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A Monthly Publication for and by Amtrak Employees
Volume 18 • Issue 1 • December - January 2013
President’s
Service &
Safety Awards
Congratulations to this
year’s recipients!
Customers Share
Praise for Amtrak
Employees
Exclusive Photos
Inside the PSSA Luncheon
Train of Thought
I
Amtrak Employee and Customer Communications
Joe McHugh, Vice President
Government Affairs &
Corporate Communications
I. Suzi Andiman,
Director Employee &
Customer Communications
Blair Hammond, Editor
Employee & Customer
Communications
Marlon Sharpe
Principal Graphic Designer
Corporate Communications
Julia Quinn
Director, Social Media
Corporate Communications
Collin King
Graphic Specialist
Corporate Communications
Help with our
Safe-2-Safer Goal!
100,000
100,00
90,000
September:
76,854
August
July
June
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December-January 2013
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80,000
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
The peer-to-peer injuryprevention program Safe-2-Safer
has a new goal of reaching
0
100,000 observations in fiscal
year 2013. Track Amtrak’s
system-wide progress each
month.
Check us out on Facebook,
Twitter and YouTube
2
AA
enforcement programs around the
want to start off by thanking all of
world.
you for your service this year. Your
The following pages of this issue are
hard work combined with our
also full of accomplishments. Amtrak
record-breaking 31.2 million customers
has a long history of recand $2.2 billion in revenue
ognizing its employees
resulted in a 50 percent
who go above and
reduction in our federal
beyond their calls of duty
operating need in current
through our President’s
dollars compared to just
Service & Safety Awards.
eight years ago. No one
These employees have
can argue: we’re doing
exceeded all expectations
more with less.
in supporting our corpoDuring 2012, Amtrak
rate goals of safety,
achieved several imporcustomer focus, mobility
tant company milestones.
and connectivity, environWe completed a systemmental and energy, and
wide comprehensive
financial and organizarollout of our eTicketing
Joe H. Boardman
tional excellence. Their
program, allowing cushard work was recogtomers more ways to buy
nized at a luncheon in Washington,
and experience our products. The new
D.C., in November, and I am sharing
Norfolk, Va., service extension signifies
their stories with you to inspire good
the first intercity passenger rail service
works throughout the rest of the
to the area since 1977 and allows us to
Amtrak system.
connect customers using the Richmond
The next 12 months will surely bring
- Petersburg - Norfolk line to points as
more improvements, more accomplishfar north as Boston via our Northeast
ments and more exciting changes for
Corridor service. In addition, our
our company. Most importantly, as we
Amtrak Police Department received
head into the New Year, I want to wish
international accreditation through the
you and your families a safe and happy
Commission on Accreditation on Law
2013.
Enforcement Inc., signifying our unwaThank you for everything you do
vering dedication to the safety of our
everyday for Amtrak. ■
employees and passengers to law
Table of
Contents
4 Achievement Award Winners
The accomplishments of employees in this category
involve an innovative, noteworthy achievement that
is above and beyond the employee’s assigned
duties.
5 Champion
of the Rails,
Environmental (Team) and Project
Excellence Award Winners
Champion of the Rails recognizes non-Amtrak
employees who have successfully completed a
project to enhance the quality or safety of passenger rail services. Environmental Achievement
recipients contributed to the success of Amtrak’s
environment and energy goals. Project Excellence
employees have substantially exceeded the goals of
an assigned project.
7 Safety
Achievment and Safety
Committee Award Winners
Safety Achievement recipients have contributed to
Amtrak’s goal of safety and security. The Safety
Committee of the Year consistently acted to
contribute to Amtrak’s goal of safety and security.
9 State
Partner and Sustained
Excellence Winners
State Partners are state officials who have
successfully completed a project to expand or
enhance the quality of passenger rail services.
Sustained Excellence individuals embody Amtrak’s
values and have demonstrated exceptional overall
job performance.
14 Valor
Recipients courageously handled a life-threatening
rescue or emergency situation.
17 Milestones
Amtrak Headquarters
60 Massachusetts Ave., NE
Washington, D.C. 20002
[email protected]
Amtrak Ink is a monthly employee publication of Amtrak,
the National Railroad Passenger Corporation.
® AMTRAK is a registered service mark of the National
Railroad Passenger Corporation.
Front Line Focus
“I recently traveled Amtrak through Mississippi to New
Orleans and I want to compliment whatever person or
agency made the decision to beautify the passenger stations
along the Crescent’s route through the state. I have gone a
lot of places by train, and I was very impressed by the beautiful buildings of Hattiesburg and Laurel. Other states or
cities should take a cue from the Magnolia State.”
— Robin Woolsey, Oxford, Ala.
“My wife has an electric wheelchair, and when we arrived in
Seattle, we were fortunate to
have Lane Johnson, right, a conductor in the terminal, assist us. I
cannot say enough positive things
about him. Johnson is a five-star
Amtrak employee. He took care
of all our needs, from food and
assisting my wife onto the train to
taking care of our luggage.”
— Donald Marshall, Bloomsburg, Pa.
“Recently my mother, who is 76 years old, rode from
Mendota, Ill., to Dodge City, Kan., and I was pleasantly
surprised with the service she had on the train and the
volunteers at the Dodge City Station. I picked her up at 5:10
a.m. on a Sunday morning from the Southwest Chief, and
the train was even 10 minutes early!”
— Kevin English, Woodward, Okla.
“My husband and I traveled on the Empire Builder
on Sept. 19, 2012, from Portland, Ore., to St. Paul,
Minn. Our attendant Darryl has now spoiled us for
any other attendant. He was just exceptional. He assisted
with everyone else’s needs quite efficiently and was
extremely friendly and fun while doing it. We will miss him
dearly. Thank you so much Darryl, you made our trip so fun
and memorable.”
— Aleta Smith, Newbury, Calif.
“The @Amtrak app is great, I used it this morning.
Also, amazing job on the #Sandy recovery!”
― Randall Myers, Washington, D.C.
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2012 President’s Safety & Service Awards
On November 8, Amtrak paid tribute to its extraordinary and dedicated
employees at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.
The President’s Service and Safety Awards program is designed to honor
the men and women of Amtrak who surpass expectations and serve as
models for meeting and exceeding the company’s goals of safety, customer
focus, mobility and connectivity, environment and energy and
organizational excellence.
This year’s 112 award winners represent the best of Amtrak. Both largescale projects such as the implementation of eTicketing and personal acts
of courage like apprehending an attacker in the Champaign, Ill., station
were recognized, and the following pages outline the details of the winners’
accomplishments.
Says President and CEO Joe Boardman: “As members of the Amtrak
family, together we face adversity, acknowledge our blessings with humility and celebrate the drive —
whether on an individual or collective basis — that advances our mission and goals.”
The following profiles were written by the volunteer members of this year’s PSSA committee.
Congratulations to all of the employees honored.
ACHIEVEMENT
Douglas Konn
System Developer, Information Technology, Washington,
D.C.
On Monday, January 17, 2011, at approximately 6 a.m.
(EST), the virtual storage containers used to record financial data from the Arrow Reservation System encountered
a failure that prevented Arrow from recording financial
data to produce online settlement tapes of credit card
transactions. This incident resulted in approximately 21
hours – 89,000 transactions and $6 million – of lost financial data.
Doug took action by first looking at the various
sources of data contained within Arrow that could be used
to reconstruct the missing issuance, exchange and refund
data. Once understood, he came up with a number of
processes to extract and recapture the ticketing data files
from the corrupted tapes and rewrite them onto new
tapes. He then worked with principal applications system
engineer Mark Musselwhite to test the reconstructed data
and continued to tweak his methods until a 95 percent
success rate was obtained. Doug was able to reconstruct
the data onto tapes for submission over the next three
days. Doug’s expertise and knowledge of the system and
his analytical ability enabled him to step outside his
normal everyday job scope and tackle this amazing feat.
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Andrew Maragos
Customer Service Representative, Transportation,
Minot, N.D.
Doneta Skinn
Customer Service Representative, Transportation,
Minot, N.D.
Dan Valley
Director Food and Beverage, Transportation, Chicago, Ill.
Last year’s devastating flood conditions struck the city
of Minot, placing the station in peril. The unselfish actions
of Customer Service Representatives Doneta Skinn and
Andrew Maragos, along with their former supervisor,
District Manager of Stations Dan Valley, helped to preserve Amtrak property and restore service at the Minot
station.
Doneta and Andrew did a remarkable job in the face
of adversity. When it became obvious that the flood waters
placed the station in jeopardy, they took ownership of the
situation. They devised a plan — without being asked —
and carried it out to the astonishment of their managers.
They turned off the power and plumbing, lifted equipment
and secured space to store valuable equipment and documents above the water line.
2012 President’s Safety & Service Awards
CHAMPION OF THE RAILS
Harold and Judy Bryant
Hondo, Texas
Harold and Judy Bryant are volunteers dedicated to
educating the public about Amtrak long-distance trains.
Throughout Southern Texas, they held workshops in San
Antonio, Uvalde, Alpine and Hondo, explaining what to
expect when traveling aboard Amtrak. Their goal is to
raise awareness of train travel in communities that are not
familiar with Amtrak service.
During 2011, they held nine workshops averaging 40 to
80 participants per class. They have also conducted a
session with as many as 375 attendees. The workshops are
free and open to the public, offering important information for first-time travelers. In their sessions, Harold and
Judy Bryant walk passengers through the Amtrak experience. Classes begin with an Amtrak commercial provided
by Marketing’s Jill Farris, and continue with discussions
that include how to make reservations, availabilty of
parking at stations, checked and carry-on baggage
regulations, dining car service, sleeping accommodations,
walking safely through the train and even an appropriate
gratuity amount.
Tom Heard
McGregor, Texas
Before Tom Heard’s intervention at the McGregor
station, passengers seldom used this Amtrak stop along
the Texas Eagle route. The town of McGregor is very
remote, and the station was all but abandoned. When Tom
found the station in such deplorable condition, he decided
he would do something about it.
Tom completely renovated the building, furniture and
platform. He replaced fixtures, hardware, windows and
plumbing at his own expense. He repainted inside and out,
restored all the cabinetry and benches, giving the entire
station a warm, welcoming ambiance. He even recovered
old seating from the Temple station that was being thrown
away, and paid for the reupholstering himself.
Carey Maynard Moody
Lawrence, Kansas
When Carey Maynard Moody moved to Lawrence,
Kan., she got off the train with her two young children and
saw a dark, scary building in terrible shape where homeless persons gathered. She wanted to leave, but we are
grateful she stayed. Over the past several years, Carey has
led efforts to revitalize the mid-century style station,
turning it from a dirty neglected overnight shelter for the
homeless to a welcoming, vital place in the community.
She accomplished this through giving selflessly of her time
and effort, creating a dedicated station advocacy group
and galvanizing the support of Amtrak, BNSF Railway,
city and state officials, and the local community to restore
the station. In 2007, 3,732 passengers got on or off the
train at Lawrence. By 2011 it had grown to 6,410. While
Carey can’t take all the credit, she certainly contributed to
this growth.
In 2008, Carey attended an Amtrak Civic Conversation
in Albuquerque, N.M., and learned all she could about
revitalizing a station. Moving forward, she organized and
became president of Depot Redux, a non-profit community advocacy group dedicated to restoring the station. She
and her volunteers interview, hire and oversee the caretakers, organize events at the station and much more. They
even got the city of Lawrence to take a serious interest in
purchasing the depot from BNSF.
ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT
(TEAM)
Robert “Bob” Jones
Senior Director Utility Management, Finance,
Philadelphia, Pa.
John Tull
Senior Analyst Utility Management, Finance,
Philadelphia, Pa.
Bob Jones began his career with Amtrak in April 1977,
as a project manager and later became director of
Procurement. He is currently the senior director utility
management in the Finance department. John Tull came to
Amtrak in November 2009, and is the Finance department’s senior utilities analyst.
Working together on the Bear Lighting Replacement
and Chicago Steam Plant projects, Bob and John implemented innovative practices to improve employee health,
the environment and workplace safety, while also reducing
costs throughout Amtrak’s facilities.
PROJECT EXCELLENCE (TEAM)
40th Anniversary Celebration Team
The 40th Anniversary Celebration Team did a phenomenal job of planning and executing a year-long celebration,
commemorating the rich 40-year history of America’s
Railroad®. Thanks to their effort and dedication, the celebration was a huge success. “They exceeded all goals
beyond what was ever imagined,” stated Frances Bourne,
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2012 President’s Safety & Service Awards
chief Federal Relations. Highlights of their achievements
are as follows:
• Created and constructed the 40th Anniversary
Exhibit Train
• Coordinated an Exhibit Train tour, stopping at 45
locations and welcoming nearly 85,000 visitors with
the help of more than 500 employee volunteers
• Wrote the book titled Amtrak: An American Story,
which is in its second printing
• Produced a video titled “Amtrak: The First 40
Years,” which received six national awards and is
number two on Amtrak’s YouTube site
• Designed and distributed 40th anniversary lapel pins
to all employees
• Developed a website and merchandise commemo
rating the 40th anniversary
• Partnered with Ludorum, Inc., the parent company
of Chuggington, the animated children’s television
series, and with its support created Chuggington
Depot, a children’s play area featuring toy train sets.
Developed banners, coloring books, safety books,
product coupons and a giant 40th anniversary card
40th Anniversary Celebration Team Members
Frank Anderson, Locomotive Technician, Mechanical,
Beech Grove, Ind.
Suzi Andiman, Director Employee and Customer
Communications, Government Affairs and Corporate
Communications, Washington, D.C.
Francine Berk, Program Manager Corporate and
Community Relations, Government Affairs and Corporate
Communications, Washington, D.C.
Helen Butler, Director Procurement, Finance,
Philadelphia, Pa.
J. Bruce Carlton, Assistant Superintendent, Backshops,
Bear, Del.
Gerald Cherico, Carman, Mechanical, Bear, Del.
Matt Donnelly, Product Development Officer East,
Transportation, Washington, D.C.
Seth Geist, Senior Industrial Designer, Mechanical,
Wilmington, Del.
John Grey, Superintendent, Mechanical, Beech Grove, Ind.
Christopher Jagodzinski, Chief Operations Projects and
Improvements, Transportation, Philadelphia, Pa.
Patrick Kidd, Researcher/Writer, Government Affairs and
Corporate Communications, Washington, D.C.
David Milenbaugh, Carman Welder, Mechanical,
Beech Grove, Ind.
James Monaghan, Foreman II, Mechanical, Bear, Del.
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Jeffrey Osborne, Specifications and Standards Engineer,
Mechanical, Beech Grove, Ind.
Steven Ostrowski, Passenger Engineer, Transportation,
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Ann Owens, Senior Officer National Advertising,
Marketing, Washington, D.C.
Robert Ripperger, Principal Officer, Government Affairs
and Corporate Communications, Washington, D.C.
John Skalski, Industrial Designer, Mechanical,
Wilmington, Del.
Thomas L. Stennis, III, Director Government Affairs
South, Government Affairs and Corporate
Communications, New Orleans, La.
Deborah Varnado, Director Branding & Promotions,
Marketing, Washington, D.C.
eTicketing Pilot Project Team
Members of the eTicketing Pilot Project Team, who
represent the Marketing and Information Technology (IT)
departments, put in countless hours towards the success of
this important modernization of Amtrak’s ticketing system
that eliminates the need for paper tickets, increases checkin speed and provides valuable real-time data for Amtrak
and our state partners.
Prior to the start of the eTicketing pilot on the
Downeaster and the Auto Train, it could take up to two
weeks to get accurate ridership information on any given
train. With the implementation of eTicketing, staff gained
real time data about who was traveling on the train —
vital knowledge in the event of an emergency. This data
helped our state partner in Maine determine how many
multi-ride customers use the Downeaster each day. The
information was then analyzed to better manage seat
inventory. eTicketing also automates and enforces the
random identification check as per our agreement with the
Federal Railroad Administration.
eTicketing Pilot Project Team Members
Phil Bouchard, Program Manager Service Standards and
Operations Support, Transportation, Wilmington, Del.
Anthony Flynn, Program Director Sales and Reservation
Systems Programs, Marketing, Washington, D.C.
Donald Hancock, Program Director, Information
Technology, Washington, D.C.
Jon Herring, Systems Developer, Information Technology,
Washington, D.C.
Justin Jose, Manager Railres and C++, Information
Technology,Washington, D.C.
Amir Khan, Principal Officer, Marketing, Washington, D.C.
2012 President’s Safety & Service Awards
Douglas Konn, Systems Developer, Information
Technology, Washington, D.C.
Victor Machado, Systems Developer, Information
Technology, Washington, D.C.
Wanda McQueen, Analyst Quality Assurance, Marketing,
Washington, D.C.
Mark Musselwhite, Principal Applications Systems
Engineer, Information Technology, Washington, D.C.
Geoffrey Nelson, Systems Developer, Information
Technology, Washington, D.C.
Penelope Porter, Coordinator CMS, Marketing,
Washington, D.C.
Natividad Risley, Systems Developer, Information
Technology, Washington, D.C.
Thomas Vidnovic, Principal Applications Systems
Engineer, Information Technology, Washington, D.C.
Xiaoyuan (Sharon) Yu, Systems Developer, Information
Technology, Washington, D.C.
Train Communications Team
In 2011, the Train Communications Project Team completed the installation of Train Communications Data
Locomotive Digital Video Recorder (TCD/LDVR)
systems on 345 diesel locomotives and cab cars. The
purple-colored TCD/LDVR system nicknamed “The
Barney Box” has fundamentally transformed the way
Amtrak manages its train operations, emergencies and
service disruptions. It dramatically improves our incident
response capabilities, reduces the risks and costs of litigation related to grade-crossing incidents and significantly
improves the accuracy and reliability of information on
engine conditions.
The system includes locomotive video cameras to
record activities ahead of the locomotive on the right-ofway, global positioning system (GPS) equipment to enable
timely and accurate train tracking, an on-board messaging
system to permit two-way communications between the
Consolidated National Operations Center (CNOC) and
the locomotive engineer, a fuel-monitoring system to track
fuel availability and send alerts on low-fuel conditions and
locomotive health monitoring to track and report onboard system diagnostics. It also has an automatic
emergency brake alert feature. For the first time in our
history, we know in real-time the operating conditions of
our diesel locomotives. We can document and review incident details with video and audio, and know exactly where
trains are located in real time. Likewise, our passengers
now know with substantially improved accuracy when
their trains will arrive.
Train Communications Team Members
Dawn Amore, Contractor, Marketing, Washington, D.C.
Sarabpreet Bumra, Assistant Superintendent, Mechanical,
Chicago, Ill.
Sean Cronin, Engineer Fleet, Mechanical, Chicago, Ill.
Brian Erny, Manager Locomotive Equipment
Maintenance, Mechanical, Chicago, Ill.
Christopher Jagodzinski, Chief Operations Projects and
Improvements, Transportation, Philadelphia, Pa.
Clifford Kendall, Program Director Locomotive
Technology, Transportation, Wilmington, Del.
Kevin Koppel, Director Mechanical Operations,
Mechanical, Wilmington, Del.
Kevin Landrigan, Contractor, Marketing, Washington, D.C.
Stevan Lebo, Principal Applications Systems Engineer,
Information Technology, Washington, D.C.
Lenetta McCampbell, Senior Director On-Board Systems,
Marketing, Washington, D.C.
William Rossetti, Foreman II, Mechanical, Chicago, Ill.
Michael Scaringe, Director Fleet Engineering, Mechanical,
Beech Grove, Ind.
Glenn Selby, General Foreman, Mechanical, Chicago, Ill.
Nicholas Troiano, Director Procurement, Finance,
Philadelphia, Pa.
George Warren, Assistant System General Road Foreman,
Transportation, Wilmington, Del.
Onping Yu, Electrical Engineer, Mechanical,
Los Angeles, Calif.
SAFETY ACHIEVEMENT
J. Bruce Carlton
Assistant Superintendent, Backshops, Bear, Del.
Brian Dallas
Car Repairman, Mechanical, Bear, Del.
Bruce Carlton, who started with Amtrak in November
1976, has held the position of assistant superintendent at
the Bear Shops since March 2011. Prior jobs within the
company include car repairman, car repairman welder,
foreman and car inspector. Brian Dallas came to Amtrak
in October 1977, and served as a trackman before becoming a laborer. Since 1979, he has been a car repairman.
On their own initiative, Bruce and Brian developed a
Safety Behavior Inventory Bulletin Handbook for the
Bear Maintenance Facility that defines at-risk and safe
behaviors. The men recognized the need to highlight
lessons learned in the Safe-2-Safer training and BST
processes, and came up with the idea to produce an easy-
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2012 President’s Safety & Service Awards
to-read manual as a reference for the Mechanical department employees. They spent personal time to take
photographs, gather information and write the content for
the handbook. Working with Reprographics, they also
designed and printed the book, which is now used as a
prototype by other mechanical facilities.
William A. White, Jr.
Road Foreman, Transportation, Portland, Maine
William A. White, Jr. came to Amtrak in September
2005 as an assistant conductor. The next year, he was promoted to the position of locomotive engineer. On
October 1, 2012, William became a road foreman in
Portland, Maine.
In 2009, William lost the tip of his thumb when he
became distracted by a passenger and closed a P-42 locomotive door on his finger. While on a medical leave of
absence, he developed an inexpensive but effective door
guard that prevents this type of injury. In 2011, a prototype
of this door guard was installed on engine # 9. There have
been no door-related injuries on this locomotive since the
installation and now other locomotives in Chicago are
being outfitted with the guard. As a locomotive engineer,
it was not within William’s job scope to create a door
safety device, but he wanted to prevent further injuries of
this type.
SAFETY ACHIEVEMENT(TEAM)
Riverside Statistical Group
Western Reservation Sales Contact Center, Riverside, Calif.
Joann Hemesath, Gail Johnson, Juan Morales and
Jonnie Washington all serve as statistical clerks in the
Western Reservation Sales Contact Center Statistical
Office in Riverside, Calif. This group of employees has
taken the Amtrak commitment to safety to heart by refining office procedures to ensure the safety of Contact
Center employees and the continuity of operations in the
event of an emergency. According to Supervisor Ashlee
Slepicka, “They took information, such as contact phone
numbers, refuge area locations, attendance and staffing
data, and log books and compiled it together for easy
removal and use during an emergency.”
Thanks to their efforts, the evacuation plan for the
building was included as one of the items to be removed
from the building during an emergency. This statistical
group also ensures that all employees are accounted for
and notifies emergency personnel in the event of an evacuation. Administrator Dee Ruiz explains: “Riverside is a
large facility employing more than 600 people. Removing
personnel and vital records in an emergency requires precision and organization. Using the procedures put in place
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by the group has resulted in more efficient evacuation
drills."
Riverside Statistical Team Members
Joann Hemesath, Statistical Clerk, Marketing
Gail Johnson, Statistical Clerk, Marketing
Juan Morales, Statistical Clerk, Marketing
Jonnie Washington, Statistical Clerk, Marketing
SAFETY COMMITTEE OF THE YEAR
Baltimore Safety Committee
The Baltimore Safety Committee is comprised of a
dedicated team of employees representing Transportation,
Engineering, Operations, Amtrak Police and the MARC
commuter line. Together the group has done an outstanding job of addressing potential safety hazards in and
around the New Carrollton, Baltimore and Baltimore
Washington International Airport (BWI) stations.
The committee coordinates a number of initiatives
aimed at reinforcing the importance of safety. Last year,
the committee brought to light several hazards at the BWI
station, including expansion strips on the newly installed
platform that had become a tripping hazard and roof leaks
on the canopy, which would freeze during cold weather
and create a dangerous slipping condition on the southbound platform. Through their diligence, these hazards
were repaired by our Engineering team. This team also
ensured that malfunctioning water spouts were
repaired, minimizing the risks of slips and falls.
At the Baltimore station, the group was also instrumental in getting an old, wooden stairway leading to St.
Paul Street replaced with new, metal stairs and handrails.
When some of the chairs in the seating area at the BWI
station became worn and torn, the Baltimore Safety
Committee took a proactive approach of simply replacing
a few of the defective chairs, and the committee ensured
that all of the aging chairs were replaced, the walls were
painted and tasteful pictures were hung.
Baltimore Safety Committee Members
Elliott Benton, Lead Ticket Clerk, Transportation
Timeka Caldwell Bruce, Clerk Steno, Transportation
Raymond Geisendaffer, Locomotive Engineer,
Transportation
Tracy Hart, Police Officer, Police Department
Michael Jones, Lead Ticket Clerk, Transportation
Paul Mallon, District Manager of Stations, Transportation
Anthony Mobley, Trainmaster (MARC), Transportation
Joseph Prochaska, Assistant Conductor, Transportation
Matthew Rohlfing, Road Foreman, Transportation
2012 President’s Safety & Service Awards
Miriam Suddoo-Morgan, District Manager of Stations,
Transportation
Charles Sweeney, Station Action Team Coordinator,
Emergency Management & Corporate Security
Maria T. Torres, Lead Ticket Clerk, Transportation
Patricia Ussery, Assistant Conductor, Transportation
STATE PARTNER
William “Bill” Bronte
Chief of Division Rail, California Department of
Transportation, Sacramento, Calif.
Bill Bronte is the chief of division rail for the California
Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and has worked
tirelessly to develop specifications for rolling stock and
secure federal funds for those projects.
Bill co-chaired a multi-state committee that developed
the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act
(PRIIA) Section 305 design specifications for multi-state
passenger bi-level rail cars. In addition, under Bill’s leadership on the PRIIA Section 305 finance sub-committee, his
team, working with Amtrak and other key stakeholders,
was able to secure federal funds to be allocated to the procurement of the future rolling stock. Not only did Bill’s
efforts provide a platform for future Amtrak bi-level rail
car purchases, but his team maximized the ability of
California and other states to acquire rolling stock to
support route expansion, improve capacity and support
future higher speeds.
Lee Goldenberg
Retired, California Department of Transportation
It was no accident that ridership, revenue and
Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) scores improved after
Lee Goldenberg became involved with the San Joaquin
service in 2004. Ridership rose from 738,540 in 2004 to
1,067,441 in 2011. During the same period, revenue grew
from $20,207,164 to $35,704,109 and CSI scores increased
from 77 percent to 91 percent.
Lee worked closely with Amtrak, the San Joaquin
Valley Rail Committee and others to get a lot accomplished. Assistant Superintendent Road Operations
Tommy Andrews said that Lee really knew the needs and
demographics of the region. Caltrans Senior Project
Manager Todd Amilli said that Lee achieved so much
because he really cared. He didn't just sit behind the desk,
he went out to the stations and rode the trains. Lee talked
to the passengers to find out how we could provide a more
convenient, comfortable service. He even knew employees
by name and got their feedback on ways to improve
service. Every year, he gathered a group of Caltrans and
Amtrak staff to travel to every station and identify ways to
make viable improvements for passengers. He also took
employees from his office and supervisors representing
the San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee on station tours so
they would better understand the needs of our passengers
and employees.
SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE
Mary Rose Barbara
Assistant Superintendent, Mechanical, Chicago, Ill.
Mary Rose Barbara began her career at Amtrak in
1973 and has steadily progressed through the company’s
ranks from clerk typist to assistant superintendent at
Chicago’s Union Station, one of the busiest terminals in
the country.
Mary is the driving force within the Chicago
Mechanical department, embodying a “can do” attitude
that keeps operations humming continuously — even on
her days off. There is no job Mary Rose can’t do. From
covering for diesel yard managers while they’re on vacation to working with Metra commuter rail service, Mary
Rose is always present and positive. Among her colleagues
at Amtrak, she’s seen as a constant motivator, always
setting a good example for others and quickly springing
into action when her expertise is needed.
Since 1973, Mary Rose has held a variety of roles,
always with more responsibility than the prior position. In
2003, she was promoted from general foreman to assistant
superintendent, proof that “popping in,” even on her days
off, to check on the terminal’s operations pays off.
Randy Benfer
Lead Service Attendant, Transportation, New Orleans, La.
Randy Benfer has worked at Amtrak since 1997 as a
lead service attendant (LSA) based in New Orleans. As a
committed employee and relentless pursuer of an outstanding customer experience for his passengers, Randy is
a shining example of what all on-board employees should
strive toward.
Among his colleagues, Randy is known as a tireless
worker, who is always quick to volunteer for back-to-back
trips — an exhausting demand for those who are up to the
challenge. For countless holidays like the New Year,
Christmas and Independence Day, Randy can work all onboard crafts and is often called upon at the last minute to
fill vacancies and he never disappoints. What’s perhaps
most impressive about Randy’s time at Amtrak is his
undeterred attitude. There’s nothing he can’t do, and it’s
always with a smile. For example, Randy has been known
to even stand in for a chef or two after completing his own
four-day runs.
Amtrak Ink
December-January 2013
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9
2012 President’s Safety & Service Awards
Julie Byrne
Operations Supervisor, Transportation, Lorton, Va.
Julie Byrne has had a long and successful career at
Amtrak, beginning as a service attendant in 1975 and
today serving as a crew base supervisor for the Auto Train.
Among her colleagues, Julie is a motivating force who
is well-respected. In an effort to convey the importance of
safety and security along the rails, Julie always works hard
to make her crew briefings thought-provoking so onboard staff will take her lessons and best practices to heart
while on their trips. Many who work with Julie say that it
is her dedication and great managerial skills that keep
them working so hard. In short, because she does well for
them, they do well for the customers.
Perhaps best known for her strong work ethic, Julie
never hesitates to go beyond the requirements of her job.
She never backs away from a teaching moment when
working with staff and takes time and shows patience
when training new employees or teaching veteran employees new skills. These actions not only improve the
customer’s experience throughout his or her trip and
encourage repeat business, they also instill a strong sense
of pride and ownership among the on-board staff. That’s
all thanks to Julie.
Michele Detrick
Principal Officer, Mechanical Contracts, Mechanical,
Wilmington, Del.
Michele Detrick has enjoyed more than three decades
at Amtrak, starting her career as a senior secretary and
most recently becoming principal officer of Mechanical
contracts in 2010 — the role she holds today.
Michele’s work ethic and dedication have set a stellar
example for her colleagues and have earned her a reputation for being a tireless and gracious worker who is always
willing to go above and beyond her standard duties to
make sure the job gets done and gets done right. Not only
is Michele reliable in her assigned responsibilities, she’s
constantly looking to expand her role, always willing to
take on a new project or task.
Despite moving up through the company’s ranks,
Michele is still sought for input on positions she held years
ago and never hesitates to offer her expertise.
Bernard Grant
Customer Service Representative, Transportation,
Jacksonville, Fla.
Bernard Grant began working at Amtrak in 1975 as a
commissary worker and today uses his friendly demeanor
and stellar professionalism as a customer service representative.
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Amtrak Ink
Bernard is known for going above and beyond the call
of duty whenever anyone needs a helping hand. Without
batting an eye, Bernard will spring into action, helping red
caps with baggage or delivering service announcements to
customers or providing a daily safety briefing to his colleagues behind the ticket desk.
Perhaps Bernard’s greatest strength, however, is his
ability to handle customers and always make sure they
leave smiling. He is always upbeat and positive, even in the
most tense situations, and has even been known to provide
hotel or taxi accommodations out of his own pocket for
customers stranded at the station. Most importantly,
Bernard understands the value of earning a loyal customer
and constantly works to secure repeat business for the
company.
Joannie Gunpat
Train Attendant, Transportation, Miami, Fla.
Joannie Gunpat has worked as a train attendant since
1984 and for the last two years has been recognized for
her perfect attendance on the job and earned recognition
from the Amtrak Customer Advisory Committee.
Among her colleagues in Miami, Joannie is known for
her “can do” attitude, which she is always happy to share
with others. She often volunteers to train peers in her crew
base, teaching them to provide unforgettable customer
service to travelers and to always arrive at work early to
guarantee a superb train on which to welcome customers.
To Joannie, her customers are always number one. She is
constantly working to improve their travel experience and
never fails to leave a lasting impression on those she
serves.
Kenneth Homko
Lead Service Attendant, Transportation, Chicago, Ill.
Kenneth Homko has worked for Amtrak as a lead
service attendant since 1998, continuously performing
above and beyond the call of duty, all while making each
customer he serves feel like he or she is a guest in his own
home.
No matter the hour, Kenneth is readily available to
help and answer the questions of new hires, even when
he’s off the clock. Among his colleagues, Kenneth is seen
as a reliable leader and knowledgeable mentor who
follows through on every promise he makes. As a true testament to his integrity and stellar professionalism, other
on-board staff members look forward to the trips in which
they get to work alongside Kenneth, because they can be
assured that with him on board, the trip will be a success
and everything will flow smoothly.
2012 President’s Safety & Service Awards
Whenever the company needs a volunteer for promotional or marketing booths at local Chicago-area events,
Kenneth never hesitates to step up to the plate, and by
doing so he is extending the reach of the Amtrak brand in
Illinois communities.
Charles Ingram
Train Attendant, Transportation, New Orleans, La.
As a train attendant with Amtrak for nearly 30 years,
Charles Ingram knows what it takes to make customers
happy, and has made a career out of helping countless passengers and colleagues alike along the rails.
When asked about Charles, co-workers jokingly say
that he doesn’t know the word “no” in that he is quick to
offer his guidance and assistance to anyone that may need
it, no matter what he is doing. Charles feels as though his
line of work is a team effort, and doesn’t want any aspect
of Amtrak’s service to lack, as it is a reflection on everyone. That’s why he is commited to going that extra mile to
make sure that every passenger has the best experience
possible, and that every one of his peers has everything
they need to be succesful in their duties.
Charles has a way of making a personal connection
with those riding his trains and understands the value of
creating a loyal customer for Amtrak. In all of his years
with the company, Charles has never received a customer
complaint, probably because he believes in treating each
customer the way he would want a member of his own
family to be treated.
Marilyn Jamison
Senior Director, Major Project Partnerships, NEC
Infrastructure and Investment Development, Philadelphia,
Pa.
Marilyn Jamison has been with Amtrak since 1999 and
over the last 13 years has served in a variety of roles for
the company, beginning as acquisition manager and today
serving as the senior director of Major Project Partnership
in the Northeast Corridor.
According to her colleagues, Marilyn is a “corridor
builder” in the finest tradition of American railroading.
She is a dedicated champion of improved intercity passenger rail service for Amtrak and its state and commuter
partners, starting and continuing with the Keystone
Corridor development and now with the Empire Corridor.
She works tirelessly with all stakeholders, internal and
external, to bring about consensus and move projects
forward from concept through construction. No detail
escapes her sharp eye and she has the rare ability to form,
engage and energize working groups of diverse stakeholders to achieve real results.
Michael Jenkins
Train Attendant, Transportation, Chicago, Ill.
Michael Jenkins joined Amtrak in 1984 as on-board
staff and has spent the majority of his time with the
company as a train attendant.
Since his first day at Amtrak, Michael has been a
dependable employee and a high-quality provider of
excellent customer service. Among his colleagues he’s
known as a reliable and trusted employee who likes to
offer help and guidance to others and is unselfish in times
of emergencies.
As an example of Michael’s willingness to go above
and beyond his job requirements, he volunteered to
develop a mentor program for on-board employees. He
coordinated the training schedules and in some cases literally guided them through every step. Even on his own
time, Michael doesn’t shy away from helping his fellow
Amtrak employees. He is the ultimate team player.
Mildred Johnson
Service Attendant, Transportation, Chicago, Ill.
Mildred Johnson joined Amtrak in 1987 as a lead
service attendant, later moving to an assistant conductor
and today serves as a service attendant.
Over her 25 years with the company, Mildred has
earned countless customer compliments for her outstanding service. Year after year, Mildred continues to offer true
service with a smile along the rails — a fact that has not
gone unnoticed by her colleagues and managers.
She is a hard worker who enjoys her job, always stepping in when fellow employees are ill and assisting in areas
that are short handed on board. While Mildred is aware of
her job title, it does not stop her from assisting other
employees when problems arise. Her motto is, “Let’s work
together to get the job done.” And that’s precisely what
she does.
As a true testament to Mildred’s professionalism, she is
always open to new advice or best practices. On her trains
she can always be overheard asking customers, “What can
I do for you?,” showing patience and hospitality to the
passengers she serves.
Elaine Meister
Customer Relations Representative, Marketing,
Philadelphia, Pa.
Elaine Meister began as a reservation and sales agent
in August 1999, and has held her current position as a customer relations representative since 2006.
Elaine is described by many as dynamic, proactive and
full of enthusiasm. She possesses a special knack for
drawing out the best in her co-workers and inspiring them
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2012 President’s Safety & Service Awards
in their work. When training Customer Service staff and
others, Elaine emphasizes that Amtrak employees’ good
deeds will be talked about by passengers when they are
among family and friends.
Leaders at corporate headquarters also appreciate
Elaine’s expertise, especially when responding to letters
directed to Mr. Boardman that need to be answered with
sensitivity.
Michael O’Connell
Manager, Disciplinary Investigations, Law,
Philadelphia, Pa.
Michael “Mike” O’Connell has been with Amtrak since
October 1976, when he started as a block operator. Over
the years, he has also held positions including leverman,
train dispatcher, operations supervisor and hearing officer.
In 2001 he took up his current job as manager, office of
disciplinary investigations (ODI).
As part of his work, Mike travels across the country at
a moment’s notice. From May 2010 through May 2012, he
stepped in to fill the vacant hearing officer posts in the
West, Northeast and Midwest. For a time, he basically
oversaw a territory stretching from Detroit to New
Orleans in the East and from Seattle to San Diego in the
West. His coverage of these three positions resulted in
savings in excess of $300,000 for the corporation since it
eliminated the need to bring in outside contractors.
During that period, none of the 250 cases were lost due
to time limit issues or the lack of hearing officer availability. This commitment to his job ensured that labor contract
time limits were kept and that employees were afforded a
fair due-process hearing. Mike truly demonstrated his
commitment to maintaining the corporation’s ethics and
contractual obligations.
Nancy Olsen
Customer Service Representative, Transportation, Williston,
N.D.
Nancy Olsen works at quite possibly one of the most
remote Amtrak locations: Williston, N.D. Since joining
Amtrak in December 1973, Nancy has served as both an
R&I clerk and a ticket clerk.
For 30 of her 39 years, Nancy has been relied upon for
her knowledge and expertise regarding all aspects of the
Williston station. She has handled unforeseen situations
with professionalism, determination, dedication and superior customer service. How often does a person deal with
extreme (-30º F) weather, floods that inundate entire
towns or a major economic boom that brought more than
75,000 people into a small community? Nancy has dealt
with all of this in just the last two years!
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The Williston station has increased in ridership and
revenue so much in the past few years that it is now one of
the busiest locations on the route of the Empire Builder.
James “Yogi” Pilley
Ticket/Accounting Clerk, Transportation, San Diego, Calif.
James “Yogi” Pilley, a ticket/accounting clerk at the
downtown San Diego station, has held a variety of jobs
with Amtrak. In 1984 he started out in an unassigned position and then became a janitor. Yogi was later involved
with material control, serving as supervisor of material
control for two years before taking up his current position,
where his efficient baggage room procedures have become
a model for others.
Qualities used to describe Yogi include “dependable,
patient and committed.” Co-workers affectionately refer
to him as “Mr. Fix It,” “Mr. Get it Done” and “Mr. Go To.”
Due to his diligence and dedication, it is not unusual for
him to receive calls and letters of gratitude from both passengers and co-workers. Yogi will step in to help with any
situation, and many noted the special care he shows
toward elderly passengers. He goes out of his way to
answer their questions and helps them obtain a red cap or
other assistance. Co-worker Jerry Cruz calls Yogi a
“therapist” for his soothing demeanor that calms distraught or angry passengers.
Betty Purich
Senior Manager, Sales Support, Marketing, Washington,
D.C.
Betty Purich is the senior manager, sales support. She
has worked in all areas of reservations and sales since
beginning her career at Amtrak in September 1973.
Through her leadership skills and innovative thinking,
Betty sets a high but obtainable standard for her department. Last year, she won two PSSAs for work on the
Amtrak Guest Rewards in-sourcing program and the
“firearms in checked baggage” service project.
Betty possesses a comprehensive knowledge of the
company. Recently, she worked for more than 1-1/2 years
to ensure that the user functionality of the Qfiniti application met the expectations of the Call Quality Monitoring
Program. Working with peers in Information Technology,
she developed creative solutions to ensure positive results
on the project.
Betty also led efforts to establish and train the internal
Contact Center for the Amtrak Guest Rewards program
and initiated the posting of service alerts on Amtrak.com.
2012 President’s Safety & Service Awards
Donald Thomas
Legal Assistant, Law, Washington, D.C.
For more than 28 years, Donald Thomas has faithfully,
tirelessly and without complaint satisfied requests for
Amtrak-specified corporate documents, information and
witnesses on a nationwide basis. This entails an enormous
amount of investigation, research, analysis and time, and
the ability to juggle numerous projects at once and against
deadlines existing across the several time zones of our
national operation. He never turns anyone away, has never
dropped the ball and has never let anyone down. Despite
these demands, Don remains courteous and professional
and is respected by everyone. According to Associate
General Counsel Wilfred Mills, Don is the Claims’ department's “go-to-guy” for institutional information and
litigation support 25 hours a day.
Don doesn’t just “frequently” exhibit strong work qualities, he consistently exceeds a strong work ethic. For
years, Don was the sole contact for the field claims offices
and defense attorneys with respect to responding to difficult discovery requests, finding hard to locate documents
and developing corporate witnesses. He has been dependable, committed in ensuring justice for Amtrak. He is
extremely patient and gracious even under the most
stressful of circumstances. If he has a weakness (and if this
is even a shortcoming at all), it’s his inability to say “no.”
He is never too busy to help.
David “Dave” Thompson
R&I Clerk, Marketing, Philadelphia, Pa.
David “Dave” Thompson served as a reservation sales
agent from 1986 until last year when he became an R&I
clerk. He always maintains an exemplary work ethic and
consistent customer service. Dave has won many awards
during his tenure with Amtrak, including Employee of the
Month and Sales Excellence. According to Robert Cook,
director, reservation sales, “If you could clone a reservation sales agent, David would be the one.”
Wherever there is a void, Dave is always willing to
help. When there is a shortage on the TTY Desk, he
happily steps in, even if that means pushing back his lunch
or break. Although he holds seniority, he willingly waives
it to accommodate his colleagues. Tonya Tate, reservation
sales supervisor, recounts, “Dave offers the highest quality
of customer service to our customers. When I listen in on
his calls, it is evident how hard he works to assist our
callers with their needs.” Great listening skills and extensive knowledge of policies and procedures let the
customer know that he/she is the first priority. His everpresent smile comes through across the phone and also
buoys his co-workers’ spirits. Dave’s goal is not just to
make a sale but also create a repeat passenger.
Stephanie Utt
Train Attendant, Transportation, Chicago, Ill.
Stephanie Utt has worked on-board as a train attendant since February 1990, but has been part of the
on-board service crew since 1980. Assigned to the Empire
Builder for many years, she is classified as one of the best
train attendants on the route by her supervisor. Stephanie
also maintans an excellent attendance record and is well
respected by her co-workers.
Numerous letters of praise from satisfied Amtrak
riders testify to the wonderful customer service in her
Sleeping Car. Her supervisor, Service Manager Chris
Woods, notes that during service disruptions Stephanie
pitches in wherever necessary. She takes the initiative to
help with checked baggage and makes sure that passengers are offered provisions for a comfortable bus ride.
Stephanie is also responsible for training new hires.
According to Woods, “Stephanie is our ‘go to’ person.
During the 2011 flooding, she was committed to getting
the job done…her normal six-day trip turned into a tenday trip but she did not complain — not once.”
Antonio “Tony” Watson
Retired, Train Attendant, Transportation, Chicago, Ill.
Antonio “Tony” Watson started with Amtrak in 1973 as
a train attendant, and worked tirelessly for 39 years
serving Amtrak customers and creating a one-of-a-kind
travel experience for anyone who stepped aboard the
California Zephyr.
Over decades of rail travel, Tony witnessed a variety of
customer service situations and always handled every one
of them with professionalism and grace. For the small
requirements like providing hot coffee and timely wakeup calls to customers, Tony never failed to deliver at the
highest caliber of service. In addition to the basics, Tony
understood the need to provide exemplary customer
service whenever the opportunity presented itself. When
passengers arrived, Tony ensured that his car was immaculately clean and supplies were readily available so that he
could treat our customers like guests in his home.
Beyond customer service, Tony always possessed a
great team spirit —understanding that no job was too
small or too dirty to do if it made the train run better and
kept passengers buying tickets.
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2012 President’s Safety & Service Awards
Denise White
Coach Cleaner, Mechanical, Lorton, Va.
Denise White has been with Amtrak as a coach cleaner
since February 2000. By always putting herself in the customers’ shoes while completing her tasks, she helps create
a wonderful on-board experience.
Many of her co-workers would agree that Denise has a
tremendous work ethic that means doing the job right the
first time. She is famous for her scrupulous attention to
detail — nothing escapes her eagle eye! When she finishes
her work, Denise will go help others and chip in wherever
needed. The Auto Train includes various cars, some of
which require more time or skill to properly clean. Denise
is always willing to trade cars or offer advice on more efficient cleaning methods.
She can also be proud of a perfect safety record and a
near-perfect attendance record.
VALOR
Crew of California Zephyr
The team onboard the California Zephyr on June 24,
2011, was quick to action and fearless in their response to
a tractor-trailer collision the train experienced while in
Nevada. Their bravery and professionalism during a day of
terror have rightly earned them the President’s Valor
award.
At 11:38 a.m. a tractor trailer struck the third and
fourth cars of the train, setting the train and truck ablaze
and causing multiple life-threatening injuries and the
death of Conductor Laurette Lee, a 23-year Amtrak
veteran, who earns this award posthumously. Despite the
confusion and dangers, the Amtrak crew including John
Little, Sandra Phillips, Daniel Foley, Lana Dickerson,
Cherry Williams, Kurt Krucine, Samir Tamer, Dionne
Williams-Green, Ron Werckenthien, Evelyn Johnson,
Alexandra Curtis, Richard D’Alessandro and Ronald
Kaminkow remained professional.
As the danger of the fire raged on, the on-board staff
worked swiftly to remove all of the train’s passengers,
often re-entering the flames several times to retrieve
people. The confusion outside of the train was mitigated
by their quick thinking, and a first-aid area administering
triage helped treat the injured until the paramedics and
emergency responders arrived.
The Amtrak team even had the presence of mind to
create a manifest listing passengers, who were later placed
on buses for evacuation, and their destinations. Even
though passengers were disoriented, injured and frightened, crew members repeatedly re-entered the train
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Amtrak Ink
making sure all passengers had been evacuated. Structural
instability, along with broken glass, metal and other debris
lay inside and littered the ground outside the train crash
site, creating a hectic and dangerous backdrop to the
frightening scene.
California Zephyr Crew
Alexandra Curtis, Service/Train Attendant, Chicago, Ill.
Richard D’Alessandro, Conductor, Reno, Nev.
Lana Dickerson, Service Attendant, Chicago, Ill.
Daniel Foley, Service Attendant, Chicago, Ill.
Evelyn Johnson, Service Attendant, Chicago, Ill.
Ronald Kaminkow, Engineer, Reno, Nev.
Kurt Krucine, Food Specialist, Chicago, Ill.
Laurette Lee (posthumously awarded), Conductor*
John Little, Service Attendant, Chicago, Ill.
Sandra Phillips, Train Attendant, Chicago, Ill.
Samir Tamer, Lead Service Attendant, Chicago, Ill.
Ron Werckenthien, Food Specialist, Chicago, Ill.
Cherry Williams, Service/Train Attendant, Chicago, Ill.
Dionne Williams-Green, Lead Service Attendant,
Chicago, Ill.
* In Memoriam
Jimmie Wright
Customer Service Representative, Transportation,
Champaign, Ill.
Customer Service Representative Jimmie Wright was
working in the ticket office at the Champaign, Ill., train
station when he witnessed an assailant with a knife attacking a passenger in the waiting room. Without hesitation,
Jimmie intervened and ultimately apprehended the
assailant.
Jimmie came out of the ticket office and ordered the
assailant to drop the weapon. The assailant immediately
began slashing the victim’s throat. Jimmie warned him he
would take him down if he did not stop. When the
assailant later attempted to retrieve a knife from his
pocket, Jimmie — due to his military training in hand-tohand combat — forced him to the ground and kept him
subdued until the police arrived.
Jimmie is not a police officer; he is a customer service
representative. For an unarmed man, even one trained in
hand-to-hand combat, the potential for harm was everpresent. There were several other passengers in the
immediate vicinity. Had they decided to render assistance
to the victim, they too might have become victims.
2012 President’s Safety & Service Awards
From left
: Joe Boa
rdman a
nd Andre
w Marag
os
Julia Costello
Amtrak Ink
December-January 2013
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Employee Milestones
Congratulations to All of You!
Archived Milestones
During the time Ink was out of print, the employee milestones were posted on the Amtrak Intranet. For several months those milestones
were also reproduced here. This is the final month of those milestones. Traditional milestones will continue to run on pages 18 & 19.
ALBRITTON, WILLIAM
Boston South Station
BONDI, ROBERT
Chicago Crew Base
BUCKLEY, NANCY
New York Penn Station
CARRINGTON, JAMES
Butler Bldg., Wash., D.C.
CZAP, MATTHEW
Wilmington Shops
DUNCAN, MICHAEL
Amtrak Corporate HQ
FRY, ROBERT
St. Cloud Station
HOWARD, STEVEN
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
KEEFER, SANDRA
Southampton St. Yard
KOLONICK, PETER
Providence MOW Base
KREDENSOR, EUGENE
Phila. 30th Street
Station
LANDGRAFF, DAVID
Perryville M/W Base
LEE, GLADYS
CNOC
LOWE, DONN
New Haven Station
MAGEE, EILEEN
Phila. 30th Street
Station
MATULAITIS, SUSAN
Pa. Reservation & Sales
Office
PENDER, DALE
Chicago Locomotive
Shop
POIROT, SANDRA
Calif. Reservation Sales
Office
SHOEMAKER,
VINCENT
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
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SOULE, PAUL
Caltrain SF Station
TOCZYLOWSKI,
MICHAEL
Amtrak Corporate HQ
VOGEL, EDWARD
Amtrak Corporate HQ
WASSERSTROM,
MARTIN
Deerfield Beach Station
WOOD, MARJORIE
Chicago Union Station
ZEIGER, HOWARD
Seattle Mechanical Yard
MILLER, PATRICIA
T&E Toledo Crew Base
ALESSI, ARTHUR
Philadelphia Coach Yard
ARROYO, DAVID
Southampton St. Yard
ASTACIO, NELSON
Miami Station
AURIEMMA, VINCENT
Hamden, Conn., MOW
Base
BOYLE, MATTHEW
Phila. 30th Street
Station
BRECCIAROLI, DAVID
Conn DOT Commuter
BROWN, LARRY
Phila. 30th Street
Station
BROWN, SHEREE
New Haven Station
BURNS, BRIAN
North Brunswick, NJ,
NW Base
BURNS, MICHAEL
Groton, Conn.,
Engineering
December-January 2013
Amtrak Ink
BURNS, TIMOTHY
Morrisville Station
BUTZ, GARY
Perryville M/W Base
CANIGLIA, JOSEPH
Philadelphia Coach Yard
CARROLL, DANIEL
New York Penn Station
COLEMAN, JOHN
Niles Station
COLLINS, PATRICK
Philadelphia Coach Yard
CONLAN,
CHRISTOPHER
Wilmington Shops
CUNNINGHAM,
YVETTE
Los Angeles 8th St.
Coach Yard
CZAJKA, KENNETH
Chicago Mech. &
Terminal Offices
DALIEGE, GERALD
Chicago Union Station
DEBELLIS, FRANK
Los Angeles Commissary
DESHIELDS, KENNETH
Phila. 30th Street
Station
DIBUCCIO, PASQUALE
Hamden, Conn., MOW
Base
DOUGLAS, WILLIAM
Hamden, Conn., MOW
Base
ERMER, ROBERT
New York Penn Station
FISCHER, JEFFREY
Hamden, Conn., MOW
Base
FOLEY, TIMOTHY
Southampton St. Yard
GALLAGHER, ROBERT
Phila. 30th Street
Station
GIESPERT, GREGORY
Hastings Station
GODBOUT, JOCELYN
Harrisburg Station
GRASSO, LIONEL
Lancaster Station
GRAVELINE, PETER
Providence, RI,
Engineering
HAHN, STEPHEN
Sanford Station
HENRY, JOSEPH
Charlotte Station
HERNANDEZ,
ARMANDO
Phila. 30th Street
Station
HILL, MARK
Springfield, Ma., Station
HISQUIERDO,
EDWARD
Los Angeles 8th St.
Coach Yard
HOODACK, TIMOTHY
Rensselaer Mech.
Facility
HORCHAR, MYRIAM
Phila. 30th Street
Station
HUME, KEVIN
New York Penn Station
JACKSON, SHARLYN
San Diego Station/
Mechanical
JOHNSON, JUANITA
Phila. 30th Street
Station
JONES, ROBERT
Phila. 30th Street
Station
KARCZESKI, DANIEL
Phila. 30th Street
Station
KATIN, LEWIS
Phila. 30th Street
Station
KERRIGAN, TERRENCE
Philadelphia Coach Yard
KRUG, DONALD
Bear Car Shop
KRUSE, FRANCIS
Philadelphia, Pa.
LABOISSONNIERE,
DAVID
Providence MOW Base
LADISLAW, DANIEL
Phila. 30th Street
Station
LAROCCO, JOHN
Chicago Mech. &
Terminal Offices
LAVECCHIA, DONALD
Wilmington Shops
MALDONADO,
GEORGE
New York Penn Station
MALIN, ROBERT
Philadelphia Coach Yard
MARIDUENA, ANIBAL
Chicago Union Station
MARINO, ROBERT
Phila. 30th Street
Station
MATTHEWS, PAUL
Philadelphia Coach Yard
MATTOCCIA, JOHN
CNOC
MCGINNIS, STEVEN
St. Louis Station
MCGONIGAL, KEVIN
Philadelphia Coach Yard
MEYER, JOHN
Brighton Park Facility
MOONEY, MICHAEL
Phila. 30th Street
Station
MUMENTHALER,
WILLIAM
Philadelphia Coach Yard
NANGLE, GERALD
Phila. 30th Street
Station
O KEEFE,
CHRISTOPHER
Southampton St. Yard
PAONE, JAMES
New York Penn Station
PAPROCKI, STEVEN
Hamden, Conn., MOW
Base
Employee Milestones
Congratulations to All of You!
PEDROZA, WILLIAM
Chicago Offices
PIDGEON, WILLIAM
Trenton Station
PLANCON, DAVID
Engineering, New
Haven, Conn.
PLATT, THOMAS
Meriden Station
PROULX, DENNIS
Pa. Reservation & Sales
Office
PYLE, STEVEN
Lancaster Station
RACE, CHARLES
Phila. 30th Street
Station
ROSEEN, JOHN
New York Penn Station
SALIDO, PAUL
Los Angeles 8th St.
Coach Yard
SENFT, COLLEEN
Chicago Mech. &
Terminal Offices
SHEAFFER, GARY
Lancaster Station
SURFACE, RUSSELL
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
TETEAK, MICHAEL
Chicago Mech. &
Terminal Offices
TIPPING, THOMAS
Philadelphia Coach Yard
TRIEBEL, DAVID
Mechanical Office
TSIKALAS, EMANUEL
Washington Union
Station
URQUHART,
ABRAHAM
Phila. 30th Street
Station
WEBER, CRAIG
Wilmington Shops
WHITAKER, DAVID
Phila. 30th Street
Station
WILLIAMS, MICHAEL
Philadelphia Coach Yard
WILLIAMS, RUSSELL
Phila. 30th Street
Station
WINTHER, JOHN
Phila. 30th Street
Station
BORNHORST, CARL
Rensselaer Mech.
Facility
GRANT, JAMES
Bear Car Shop
GRUGAN, TIMOTHY
Rensselaer Mech.
Facility
HILL, JOSEPH
Wilmington Shops
ST. LOUIS, DANIEL
Rensselaer Mech.
Facility
ANDRZEJEWSKI,
PATRICK
Amtrak Corp. HQ
ARTHUR, DAVID
Los Angeles Offices
BATES, RUSSELL
Seattle Mechanical Yard
BENNETT, PATRICK
Portland, Ore., Station
BETHEA, JEFFREY
Pa. Reservation & Sales
Office
BIBBEE, CHERYL
Seattle Mechanical Yard
BLANKENSHIP,
KENNETH
Wilmington Shops
BROWN, LYNN
Portland, Ore., Station
CAIRD, WILLARD
Spokane Station
CONNOLLY, JOHN
Southampton St. Yard
COOKE, EDWARD
Portland, Ore., Station
CUADRO, EFREN
Los Angeles Offices
DICKS, NEIL
New York Penn Station
DOUGLAS-ENGLISH,
YOLANDA
Los Angeles Offices
DUNCAN, RICHARD
Spokane Station
GARNER, DONALD
Tacoma Station
GREENIDGE, MARK
Paoli Station
HAUGHEY, LOUIS
Southampton St. Yard
HEBERT, MARK
Los Angeles 8th St.
Coach Yard
HODOUS, ROBERT
Seattle Mechanical Yard
HOLLIDAY, STEPHEN
Seattle Mechanical Yard
HOUSTON, RONALD
Pa. Reservation & Sales
Office
HOWERTER, LARRY
Spokane Station
JONAS, RUDI
Amtrak Corp. HQ
JONES, DOUGLAS
Seattle Mechanical Yard
KASUN, JOHN
Shelby Crew Base
KOUNTZ, JAMES
Portland, Ore., Station
LOCKE, LYNN
Salisbury T&E Crew Base
MACBAIN, HANS
Wilmington Shops
MANARAS, DAVID
Seattle Mechanical Yard
MANNING, LARRY
Portland, Ore., Station
MOORE, DENNIS
Seattle Mechanical Yard
MURRAY, JOHN
Rensselaer Mech.
Facility
MYDLAND, DAVID
Shelby Crew Base
NELSON, DANIEL
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
O'CONNOR, MICHAEL
Shelby Crew Base
PAIGE, TYRONE
Amtrak Corp. HQ
RASCH, STEPHEN
Lorton, Va.
RHODES, BONITA
Pa. Reservation & Sales
Office
RHOTON, RICKY
Los Angeles Offices
ROBERSON, ERNEST
Seattle Mechanical Yard
SAMPSON, DIRK
Portland, Ore., Station
SHAW, LOUANNE
Boston South Station
SHORT, WILLIAM
Shelby Crew Base
SPENCER, ANGELA
Los Angeles Offices
TAYLOR, DONALD
Portland, Ore., Station
WEAVER, GREGORY
Harrisburg Station
WEISHAAR, WAYNE
Shelby Crew Base
WHEELON, DAVID
Portland, Ore., Station
WILLIAMS, RALPH
Phila. 30th Street
Station
WISE, JOSEPH
Spokane Station
ARIAS, HECTOR
New York Penn Station
BADRUDDOZA, ABUL
Calif. Reservation Sales
Office
BARLOW, JOHN
Perryville M/W Base
Crew Base
BEEBE, BARRY
Los Angeles Offices
BERGLIND, MARK
Chicago Crew Base
BRATHWAITE,
WILBERT
New York Penn Station
BRISCOE, GREGORY
New Orleans Maint.
Facility
BROWN, ANGELO
Bear Car Shop
Amtrak Ink
BROWN, DAVID
Wilmington Shops
CHERRY, STEPHEN
New York Penn Station
CHINSKI, THOMAS
Phila. 30th Street
Station
CUTTS, RITA
Sacramento Station
DAIGLE, MICHAEL
Odenton M/W Base
D'ALESIO, ANGELA
New York Penn Station
FITZGERALD,
ALEXANDER
C&S HQ
HAIRSTON, DAREL
Wilmington Shops
JAGODZINSKI,
CHRISTOPHER
Phila. 30th Street
Station
LIPSCOMB, JAMES
New York Penn Station
LO, AMY
Los Angeles Offices
LOVE, JANIS
Calif. Reservation Sales
Office
MCMAHON, ALAN
Sunnyside Yard NY
MOORE, RANDY
Los Angeles Offices
MYLES, CRAIG
Philadelphia Coach Yard
NOVAK, ROGER
Oxnard Station
SCARPONE, ALBERT
C&S HQ
SMITH, JAMES
Providence MOW Base
UONG, DUY
Los Angeles Offices
VILCA, RICHARD
New York Penn Station
WOHANKA, THOMAS
Newark Penn Station
WOODS, RODGIE
Chicago Crew Base
December-January 2013
|
17
Employee Milestones
Congratulations to All of You!
JOHNSON, LISA
Sunnyside Yard N.Y.
BAKER, ROBERT
San Antonio Offices
BANCHARAN,
THERESA
Sunnyside Yard N.Y.
BAPTISTE, JUNICE
Sunnyside Yard N.Y.
BELLMORE,
HAROLD
New Haven Station
BLUM, KEITH
Depew Station
BURRELL, LEROY
Sunnyside Yard N.Y.
CATURANO,
GERALD
New Haven Station
CHASE, MICHAEL
Ivy City Maint.
Facility
JONES, RANDY
Milwaukee Station
KURACZYK,
MAREK
W. Oakland Maint.
Facility
MONUTEAUX,
MARY
Rensselaer Mech.
Facility
MORGAN, ROBERT
New Orleans Station
NEMERGUT,
RAYMOND
New Haven Station
NICHOLS, DONNA
Chicago Mech. &
Terminal Offices
O'CONNELL,
DANIEL
Los Angeles Offices
CHILDS, ELAINE
Wilmington Training
Center
RODRIGUEZ,
MAXIMO
New York Division
HQ
CLABORNE, RITA
New Orleans Maint.
Facility
TODD, LARRY
San Luis Obispo
Station
DAVIS, FRANCIS
Richmond Station
WILLIAMS,
LEONARD
Chicago Mech. &
Terminal Offices
WISE, TODD
Battle Creek Station
OHLSCHWAGER,
MICHAEL
Denver Station
PEARSON, GAVIN
Galesburg Crew
Base
PORTER, WILLIAM
La Junta, Colo.
BACCHUS,
RONALD
Washington Union
Station
BRAYMAN, ROGER
Kansas City Maint.
Facility
BRAZDA, THOMAS
New York Penn
Station
ELLISON,
GERTRUDE
Phila. 30th Street
Station
FISTER, JOHN
Chicago Crew Base
GASSENHEIMER,
ERIC
New Jersey NW Base
RAUCH, CYNTHIA
Phila. 30th Street
Station
ROCCKI,
DOMINICK
Pa. Reservation &
Sales Office
SMITH, ROY
Quad Ave. M/W
Base, Baltimore, Md.
SWEET, BARBARA
Pa. Reservation &
Sales Office
TAYLOR, DREW
Ivy City Maint.
Facility
THOMPSON,
MICHAEL
Amtrak Corp. HQ
GATTONE, HOLLY
Lancaster Station
WINGFIELD, DORA
Washington Union
Station
TORMA, ROBERT
Merced Station
ZEPEDA, LUIS
Los Angeles Offices
DOWLING, ROBERT
Redondo Junction
Engine House
HAYES, JAMES
St. Louis Station
WASHINGTON,
TRACY
Sunnyside Yard N.Y.
GOOSTREE,
THOMAS
T&E Crewbase - Ft.
Worth
HENDERSON,
DARNELL
Baltimore Station
WEBB, DOUGLAS
Hartford Station
HIGA, JERRY
Calif. Reservation
Sales Office
HUNT, STANLEY
Los Angeles Offices
18
|
WHITE, MICHAEL
Chicago Locomotive
Shop
December-January 2013
Amtrak Ink
MCNEIL, CYNTHIA
Philadelphia Coach
Yard
CAMERON,
ROBERT
Phila. 30th Street
Station
GALLAGHER,
PATRICK
New York Penn
Station
GREER, DONALD
Bear Car Shop
GUISWHITE,
RAYMOND
Omaha Station
HARDEN, ANGELA
Wilmington Station
KOPPEL, KEVIN
CNOC
MANLOVE,
JEFFREY
Bear Car Shop
MAXFIELD,
THOMAS
C&S HQ
MCFADDEN,
LAWRENCE
Phila. 30th Street
Station
PEDRICK, LISA
Amtrak Corp. HQ
SHOWALTER,
DAVID
Bear Car Shop
ULRICH, STEVEN
N.Y. Rensselaer
Station
BULANDA, STEVE
Chicago Mech. &
Terminal Offices
BUTLER, SCOTT
Sunnyside Yard N.Y.
Employee Milestones
Congratulations to All of You!
CHIAVARONE,
MICHAEL
New Jersey NW Base
BROWN, JOHN
Phila. 30th Street
Station
FRACE, BRUCE
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
KELLY, ALAN
New York Penn
Station
RANDOLPH,
RONALD
CNOC
DI PAOLO, JOHN
Phila. 30th Street
Station
BRYANT, DIANA
Amtrak Corp. HQ
FRYE, MICHAEL
Boston South Station
CAMP, HUGH
Rensselaer Station
GALLAGHER, JOHN
New York Division
HQ
KELLY, CARL
Chicago Mech. &
Terminal Offices
SANTOS, ROBERT
Calif. Reservation
Sales Office
KHAN, ABDUL
Bear Car Shop
SCHOFIELD,
EDWARD
Perryville M/W Base
ESHBACH, JOHN
Paoli Station
GIBSON, MICHAEL
New Jersey NW Base
CANIGLIA, JOSEPH
Philadelphia Coach
Yard
HAMMOND, LEON
Phila. 30th Street
Station
LENTELLE, PAUL
Wilmington Shops
LEWIS, CARL
Perryville M/W Base
ALDRIDGE, ROBERT
Portland Station
ALVIES, RUDOLPH
Beech Grove Maint.
Facility
AVINGTON-KEY,
SHARON
Emeryville Station
BAGGETT, MICHAEL
Chicago Crew Base
BEHRLE, DOUGLAS
Wilmington Shops
BERRYMAN BEY JR,
DANIEL
Quad Ave. M/W Base,
Balitmore, Md.
BODTMANN,
MARTIN
Phila. 30th Street
Station
GELLOCK, JOSEPH
Engineering
KLEIN, ANNE
Wilmington Shops
CASTRO, MARIO
W. Oakland Maint.
Facility
GILL, ROBERT
Transportation Bldg.,
Wash., D.C.
LACEY, JOHN
Boston South Station
COLLINS, ROBERT
New York Penn
Station
HAYGOOD,
THOMAS
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
COMBS, DORIS
Phila. 30th Street
Station
HENDERSON, JESSE
Richmond Station
COOK, THOMAS
Wash., D.C., Union
Station
HODGEN, BRENDA
Material Control
Facility
CROMPTON,
MITCHELL
Rensselaer Mech.
Facility
HOOK, KATHLEEN
Calif. Reservation
Sales Office
CROUCH, RONALD
Beech Grove Maint.
Facility
DANIELS, ROBERT
Sunnyside Yard N.Y.
HORN, JESS
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
JAMES, FRANK
New Orleans Station
DELGADO, JESUS
Los Angeles Offices
JOHNSON, BARRY
Phila. 30th Street
Station
DOMINICK, JOHN
Boston South Station
JONES, LARRY
Miami Station
FLINT, WILLIAM
MOW Base, New
Haven, Conn.
KEAT, STEVEN
New York Penn
Station
LAW, CLIFFORD
NW Base, N.
Brunswick, NJ
LEACH, STEPHEN
Oakland Station
LITTLE, JOHN
Miami Mechanical
Yard
MATTHEWS, DAVID
Indianapolis Stn.Illinois St.
MOON, DORIS
Pa. Reservation &
Sales Office
MOONEY, PATRICK
Wilmington Shops
MURPHY, JOSEPH
Sunnyside Yard N.Y.
SCHWEITZER,
STEPHEN
Los Angeles Offices
SEITZ, SHARYN
Amtrak Corp. HQ
STIDHAM, ROBERT
Wilmington Shops
TAMASI, RICHARD
NW Base
THOMPSON, LINDA
Chicago Mech. &
Terminal Offices
VOSS, VICKI
Calif Reservation
Sales Office
WALL, TOMMY
Meridian Station
WHITELY, KEVIN
New York Penn
Station
MYERS, JOHN
Wilmington Shops
O'DELL, CURTIS
DC Coach Yard
OLIVEIRA,
BARBARA
Sacramento Station
RABUCK, JACK
Quad Ave. M/W Base,
Baltimore, Md.
Amtrak Ink
December-January 2013
|
19
60 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20002
To change your address, sign onto the Employee Information
Portal or complete an NRPC 2001 form and submit according to
the directions.
In Amtrak History
DECEMBER 17, 1989
On this date in Amtrak history, the third San Joaquin roundtrip went
into service between Bakersfield, Calif., and Oakland. In fiscal year
2012, the now 12 daily trains serving the line experienced a ridership
increase of 7.2 percent and a record-breaking 1.1 million riders.
Presorted
Standard
U.S. Postage
PAID
Des Moines, IA
Permit No. XXX