Claims Representative Law Beaumont, Texas
David Fortis Senior Claims Representative Law Stockton, Calif.
Dustin Foster Claims Representative Law Galesburg, Ill.
John Franklin* Senior Claims Representative Law Tulsa, Okla.
Benjamin Gilliam Claims Representative Law Flagstaff, Ariz.
Daniel Harrison Senior Claims Representative Law Memphis, Tenn.
Chris Hawk Claims Representative Law Kansas City, Kan.
Sue Houser Senior Claims Repsentative Law Lubbock, Texas
Daniel Hutchinson Special Agent I Resource Protection Solutions Team Houston, Texas
Sandra Jacobs Claims Representative Law Memphis, Tenn.
Robert Jeffries Claims Manager Law Houston, Texas
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
* ATTENDING CEREMONY
Carol Landes Claims Analyst Law Fort Worth, Texas
Shaun Lewis* Senior Claims Representative Law Fort Worth, Texas
Gary Matson Senior Claims Representative Law Houston, Texas
Randy Merrick Senior Special Agent Resource Protection Solutions Team Lubbock, Texas
Drew Moorman* Claims Representative Law Fort Worth, Texas
Steve Mueller Senior Claims Representative Law Amarillo, Texas
Benjamin Parra Claims Manager Law Fort Worth, Texas
John Sawicki* Claims Manager Law Fort Worth, Texas
Brian Snell Claims Representative Law Denver, Colo.
Sharon Stevens* Assistant Manager, Special Projects Law Fort Worth, Texas
Steve Stone Senior Special Agent Resource Protection Solutions Team Haslet, Texas
Robin Strodtz Claims Analyst Law Fort Worth, Texas
Charles Traylor Claims Manager Law Memphis, Tenn.
Chris Van Norman Senior Claims Representative Law Galesburg, Ill.
Rick Vest Claims Representative Law Lincoln, Neb.
Thomas Wilson* Director, Claims Law St. Paul, Minn.
Donald Wind Director, Claims Services Law Fort Worth, Texas
UPS Receivables and Disputes Resolution
Gary S. Possert, a St. Paul, Minn., PE supervisor, Intermodal Rating, reduced total receivables and disputes for the United Parcel
Service (UPS) account. Possert identified the root cause as trailers that never arrived at the terminal even though a bill of lading was
received for the unit. He requested new reports to identify the no-show unit charges being sent to the UPS Accounts Payable
Department, reducing overpayments of more than $100,000 per month. Possert also worked with the customer to collect bills over
90 days old totaling $1.3 million in 2007. Possert’s actions helped strengthen BNSF’s relationship with UPS and provided benefits
for BNSF as well.
Gary S. Possert* PE Supervisor, Intermodal Rating Revenue Management St. Paul, Minn.
Seattle Sound Transit Team
Forty members of a multi-departmental team from Seattle completed Seattle-to-Tacoma line improvements while maintaining a
99 percent on-time ratio for Sounder. The work, which included mainline switch installations and cutovers, was completed at
more than $30 million under budget.TEAM
Joseph Albinger Manager, Commuter Operations Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Christopher Anderson Engineer, Interlocking Systems Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Kevin Benson Welder Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Jeffery Bykonen Flagman Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Joseph Campos* Track Foreman Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Frederick Christian Flagman Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Anthony Clarke Signal Maintainer Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Marshall Flores Track Foreman Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Glen Gaz* Manager, Budgets Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Gary Geiss Machine Operator Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Mark Gillings Machine Operator Engineering Seattle, Wash.
James Goedert Signal Inspector Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Daniel Gosser Welder Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Kevin Harper* Track Foreman Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Kristopher Harris Construction Assistant Roadmaster Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Glen Haug* Director, Commuter Construction Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Donald Herron Laborer Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Brian Hipol* Division Engineer, Commuter Construction Engineering Seattle, Wash.
* ATTENDING CEREMONY
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
Kasie Holle Construction Roadmaster Engineering Seattle, Wash.
John Houston* General Supervisor, Signal Construction Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Roger Jacobsen Superintendent, Suburban Operations Safety Seattle, Wash.
Dean Keller Machine Operator Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Scott Kipperberg Supervisor, Structures Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Mark Meissner Signal Foreman Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Valree Michael* Senior Analyst Revenue Management Seattle, Wash.
Enrique Mondragon Project Engineer Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Charles Moore Project Engineer Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Seth Ogan Construction Assistant Roadmaster Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Donald Omsberg* Manager Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Frederick Parker Machine Operator Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Robert Raglin Manager, Field Safety Safety Seattle, Wash.
Gary Rollings Machine Operator Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Indalecio Sandoval Construction Roadmaster Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Steven Shaffstall* Signal Inspector Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Curtis Shockey Machine Operator Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Thomas Smith Project Manager Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Kenneth Toizumi Signal Supervisor Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Bill Troxell Flagman Engineering Seattle, Wash.
John Veal Jr. Machine Operator Engineering Seattle, Wash.
Norman Vlasak Machine Operator Engineering Seattle, Wash.
EZ Pay Process
A multi-departmental team developed a simpler and more efficient pay process for train, yard and engine (TYE) employees
using current technology. Computer screens were simplified, many pay codes became automatically generated and many
manual functions were reduced. EZ Pay is currently used by more than 81 percent of TYE employees in through-freight
service every day. Based on the success of EZ Pay for through-freight employees, BNSF began the rollout of EZ Pay to
employees who work on local and road switcher service in July 2008.TEAM
Kevin Fischer* Senior Systems Developer II Technology Services Topeka, Kan.
Joe Ivy* Conductor Transportation Haslet, Texas
Bob Jacobson Director Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Pam Jones* Manager, TYE Compensation Systems Labor Relations Topeka, Kan.
Armond Landavazo* Consulting Systems Developer I Technology Services Topeka, Kan.
Anthony Martinez Program Manager Corporate Audit Fort Worth, Texas
Denise Ovalle* Manager, Internal Communications Corporate Relations Fort Worth, Texas
Crystal Russell* Manager, TYE Compensation Systems Labor Relations Topeka, Kan.
David Smith* Manager II, ISS Technology Services Topeka, Kan.
Barry Stoltz Manager, TYE Compensation Systems Labor Relations Topeka, Kan.
Lee Tibbetts* Senior Systems Developer I Technology Services Topeka, Kan.
Gary Trowbridge* Locomotive Engineer Transportation Haslet, Texas
Cristen White* Manager, TYE Compensation Systems Labor Relations Topeka, Kan.
George Wong Director, TYE Compensation Systems Labor Relations Topeka, Kan.
* ATTENDING CEREMONY
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
Van Lessons Team on Chicago Division
The Chicago Division team identified root causes of van service problems and escalating costs. Team members also addressed
issues identified by the Chicago Division Labor Team and 12-hour reports. They took each service issue, assigned a responsible
party to the issue, and implemented a corrective action and timeline. Result: crew morale has increased, van on-time
performance has improved 15 percent, secondary providers have been reduced, the number of crews on duty over 12 hours
has been reduced, and numerical identification points were developed across the division.TEAM
Gordy Cutright* Locomotive Engineer Transportation Chicago, Ill.
John Edwards* Conductor Transportation Chicago, Ill.
J.J. McGovern Locomotive Engineer Transportation Chicago, Ill.
Randy McMahan* Assistant Terminal Superintendent Transportation Chicago, Ill.
Jeff Thomas* Manager, Field Training Transportation Chicago, Ill.
Hurricane Ike Recovery
Rickey Rooks, manager, Safety and Rules, in Spring, Texas, took leadership and personal action to aid in the Hurricane Ike
recovery including managing distribution of generators deployed to employees, housing several employees in his own home,
and personally hooking up and fueling generators.
Rickey Rooks* Manager, Safety and Rules Safety Spring, Texas
Observed and Reported Derailed Car from Highway
Clayton Hubbard, a locomotive engineer from Haslet, Texas, was driving along State Highway 287 on the Wichita Falls
Subdivision while off duty when he noticed a passing train with a derailed car. He notified the Network Operations Center and
asked that the train be stopped for inspection. The inspection found that one car had a burned journal, causing the car to
derail yet stay coupled.
Clayton Hubbard* Locomotive Engineer Transportation Haslet, Texas
Saved Children from Burning Apartment
Jonathan Higginson, a switchman from Spokane, Wash., overheard a neighbor screaming for help as her two children were
trapped inside a burning apartment. He entered the apartment, found the children and passed them to a bystander on an
adjacent balcony. He followed the ambulance and stayed at the hospital until he knew the children were safe.
Jonathan Higginson* Switchman Transportation Spokane, Wash.
Best Way Service Excellence Team
Fort Worth team members in Technology Services, Mechanical, Marketing and Transportation improved and sustained
on-time departures for terminals using the BNSF Service Excellence Best Way initiative. Also, eight members from Galesburg,
Ill., implemented Best Way at Galesburg. The Best Way focuses on six foundation initiatives: meetings and metrics, operating
condition tool, roles and responsibilities, manifest plan, power plan and arrival/departure plan. TEAM
Craig Anderson Yardmaster Transportation Galesburg, Ill.
Brandon Archambeau Superintendent, Corridor Operations Transportation Fort Worth, Texas
Lori Armstrong Trainmaster, Service Excellence Transportation Fort Worth, Texas
James Arneson Manager Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Henry Bridges* Senior Implementation Leader Mechanical Fort Worth, Texas
Clifford Brown Manager, Service Excellence Mechanical Fort Worth, Texas
* ATTENDING CEREMONY
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
Joshua Burgland Clerk Tower Operator Transportation Galesburg, Ill.
Jeff Craun* Manager, Value Engineering Mechanical Fort Worth, Texas
Ted Eason Terminal Manager, Service Excellence Transportation Fort Worth, Texas
Dianne Foulkes* Implementation Leader Mechanical Fort Worth, Texas
Cindy Godsil Clerk Tower Operator Transportation Galesburg, Ill.
Rick Goodwin TS Support Consulting Systems Developer Technology Services Fort Worth, Texas
Stephen Grachan Trainmaster, Service Excellence Transportation Fort Worth, Texas
Timothy Graham Trainmaster, Service Excellence Transportation Fort Worth, Texas
Jesus Guajardo Implementation Leader Mechanical Fort Worth, Texas
Jeffrey Guelker Director, Service Design Marketing Fort Worth, Texas
Tom Hallaron Senior Implementation Leader Mechanical Fort Worth, Texas
John Hepfer Trainmaster Transportation Fort Worth, Texas
Nicole Herbst Terminal Manager Transportation Kansas City, Kan.
Steve Hill Implementation Leader Mechanical Fort Worth, Texas
Brian Hurla Consulting Systems Developer Transportation Topeka, Kan.
Brian Hurt Implementation Leader, Service Excellence Mechanical Fort Worth, Texas
Jerry Inman* Manager, Value Engineering Mechanical Fort Worth, Texas
Paul Kaiser* Senior Implementation Leader Mechanical Fort Worth, Texas
Larry Kurz Senior Implementation Leader Mechanical Fort Worth, Texas
Matt Lepper* Yardmaster Transportation Galesburg, Ill.
Karl Lewin Manager, Value Engineering Mechanical Fort Worth, Texas
Scott Maddox Manager, Value Engineering Mechanical Fort Worth, Texas
Drew Marting* Senior Implementation Leader, Service Excellence Mechanical Fort Worth, Texas
Mike Martucci Trainmaster, Service Excellence Transportation Fort Worth, Texas
Rick McGill Lead Carman Mechanical Galesburg, Ill.
Jason Ornelas* Implementation Leader Mechanical Fort Worth, Texas
Derek Powell Yardmaster Transportation Galesburg, Ill.
Daniel Smith* Senior Implementation Leader Mechanical Fort Worth, Texas
Karen Swedlund Yardmaster Transportation Galesburg, Ill.
Paula Willette* Senior Implementation Leader Mechanical Fort Worth, Texas
Rod Wilson Hostler/Local Chairman Transportation Galesburg, Ill.
John Young Trainmaster, Service Excellence Transportation Fort Worth, Texas
Saved Young Child in Yard
Track Supervisor Mike Sanderholm, Arkansas City, Kan., noticed a young child (2 -3 years old) under a train that was about
to leave the yard. He called the yard engineer to stop all movements by the yard engine. He also contacted the dispatcher and
asked that all main line traffic be stopped. Sanderholm then picked the child up and notified authorities.
Mike Sanderholm* Track Supervisor Engineering Arkansas City, Kan.
Design and Implementation of Channel Plates
Kingman, Ariz., Roadmaster Steve Marino designed and implemented new channel plates to reduce deterioration of switch
ties and plates. He designed an 11/16-inch thick plate with six holes to simulate current plates. Then he installed them on the
worst switches. This has reduced longitudinal movement and lateral wear.
Steve Marino* Roadmaster Engineering Kingman, Ariz.
Improvement of Interbay Locomotive Facility Operations
Dale Spohn, a general foreman from Interbay, Wash., decreased the environmental footprint and improved sustainability of
facility operations. He recently was presented the John H. Chaffee Environmental Excellence Award for 2008.
Dale Spohn* General Foreman Mechanical Seattle, Wash.
* ATTENDING CEREMONY
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
Hazmat Emergency Response Team
Sixteen Mechanical team members from Barstow, Calif.; Amarillo, Texas; and Houston, Texas, responded to more than 30
percent of the hazardous materials (hazmat) release incidents in 2008. They served countless hours to efficiently manage and
mitigate emergencies.TEAM
Darrell Cannon Mechanical Foreman Mechanical Houston, Texas
Brian Carlson* Mechanical Foreman Mechanical Barstow, Calif.
Roman Cisneros General Foreman Mechanical Amarillo, Texas
Jess Contreras* Mechanical Foreman Mechanical Barstow, Calif.
Bill Dunlap* Mechanical Foreman Mechanical Amarillo, Texas
William Hamm Mechanical Foreman Mechanical Barstow, Calif.
Aaron Marshall General Foreman Mechanical Houston, Texas
Steve Martin* Mechanical Foreman Mechanical Barstow, Calif.
Lonnie McGinnis* Mechanical Foreman Mechanical Amarillo, Texas
Tony Mestas Assistant General Foreman Mechanical Barstow, Calif.
Bill Perry Mechanical Foreman Mechanical Houston, Texas
W. Petermann* Assistant General Foreman Mechanical Barstow, Calif.
Dan Rodriguez* General Foreman Mechanical Barstow, Calif.
Robert Saffle Mechanical Foreman Mechanical Barstow, Calif.
Randell Seaman Mechanical Foreman Mechanical Barstow, Calif.
Lonnie Walker* Mechanical Foreman Mechanical Houston, Texas
* ATTENDING CEREMONY
Safety Employees of the Year
Terrance E. “Ed” Carlson
Conductor Ed Carlson is assigned to the Lakeside Subdivision on the Northwest Division.
Two years ago, the Lakeside Subdivision had the highest number of injuries of any subdivision at BNSF. With an
injury frequency ratio of 6.11, safety needed to improve. As chair of the local site-safety committee and co-chair of
the division safety committee, Carlson gathered senior managers and labor leaders to address safety issues. He
facilitated meetings that were often difficult.
His careful facilitation helped foster an attitude of respect, honesty and cooperation among employees. The
subdivision’s injuries dropped from 11 in 2007 to two in 2008, and the subdivision ended 2008 with a 1.04
frequency ratio.
Robert F. “Bob” Johnson
Bob Johnson, a 37-year machinist and the safety assistant at the Northtown Diesel Shop, has made significant
safety contributions.
These include development and implementation tools for system Mechanical, peer-to-peer communication
networks, improved safety education, proactive safety processes and work practice observations.
Johnson helped the Northtown Diesel Shop receive the Governor’s Award for Meritorious Achievement in
Occupational Safety and Injury Prevention in the Workplace. He oversees many safety programs, including
hearing conservation, hazard communication, fall protection and safety footwear/eyewear.
Johnson made a unique contribution to shop employees in helping the R. F. Johnson Fitness Center become a
reality. For more than two years, he worked to develop this onsite fitness center. More than 400 employees
across all work groups have access to the center.
Kip L. Lytle
Kip Lytle, a 36-year BNSF veteran, is a Structures safety facilitator for the Nebraska and Colorado divisions.
One of his strengths is evaluating preventive safety processes needed at the system level. For the past nine
years, he has been a key contributor to Engineering’s core safety programs. He is the architect of several
training modules, including Hazard Recognition, which is part of the annual Engineering and
Telecommunications safety certification program, and Trenching & Shoring. He also writes the Weekly Safety
Reminder, a safety advisory on timely and relevant topics. Structures safety facilitators use these advisories
throughout the system.
Lytle has tackled many complex and challenging assignments, including confined space issues and fall
protection issues, throughout his territory.
Safety Employees of the Year
Sharon Robinson
Sharon Robinson, a Chicago-based safety assistant with responsibilities at four Mechanical shops, is certified as
a safety certification trainer, as a rules trainer and as a defensive driving instructor.
Robinson helped train more than 125 Mechanical and Intermodal employees in 2008 and interpreted rules for
her peers. She taught safety for new-hire classes at four locations on her own initiative.
Robinson saw the practicality of work practice observations (WPO). She revived this program, resolving issues
among scheduled employees and motivating them to participate. WPO participation among carmen on her
territory is now about 90 percent versus less than 20 percent before her involvement.
Robinson developed a safety class for ramp workers who drive near shop employees. She is also well-versed in
forklift safety, lockout/tagout and CPR.
Vincent A. Rogers
Vince Rogers, a crane director and operator and an Intermodal safety trainer in Cicero, Ill., daily helps others
remain injury-free.
He ensures crane operator trainees understand crane operations, including start-up and shut-down procedures.
Last year, Rogers worked on an Intermodal project called the Personnel Qualification Standard (P-Q-S). This
program relies on a standardized training and testing process for crane operator and director positions. Rogers
identified and incorporated requirements for on-the-job training into P-Q-S. He was also instrumental in helping
co-workers accept P-Q-S.
Rogers also takes an active part in mentoring; he helped 114 new hires in Cicero last year.
Because of Rogers’ dedication to identifying root causes, Cicero experienced a 29-percent decline in third-party
accidents last year.
Steven M. Waller
Steve Waller, a 33-year BNSF employee, has worked his entire career without an injury of any kind.
Waller serves as the United Transportation Union safety coordinator for the Powder River Division and as a
local chairman. He is relentless in identifying safety needs and attacking challenges.
From his first day, Waller has educated employees about high-level safety concepts and is an advocate for an
employee-driven safety process. He conceived and organized two safety seminars, as well as a three-phase safety
training program covering job safety briefings, SIRP, empowerment, conflict resolution and more. As a result of
his influence, the Powder River Transportation frequency ratio has bested the system Transportation ratio two
years in a row.
2008 “Best of the Best” Recognition
Transportation
Criteria: These superintendents, Operations, and terminal superintendents had a frequency ratio of less than 0.75.
Frank J. Bennett Superintendent, Operations Alliance, Neb.
Matt F. Boyd Superintendent, Operations Trinidad, Colo.
Matthew L. Burkart Terminal Superintendent Minneapolis, Minn.
Richard L. Danielson Terminal Superintendent Galesburg, Ill.
David L. Davenport Terminal Superintendent Corwith, Ill.
Chris M. Engel Superintendent, Operations Lincoln, Neb.
Nicole Herbst* Terminal Manager Kansas City, Mo.
Steven S. Nettleton Terminal Superintendent Kansas City, Kan.
Ryan Shoener Terminal Superintendent Memphis, Tenn.
Mechanical
Criteria: Teams must be injury-free; awarded to general foremen and shop superintendents.
David S. Bertholf General Foreman Seattle, Wash.
Richard Castanon Shop Superintendent Commerce, Calif.
Roman L. Cisneros General Foreman Amarillo, Texas
Donald F. Kaplan General Foreman Haslet, Texas
Harold W. Lederer General Foreman Richmond, Calif.
Paul M. Lorenzen General Foreman Springfield, Mo.
Aaron N. Marshall General Foreman Houston, Texas
Vernon L. Peterson General Foreman Vancouver, Wash.
Mark A. Riley General Foreman Newton, Kan.
Carlos Z. Rueda General Foreman Los Angeles, Calif.
Larry E. Stover Suburban Shop Superintendent Chicago, Ill.
Engineering
Criteria: Each work group had a frequency ratio of less than 0.30 and more than 35,000 man-hours.
John J. Crisler Division Engineer Stockton, Calif.
Erik K. Frohberg Manager, Structures Fargo, N.D.
Dwight L. Golder Manager, Signal Galesburg, Ill.
Mike L. Herzog** Manager, Structures Kansas City, Kan.
J. Lee Hostler Manager, Structures Albuquerque, N.M.
Jeffrey J. Jarman Manager, Signal Spokane, Wash.
Cory C. Knutson Manager, Structures Billings, Mont.
Adam C. Richardson Division Engineer San Bernardino, Calif.
Jeffrey Schmidt*** Manager, Track Maintenance Rail Springfield, Mo.
Jeffrey J. Schurman Shop Superintendent , Roadway Equipment Brainerd, Minn.
Dennis R. Skeels Manager, Signal San Bernardino, Calif.
Steven L. Talbot** Manager, Structures Kansas City, Kan.
John W. Upward General Director, Roadway Equipment Other Fort Worth, Texas
* MS. HERBST IS ACCEPTING THE RECOGNITION ON BEHALF OF DANNY RAY, WHO RETIRED.
** JOINT RECOGNITION
***DAVID BURKS WILL ACCEPT THE RECOGNITION ON MR. SCHMIDT’S BEHALF.
