ink
A Monthly Publication for and by Amtrak Employees
Volume 19 • Issue 4 • May 2014
Long-Distance
All-Star Employees
Meet the State
Supported Services GM
Boston Marathon Runner
Helps Vets to Finish Line
Train of Thought
rom March 31 to April 3, I had the
officials. This trip allowed me to see firsthand
opportunity to visit several southern
our relationship with these communities and
communities served by Amtrak. Traveling
how much officials and residents know about
from Alabama to Mississippi and down
and value our service. Amtrak bolsters these
to New Orleans, I had the chance to meet
towns and cities by offering an important link
with local elected and community officials.
to our nationwide transportation system. One
I attended more than 15
hears a lot about “southern hosevents in three days and was
pitality”—and now I know that
impressed with the way these
it indeed exists. I was deeply
officials were engaged and
touched by how much those
in tune with the message I
communities value the Crescent
delivered.
and City of New Orleans.
I wanted to stress the value
Ultimately, that value needs
that our long-distance services
to be expressed all the way
bring to their towns and counup to the federal level where
ties. My visit had a purpose: I
our proposed budget is under
wanted to make sure that local
review. Local leaders need to
elected officials understand the
send a message to Washington
Joseph H. Boardman that they want Congress to fully
responsibility they have in maintaining passenger rail service to
fund Amtrak long-distance
their communities. I wanted to remind them
services. We are dedicated to sustaining serthat they need to always reinforce with their
vice—but we need new equipment, we need
elected officials the importance of Amtrak in
station improvements and, in a lot of places,
their communities.
we need track and signal improvements.
It was great to meet and catch up with
Passengers want reliable rail transportation
so many people, but that also meant I had
across the country, and we are willing to
very little downtime and was unable to visit
offer it with the help of our federal and state
employees on this trip. The need to meet and
partners.
talk with local officials is crucial and of the
Over the next few months, I will continue
utmost priority right now.
to visit communities that benefit from our
It is one thing to see the communities
long-distance service. I hope that like my
we serve through the window of a train. It is
trip to the South, visiting other parts of our
another to actually spend time in the town,
great country will strengthen the connection
see the main street and meet with local
between Amtrak and the people we serve. n
Amtrak Government Affairs and Corporate Communications
Joe McHugh, Vice President
Government Affairs &
Corporate Communications
I. Suzi Andiman
Director, Employee
Communications
Liliana Lopez
Sr. Communications Officer
Marlon Sharpe
Principal Graphic Designer
Lisa V. Pulaski
Graphic Designer
Chuck Gomez
Multimedia Specialist
Check out one of our
social media channels today!
2
|
May 2014
Amtrak Ink
Help with our
Safe-2-Safer Goal!
400,000
AA
F
400,000
350,000
300,000
March:
251,871
February:
241,288
January:
230,896
250,000
200,000
The peer-to-peer injury
prevention program,
Safe-2-Safer, has a new
goal of reaching 400,000
observations in Fiscal Year
2014. Track Amtrak’s systemwide progress each month.
Corrections: The April 2014 Issue
of Amtrak Ink, Empire Builder Train
Manager Lisa Simane was omitted
from the map on pages 14–15 in
error. Also, the same issue had the
work location for retiree Ben Jaffe
misprinted. The correct location is
Springfield, Massachusetts. We regret
the errors.
Table of Front Line Focus
Contents
4 This Month’s Leading News
Amtrak Police K-9 Stars. Wolves and Admirals
Rivalry Promotion.
5
Bulletin Board
8
All-Star Employees
The Southeast Region celebrates outstanding employees.
Read about the new recruitment tool.
Read about some of the outstanding employees
who are part of our Long-Distance business line.
12Employee Q&A
15Community
Meet State Supported General Manager Jay Commer.
Safety and Security commitment is part of the
community involvement for this Boston employee.
17Milestones
Employee milestones from March and April 2014
ink
On the Cover
Employees
on for and by Amtrak
A Monthly Publicati
• May 2014
Volume 19 • Issue 4
Northeast Regional
northbound on the
Potomac River at
the peak of the
cherry blossoms.
Long-Distance
es
All Star Employe
Meet the State
GM
ported Services
“I have traveled Amtrak at least twice a month since 2006, prior
to that as well, but not as frequently. I am regularly on Train
66 between Newport News and Alexandria, Virginia, and on
the return Train 67 between Alexandria and Newport News. In
my view, Amtrak personnel at all levels have basically demonstrated high standards of professionalism and customer service.
Conductor Gregory M. Moss’ performance stands out as being
above and beyond the standards expected. I normally encounter him on Saturdays on Train 67.
It is a pleasure to be on board Amtrak when Mr. Moss in on
duty. I commend him to you and hope that his exceptional
service and performance warrant special recognition on the
part of Amtrak. Amtrak is very fortunate to have such a conscientious employee as Mr. Moss who has a tremendous positive
impact on the travels of Amtrak passengers.
Sincerely yours,
Helen G. Skaltsounis
On January 3, 2014, we were assisted by Cynthia Garcia, the
station agent at Diridon Station, San Jose. My son was to be
traveling on the Coast Starlight to Portland but his ticket was
for January 2 not January 3 and the train was full. He needed
to arrive in time for a class. Cynthia realistically explained the
situation to him/us and yet still made numerous efforts to see if
something could be done. We were not the only passengers who
presented her with this dilemma. He was able to board through
her efforts. It is not just because she succeeded in helping him
do so that I am writing this to you. Cynthia demonstrated a
number of attributes of excellent customer service that I am
sure you would like to see in more of your employees. Cynthia
was quietly courteous, respectful, efficient and was willing to
problem solve when she could have easily just said it was not
possible (given our error). The other agents took over other
passengers’ needs while she did this work. It was effective team
work. Please take the time to see the value in what she did that
reflects on Amtrak’s reputation. I do trainings of hospital staff
and their treatment of patients through Stanford University. It is
my hope they would learn something from Cynthia’s behavior.
Regards,
Char Canger
Sup
n Runner
Boston Maratho
sh Line
Helps Vets to Fini
5/5/14 10:21 AM
May INK 2014.2.indd
1
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.
Amtrak Ink
May 2014
|
3
Upcoming News & Promotions
Amtrak Police Department
K-9 Stars Continue to Shine
6
The number of months
that the Amtrak/
Illinois Department of
Transportation “Pets on
Trains” pilot between
Chicago and Quincy on
the Illinois Zephyr and
Carl Sandburg will last.
43
The number of years
Amtrak has been America’s
Railroad.
61
The number of stations
that will complete ADArelated design work in
2014.
313
The approximate number
of National Train Day
events across 50 states
in 2014.
$1741.77
Food and beverage
remittance that Lead
Service Attendant (LSA)
Wendy Jennings averaged
per trip in April 2014 in the
Café car of the Carolinian.
From left to right: K-9 Officer Gibson and Eros, Captain
Deborah Myers and Commander, K-9 Officer Domachowski
and Cruz, K-9 Officer DePhillips and Jude.
The Amtrak Police Department Explosive
Detection Unit was invited, as in years past, to participate in the Railroad Police Canine Nationals
in Allen, Texas. The competition was hosted at the
Allen Police Department K-9 Facility.
The teams of Officer Dephillips-Hoyer and
K-9 Jude of the Mid-Atlantic North Division,
Officer Domachowski and K-9 Cruz of the New
England Division and Officer Gibson and K-9
Eros also of the New England Division represented the Amtrak Police Department in the
explosives detection competition.
Amtrak Police K-9 Teams competed against
teams from CSX, Norfolk Southern, BNSF and
Union Pacific railroads. Training aids were planted
in various objects within a field and teams were
given three minutes to conduct a blind search and
identify “alerts.”
Points were given for correct alerts and
deducted for incorrect alerts. The team of Officer
Domachowski and K-9 Cruz placed second and
the team of Officer Gibson and K-9 Eros placed
fourth. All teams performed exceptionally.
Congratulations.
Discover Some Treasures from Korea
The Philadelphia
Museum of Art is
offering a discount
to Amtrak employees for admission to
Treasures from Korea:
Arts and Culture of
the Joseon Dynasty,
4
|
May 2014
Amtrak Ink
1392–1910. The exhibit runs until May 26, 2014.
In this first full-scale survey devoted to the art of
the celebrated Joseon dynasty, discover a number
of designated national treasures—many of which
have never been outside of Korea—and learn
about kingship and courtly life, Joseon society,
ancestral rites and the role of Confucianism and
Buddhism during this extraordinary dynasty that
spanned half a millennium.
The exhibit shows a variety of objects—including painted screens, scrolls, calligraphy, furnishings,
costumes, accessories and ritual wares used in
ancestral rites and Buddhist worship—that give
visitors the opportunity to learn the roles of king
and court, the distinct spheres of men and women
in society and religious beliefs, all underpinned
by the ideals of Confucianism. According to the
museum, this is the first full-scale American exhibition to be devoted to art of the Joseon dynasty.
Book now and save $5.00 on adult general
admission by using the reference Discount Code
AMTRAKSAVE5 when you visit.
Chicago Wolves and
Milwaukee Admirals Rivalry
American Hockey League Chicago Wolves and Milwaukee
Admirals ride Amtrak.
Amtrak once again partnered with the
Chicago Wolves and Milwaukee Admirals hockey
teams for a series of rivalry games. This year,
Amtrak offered eight prizes for two games of the
season. Winners won a family-4-pack to a game in
Chicago or Milwaukee and were chosen by summiting a comment to our Amtrak Facebook page.
The social media sweepstake was promoted
on the Amtrak blog and Facebook. The team
mascots rode the train en route to and from the
games. n
Bulletin Board
Silver Service team members participate in the celebration. From left to right: Vaudy Joseph, Jackie Rutledge, Cheryl Smith, David Lambert, Ashok Kumar,
Christopher Beyer.
Southeast Region Celebrates
Outstanding Employees
In support of our Strategic Plan,
various efforts to improve our customers’ experience are taking place
in the company. On February 21,
2014, the Silver Service route group
celebrated the efforts of employees
from Mechanical, On-Board Service,
Stations and Engineering with 120
awards. Among the award categories
were perfect attendance, above and
beyond, cleanest restrooms and other
services that improve the customers’
experience. Train Attendant Vaudy
Joseph was honored as the “customer
service king” for receiving the most
praise in the entire country.
The employees were rated by customer reviews, inspections en route by
managers and fellow employees, highest revenue aboard the train and chefs
who prepared the most meals.
“It is important that we recognize
our people on a regular basis and let
them know that we appreciate all
the work they do,” said Silver Service
Route Director Karen Shannon. “We
recognize our top performers in a
financially responsible manner and the
response has been overwhelming. It is
the first time that we included everyone. It is more than those who deal
directly with the customers but also
the ones behind the scene.”
Celebrations also took place on
April 10, 2014, for employees of the
Auto Train and celebrations are coming for the Crescent and City of New
Orleans employees in early May.
Living the Safety
and Security Goal
One of our strategic goals is Safety
and Security to ensure that every
passenger and employee goes home
injury-free every day. On March 20,
2014, Amtrak Emergency Management
and Corporate Security (EMCS)
Regional Manager David B. Albert
graduated from the Federal Emergency
Emergency Management and Corporate Security Regional Manager David B. Albert (right) is
congratulated by Emergency Management Institute Acting Deputy Superintendent Edward Smith (left)
after completing the National Emergency Management Academy training.
Amtrak Ink
May 2014
|
5
Bulletin Board
Management Agency’s (FEMA)
National Emergency Management
Academy at the Emergency
Management Institute. Albert completed a full curriculum providing the
knowledge and skills to help him meet
the unpredictable challenges in the
field of emergency management. The training included five courses
including Foundations of Emergency
Management, Science of Disaster,
Planning: Emergency Operations,
Exercise Design and Public Information
and Warning. To graduate, he fulfilled a
total of 167 hours of training. According to the academy, the
training offers the tools to develop
comprehensive foundational skills
needed in emergency management and
it also provides a unique opportunity
to build camaraderie and establish
professional contacts.
Students also learned to understand the roles, responsibilities and
legal boundaries associated with emergency management.
Amtrak New
Recruiting System
Amtrak is excited to announce that
on April 1, 2014, our new recruiting
system, My CareerTrak Recruiting
Amtrak celebrates Wrigley’s
Field centennial
Amtrak is celebrating Wrigley
Field’s 100th anniversary. Amtrak
is a sponsor of Wrigley Field & the
Chicago Cubs for the 2014 Major
League Baseball (MLB) season.
When at Chicago Union Station,
Amtrak passengers and Cubs
fans alike can see the co-branded
wallscape located in the breezeway
between the main hall and Amtrak
ticketing area. At Wrigley Field, Cubs
fans can use charging stations powered by Amtrak that can be used to
charge phones and learn about the
impact trains have had on the game of
baseball on an attached video display.
Management System (RMS), successfully launched. The first candidate
applied within minutes of the first job
being posted to the site. To date RMS
has received over 100,000 visitors
and over 10,000 applications, with
this number growing each day. “I am
very pleased to see the early success
of Amtrak’s new recruitment portal,
demonstrated by the unusually high
number of visits to our site,” said
President and CEO Joe Boardman.
Steps for Applying for Positions within My CareerTrak RMS:
For Non-Agreement Employees: Access My CareerTrak via the Employee
Information Portal (EIP) > select the Home dropdown > select Careers
For Agreement Employees: Visit https://VPNedge.amtrak.com and login with
your User ID or SAP number and password > click the Amtrak Employee
icon > select the EIP > select Career & Jobs [to access My CareerTrak] >
select the Home dropdown
1.Perform a job search by entering in the fields to narrow your search >
click View Jobs
2.Click the Select Action dropdown arrow and choose Apply
3.Complete all required fields and sections in the application including
which are denoted by an asterisk (*) and optional information under
Voluntary Information
4.Click Apply
6
|
May 2014
Amtrak Ink
“Our old recruitment portal was
cumbersome and a definite deterrent
to attracting talent and filling jobs.
With all of the exciting initiatives that
Amtrak is undertaking, we need to fill
our positions with the best and brightest candidates. And the process should
be easy and quick.”
Before applying for an open
position you should first update your
Personal Profile to highlight current information about your work
experience and career aspirations
by selecting “Employee Files” in My
CareerTrak. After updating your
Personal Profile, you are ready to
start searching for and applying for
jobs. Following the steps (to the left)
will enable you to apply for positions within My CareerTrak RMS.
As a current Amtrak employee it is
important that you only apply using
the internal Amtrak career site so you
benefit from priority review of your
application.
Interested in learning more about
how to apply for a new position via
My CareerTrak RMS? Please visit the
My CareerTrak Wiki Page or email
[email protected]. n
Safety Barrier Removal
Fall protection was improved in the Chicago 16th Street Locomotive
Facility with the installation of a beam that provides a different
secure point for the harness and lanyard that employees wear for
fall protection. When the trap door opens, it opens to a 30-feet
drop. Employees working on the diesel locomotives in the shop
have to wear the harness and lanyard to protect them from falling.
Before the beam was installed, if an employee fell, he/she had
the risk of swinging into one of the sides of the pit and possibly
sustaining an injury. “This barrier removal has made their job easier
and people appreciate that,” said Jeffery Wright, Safe-2-Safer
facilitator from Central Region Mechanical.
Amtrak Ink May 2014 | 7
Not Just Customer Focus: People Focus
“N
o one deserves to be
hungry,” says Lead
Service Attendant
Twanna Comer. “I can recall the times
when sometimes passengers come
up to the Café car and some of them
don’t have enough money to buy food
during their trip. You can easily figure
out when they only had money for
their ticket, but no money for food. I
sometimes take money out of my tip
jar and help them pay for the food.
Sometimes they are on a train for eight
to 10 hours with nothing to eat.”
Comer has been an Amtrak
employee for a little over three years.
She knows what being financially
insecure means. Before working for
Amtrak, Comer, a single mother, was
unemployed for two years. For Comer,
helping out passengers is more than just
customer service, and her passengers
and managers know this. “Ms. Comer
worked Train 49 during a recent service
disruption and the train was over nine
hours late. Ms. Comer received letters
of commendation from four passengers
stating how professional she was during
the entire trip,” said On-Board Service
Manager for Long-Distance Service
East Claudia Butler.
But letters of praise and customer
praise-to-complaint ratio scores are
not the only measure by which many
Amtrak Long-Distance employees
are getting noticed for going above
and beyond the call of duty. One
of Amtrak’s corporate goals is customer focus, but how do we describe
Customer Focus on a day-to-day basis?
People from across the Long-Distance
business line shared some of the stories of those who exemplify living the
goal of Customer Focus.
Long-Distance General Manager
Mark Murphy calls these employees
8 | May 2014 Amtrak Ink
“All-Stars.” Murphy has challenged
members of different parts of the
business line to recognize fellow
employees who we know are doing an
outstanding job at customer service.
“I am trying to identify the men and
women who are truly getting the job
done and I want them to be acknowledged by everyone as the true movers
and shakers in the Long-Distance
business. My intention is not to reduce
or devalue the contribution of the vast
majority who are doing a fine, fine job,
but to recognize those who are truly
moving the needle forward and everyone knows it,” Murphy says.
Charity Escobedo, station agent
and the one-person team at the station in Temple, Texas, is one of those
employees who moves the needle forward, says Texas District Manager Jesse
Padilla. “Charity is always on top of
the game, helping when asked, treating
our customers with excellent customer
service and knowing her job well,”
Padilla says. “She is indeed an All-Star
for us in Texas. She is very unassuming,
Charity Escobedo
quiet, does not like attention, but she
certainly deserves recognition.”
Many of these employees do their
jobs in outstanding ways, not because
they are trying to reach a goal but
because they believe it is the right thing
to do. According to Train Attendant
Joseph Leonard, who has been an
Amtrak employee for 25 years, being
an All-Star Long-Distance employee is
just part of being an Amtrak employee.
“Work hard and have a loyalty to the
company and the people who you
serve and there are rewards. Those
rewards don’t have to be monetary. The
reward is the realization that we are a
company of service and our customers
notice,” says Leonard.
Employees who don’t
just transport people:
they move them
According to the Amtrak Strategic
Plan, our Customer Focus goal means
to acquire and retain the most satisfied customers of any travel company
in the world. All-Star Long-Distance
employees live this goal everyday by
simply doing their job. According to
them, people want to be treated well
and they treat customers the way they
would like to be treated as customers.
It is a simple concept that works.
“When I am at work I think how
I would like to be treated if I were a
passenger riding the train. Customer
service is everything. It is important
for the business. It is our business.
Treat them well from the first time and
they will come back. Your first impression is your last impression, and I live
by that,” says Comer. “You need a
friendly face. You put in what you want
back. I can’t see myself going to work
and having a bad attitude.”
“A passenger called me to say that
Mr. Leonard was an excellent employee
who provided ‘awesome’ service to his
family on a recent trip. Apparently one
of his children was sick and Joe went
out of his way to make sure that the
child was comfortable,” said Butler.
“People never forget how you
make them feel. Sometimes we deal
with difficult situations and people.
Those situations can change with the
way we treat people. We are all entitled
to bad days, but I am always conscious
that you need to be nice and kind to
people. I keep reminding myself, that
could be me,” says Leonard.
“Charity is an awesome individual.
She handles everything in the station.
Customers will come in and ask for
her. They will come back for her. She
goes out of her way for all of her customers,” says Padilla. “When I visit
the station I notice the number of customers that come in and know her by
name. And when they see me and find
out I am her manager, they immediately proceed to share how wonderful
she is, pleasant, kind and very good
with her customers.”
“I love my passengers. I work
here alone and the passengers are
one of the best parts of my job,” says
Escobedo. “If you realize what you
have, then you take care of it.” She is
the only staff employee at the small
station where she takes care of everything. The station serves two trains
a day. She spends the day answering
questions and helping people all the
time. According to Escobedo, the station is a big part of the community. “I
look at it as if they were my family or
a family member. How would I treat
them if they were the ones traveling?
My job is about the people. I treat others how I want to be treated,” she says.
Moving the needle
Moving the needle means going
above and beyond expectations. The
ways that these employees move the
needle is not just within their jobs, but
also within their lives.
During his 25 years with Amtrak,
Joseph Leonard has had the opportunity to participate in many
activities that have helped Amtrak
move forward and also be a part of
the community. Leonard was part
of the crew during the debut of the
Carolinian, which was really important for him since he is originally from
North Carolina. Leonard was also part
of the Nickelodeon train crew for the
opening of Universal Studios. “We
picked up all these kids and we had the
best time,” he says. He says that he also
trained employees for the Viewliner
sleeper and was also part of the original crew during the introduction of
Wi-Fi in the system.
Escobedo has taken the initiative
to find ways to increase the traffic
to the Temple station. According to
Padilla, Escobedo took the lead by
providing signage for the Fort Hood/
Killeen Thruway bus service from and
to the Temple station. She worked with
the Fort Hood Command to meet all
of its requirements for signage and
obtained and placed the signs. “People
come back and tell me how grateful
they are. By having the shuttle bus
between Fort Hood and the station,
we help to increase our ridership. It is
more affordable for families to travel
by train. That makes a big difference
for these families,” Escobedo says.
Most recently, she asked for the
opportunity to handle checked baggage at her station and is working to
implement a “baggage light” process—
in which customers can check in the
luggage even when the station is not
attended. The process uses red tags to
attract the attention of the Conductors.
According to Escobedo, she wanted to
bring this service to Temple because
families from the military base travel
with more bags.
For Comer, her job at Amtrak
means more traveling and being away
from home.” I don’t get a chance to
Joseph Leonard
spend as much time with my son as I
used to,” she says. “When I am home we
try to get out and do things as a family.”
But she is glad to have the opportunity
to offer her service to the customers
even if that means a different schedule.
Bottom line: If you love what
you do, it shows in your work
“I enjoy meeting new people every
day. I love to talk with the passengers.
I come across people from other countries who have never been to the U.S.
and have the opportunity to make a
first impression on them. I learn a lot
every day,” says Comer.
“It is not just one thing I love
about my job, I enjoy working here, I
like the people and I enjoy problem
solving and taking ownership of my
work,” adds Escobedo.
I enjoy people,” says Leonard. “It is
not just a job and getting a paycheck, it
is going to work and giving a service—
quality service.”
We all notice those peers who are
All-Star Long-Distance employees.
Reach out to Ink at [email protected]
and let us know who they are and
why. n
Amtrak Ink
May 2014
|
9
Switching to Efficiency
This past Earth Day, Amtrak unveiled the first
GenSet locomotive that will be used at Washington
Union Station. The new GenSet engines will
require approximately 50 percent less fuel and
produce significantly less pollutant emissions.
Existing switchers have one large engine that idles
continuously when in service, while the GenSet has
two smaller, independently-controlled engines that
shut down when not needed.
The unveiling event at Washington Union station was part of Earth
Day celebrations.
From left to right: Washington, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson,
Locomotive Engineer Herbert Harris Jr., Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent C.
Gray, U.S. Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton and Metropolitan Washington Air
Quality Committee Chairman David Snyder.
One of the existing switcher locomotives that will be rebuilt as a GenSet.
10 | May 2014 Amtrak Ink
Crew from the Weather Channel board the switcher locomotive
to report on the new technology as part of their Earth Day special
broadcast.
The GenSet technology reduces direct exposure of locomotive engineers
and rail employees to diesel emissions and contributes to improved air
quality for the surrounding neighborhoods.
Amtrak Ink May 2014 | 11
Employee Q&A
Jay Commer, General Manager, State Supported Services
I
n February 2013, Jay Commer
became the general manager (GM)
for State Supported Services. In his
position Commer is responsible
for functions of the Transportation,
Mechanical and Engineering
departments within this business line.
He is based in Oakland, California.
Mr. Commer has 26 years of Amtrak
experience. Prior to this position, Mr.
Commer was general superintendent,
Pacific Division. Amtrak Ink had the
opportunity to ask Mr. Commer about
his role and experience at Amtrak.
What are your priorities as the GM
of the State Supported Services?
As general manager of the State
Supported Services, I have both direct
and shared oversight responsibilities
for the financial and operating performance for 19 state and local agency
operating agreements covering 29 supported routes. One of my top priorities
|
What is your take on leadership?
To me, effective leadership
involves stepping outside one’s
comfort zone to be able to identify and react to opportunities that
advance the strategies, plans and
ideas of an organization. To do this
successfully you need to have the
right mix of talent and resources in
place. Too often people get caught up
in the “traditional” (we have always
done it this way) mindset and miss out
on new ideas and innovations that
may be right in front of them. I feel
strongly that an effective leader sees
and understands that there are opportunities in every risk and, conversely,
risks in every opportunity, and is able
to analyze, communicate and take
advantage of these situations.
What is the biggest opportunity for
the State Supported service?
Our biggest opportunity is to
demonstrate that Amtrak is truly an
important partner in the operation of
short distance intercity and commuter
rail services. The implementation
of the Passenger Rail Investment
Jay Commer
12
is to continue to develop, implement
and align a State Supported Corridors
business line structure that continually evolves and conforms to the
wants, needs and visions of our state
and agency partners and that, at a
minimum, meets but more often
than not, exceeds expectations. In
short, enhance the partnership with
our state and local agency partners,
where each partner values, respects
and recognizes the opinions, visions,
contributions and decisions made
both individually and collaboratively
toward the common goal.
May 2014
Amtrak Ink
and Improvement Act (PRIIA) has
expanded the already competitive
arena and we continue to encounter
more and more competition for services we currently provide. Amtrak
employees have much to be proud of
in their delivery of safe, reliable and
accountable services to our customers.
By focusing on providing more cost
effective, customer focused and market
competitive services and by building
and strengthening relationships with
current and potential state partners,
we will clearly show the “value added”
that Amtrak brings and will position
Amtrak for continual growth for years
to come.
Are you an optimist? With all our
challenges, how do you bring
optimism to Amtrak?
I certainly feel I lean more on
the side of being an optimist versus
a pessimist in the everyday things I
do. That being said, I can also tell you
there are challenging days and situations that test my optimism, but the
number of good days far outweighs
the not-so-good ones. I like to think I
bring good business judgment and a
balanced approach to the challenges
encountered. How can one not be an
optimist given the fact that we have
all smiled and politely disagreed
with that nay-sayer who said Amtrak
would be out of business in the year
2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, etc… Well it’s
the year 2014 and we’re still alive and
well and kicking even better than
before…
What does being collaborative
mean to you? How do you get
everyone in your team engaged?
Collaboration is extremely import-
Employee Q&A
ant to the success of the team and
the accomplishments we are striving
to achieve. Over the past few years,
it seems that the word has gained
official “buzz word” status. To me,
collaboration is not a bunch of people
sitting in a conference room nodding
their heads in approval, it’s not about
responding to an e-mail request for
feedback with a quick reply-to-all
stating, “Good with me” and most of
all, it’s not about a leader pushing his/
her own views to a completed product
and calling it a collaborative decision.
To my team and me, collaboration
means listening, sharing, motivating
and learning together. It may range
from getting together for a brown bag
lunch, a spontaneous, informal meeting
of the minds or a full blown structured
meeting to come up with the best solution or direction. In any event, I am
proud to say that my team is extremely
engaged and involved, not with just
their area of focus, but also with what
is happening across all the business
lines. Collaboration is essential across
all the business lines as we all share
oversight and responsibility of the services that make up the national train
network. We are will succeed or fail
together as a team.
What has prepared
you for this role?
I think the fact that during my
38 years in the railroad industry,
nothing has ever been handed to me;
I have always had to work hard for
what I have achieved. Each position
I have held during my career, beginning with that of a Southern Pacific
brakeman in 1976, has had its own
share of unique challenges, rewards
and learning requirements that have
continually contributed to the experience and preparations needed for
the various positions I have held.
Throughout my career, I have had the
good fortune to be able to work with
and learn from some dedicated and
experienced people who have passed
along some true railroad savvy that
you won’t find in your standard text
books or manual.
What attracted you
to a career in the railroad?
I guess you could say, following
in the family footsteps… my dad,
grandfather and uncle all worked on
the railroad. I can remember as a kid,
those Sunday dinners at my grandparents’ house and listening to the three
of them tell and laugh about their
“war” stories of the week. It somehow
seemed that “railroading” was in their
blood and they truly enjoyed it. Turns
out it was in mine too.
What do you love about Amtrak?
To borrow from an old recruitment slogan for the U.S. Navy, “It’s
not just a Job, it’s an Adventure.”
Working for Amtrak has afforded me
the opportunity to learn a great deal
about the inner workings of passenger rail transportation, politics and
federal, state and local Governments
in general, all while getting to meet
and form relationships with a host of
co-workers and acquaintances across
the nation. I can honestly say that
every day brings new and different
challenges and opportunities. I am
continually learning and am continually amazed how resourceful and
creative people are when confronted
with these challenges and opportunities while also having to do their
normal daily duties. I can honestly say
that, during my 27 years with Amtrak,
I have had very few dull moments and
I prefer it that way.
What is one of the most memorable
moments that you recall about
being an Amtrak employee?
There are many memories and
experiences I have encountered
throughout my time at Amtrak, many
happy, some sad, but all cherished
remembrances. I don’t really think I
can separate just one as a most memorable one. Throughout the good and
bad times, the thing that seems to
remain a constant in each and every
memory is that of the caring, compassion and outpouring of genuineness
displayed by so many employees
system wide. n
Jay Commer:
Jay Commer:
General
Manager
General
ManagerServices
State
Supported
State Supported Services
Kurt Laird:
Kurt Laird:
Deputy General Manager
Deputy General Manager
Pacific Northwest Region
Pacific Northwest Region
Jeff
Jeff Duncan:
Duncan:
Superintendent
Superintendent
Mechanical
Mechanical
Lou
Lou Bellotti:
Bellotti:
Deputy
Manager
Deputy General
General Manager
California
Supported
California State Supported
Services
Services
Keith Nelson:
Keith
Superintendent
Superintendent
Mechanical
Mechanical
Amtrak Ink
May 2014
|
13
Showing the Value of the Northeast Corridor
A
new report details how the
Northeast Corridor (NEC),
carrying 750,000 daily Amtrak
and commuter passengers, is a critical
national asset, an economic engine
for the United States and contributes
about $50 billion a year to the national
economy.
The report called The Northeast
Corridor and the American Economy,
released on April 7, 2014, was prepared by the NEC Infrastructure and
Operations Advisory Commission
(NEC Commission). According to the
report, a loss of the NEC for a single
day would cost nearly $100 million in
transportation-related impacts and
productivity losses.
The NEC rail line from Washington,
D.C., to New York to Boston is a shared
asset, used and supported by Amtrak,
eight commuter rail operators and four
freight railroads and connects eight
states and the District of Columbia.
Among the most significant findings of the report:
• The region’s annual economic
output totals $3 trillion. On its
own, the NEC region would be
the fifth largest economy in the
world, ahead of France and just
behind Germany.
• The NEC’s commuter rail and
Amtrak intercity services move
750,000 people each day, and
NEC commuters contribute more
than $50 billion annually to the
national economy.
• The NEC carries more passengers
within the NEC region than all
the airlines combined, and connects to the national freight rail
network allowing Midwestern
businesses and manufacturers to
access East Coast ports and the
global economy.
• Annual retail visitor spending by
people using the NEC rail network is approximately $5.5 billion
per year.
A previous report produced
by the NEC Commission, Critical
Infrastructure Needs on the Northeast
Corridor, “recognizes that additional
investment is necessary to renew and
enhance the NEC as a world-class,
high-performance rail corridor supporting the economic development
and international competitiveness of
the region and the nation.”
According to the current report,
the economic activity generated by
the NEC relies on investments borrowed from another era, including
Civil War-era tunnels in Baltimore,
hundreds of century-old bridges in
need of replacement and repair and
an electrical system that dates back to
the 1930s.
“Our leaders in Washington need
to read this report to understand the
economic risk they are taking if they
don’t act now to reverse decades of
underinvestment in the aging and
deteriorating infrastructure of the
NEC,” said Amtrak President and
CEO Joe Boardman.
The report can be found by visiting: www.nec-commission.com/reports/
nec-and-american-economy.
Amtrak is a member of the NEC
Commission and worked closely with
NEC Commission staff and other
participating agencies, including
Northeast states, and commuter and
freight railroads in the creation of this
report. n
Connecting Residents to Jobs
7 million jobs
Located within five miles
of all NEC Stations
710,000
Daily commuter rail
riders on the NEC
Connecting Residents to Jobs
14
|
May 2014
$50 billion
Annual contribution to the national
economy by workers who use the NEC
40,000
Daily Amtrak riders
on the NEC
Source: Northeast Corridor Commission
Amtrak Ink
Community
Helping Vets to the Finish Line
A
mtrak Ink features a Community section which highlights how our company and our employees make a difference in the
communities we serve. In this issue, we remember the events that happened a year ago during the Boston Marathon, and
we learn more about one of our employees who lives the corporate goals of Safety and Security and Customer Service even
during his time off. Meet Steve Pugsley who has been an Amtrak employee for five and a half years and is the regional emergency
manager for region one of Amtrak Emergency Management and Corporate Security department.
You have run the Boston Marathon
for 18 consecutive years. What was
your experience like this year?
Emotional!
Last year I was stopped about a
mile and a half prior to the finish line. I
had seen my family back around mile
17 at the beginning of the hills and
they were then to head into the finish
line. My one year old granddaughter
had been waiting for Papa to arrive as
she had been told over and over while
waiting that Papa was coming. After
exchanging sweaty hugs with the whole
family I started running again and she
cried because after the long wait Papa
had just arrived and now he was leaving.
Shortly before being stopped on the
course I sensed something was not right
and asked a local police officer what
was going on. He told me of the bombs
which had exploded at the finish line
area. All I could think of was my granddaughter and her safety. A few steps
later I saw a girl standing all alone. It
was my daughter’s college friend who
normally would not be in that area (an
angel sent from above!). We called my
daughter and were able to get through
just before all cell service was shut off.
Everyone was safe so I hugged her,
shed a tear and I ran away until I was
stopped for good a short time later.
This year was, to put it in Boston
vernacular, “wicked awesome” as the
crowds were larger than ever; the
runners, police, fire, military and emergency medical services (EMS) all came
together. After what we all endured
last year, everyone truly embraced the
The U.S. Flag, which flew over the U.S. Capitol,
was presented to Steve Puglesy by the military
in appreciation for the support given in the
marathon. Standing to the right of Steve Puglsey
is Rich “Doc” Barbaro who is a retired Army
Major and dentist at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.
Boston Strong mantra. It was emotional to say the least. I got choked up
when I saw my family near mile 17,
and when I passed the spot where I
had met my daughter’s college friend
and the spot where I was directed
off the course. Finally, coming down
Boylston Street toward the finish line
was a crescendo of emotions which
culminated when I saw my family
in the stands at the finish line. After
crossing I shed some tears and thanked
God for all I have been blessed with.
Tell us about the program that
helps veterans participate in the
Boston Marathon?
The Massachusetts State Police
fields a team of 60-70 runners each year
in the marathon, most of them active
and a few like me who are retired.
We have expanded our program and
include Boston Police, Boston Fire,
EMS and local and federal law enforcement officers from around the country
and Canada. The program has grown to
approximately 600 runners per year.
Approximately seven years ago
we began to include deployed military
veterans.
These veterans have all deployed
to war zones and come from every
branch of the Armed Forces. The
Boston Athletic Association (marathon organization) has worked with
us to allow these runners a discounted
entry fee. They also waive their qualifying times as the veterans would have
been unable to prepare to qualify for
the race while deployed.
We procure discounted hotel
rooms, commemorative shirts, pins
and other trinkets as a small token of
appreciation for all they have done
for our great country. They have four
buses in our entourage designated
exclusively for them.
Our 19 coach bus motorcade is
escorted to the starting line by the
State Police motorcycle unit. There they
are able to relax in a private lot where
we have coffee, water, juice and food
available to them. A Catholic mass is
celebrated for all wishing to attend.
Many of the military do. When the time
arrives for their particular starting wave
to begin the runners enter the corrals
for their journey back to Boston.
After they finish we escort them on
the coach buses to the Boston Athletic
Club for showers, food, a beer or two
Amtrak Ink
May 2014
|
15
Community
and some great stories of their marathon experience. The military runners
truly appreciate this small gesture and
have stated that the bus rides have
been therapeutic in their sharing with
fellow war veterans.
What is one of the most important
lessons that you have learned
running the marathon?
Never quit. Running a marathon
distance takes endurance, preparation
and most importantly mental toughness. These attributes are critical to law
enforcement and now emergency management as well. Staying physically fit
is important in these fields.
More importantly is the lesson we
teach to our families and others. If you
can prepare for and complete a marathon, you can do anything you put
your mind to. My wife, two daughters,
daughter-in-law and son-in-law have
all taken the challenge and completed
marathons with me.
I have always tried to set an
example for my children and now
grandchildren. Whether it is completing an advanced degree in criminal
justice or completing law school, all
while working full time, these lessons
of hard work and perseverance are
passed on to them.
Last Sunday I completed the Big
Sur Marathon in California six days
after the Boston Marathon; part of
Running the marathon in Big Sur, California.
16
|
May 2014
Amtrak Ink
the B-2-B Challenge (Boston to Big
Sur—2 marathons, 2 coasts, 6 days).
It was my 39th marathon overall and
another test of mental toughness. This
is the persistent message I send to the
kids. Continue to push yourself and
you will excel at anything in life.
Tell us a little bit about the
other community events
that you participate in?
I have always been active in my
community. My mother instilled that
in me in a very young age. I have been
blessed with health, a beautiful wife,
four fantastic children, five adorable
grandchildren, a great daughter-in-law
and son-in-law, not to mention a great
career in law enforcement and now
an excellent job at Amtrak. The Bible
states “to whom much is given, much is
expected in return.” I have been given
much and I try to give back as much
in return.
I have been very active in my
parish church for as long as I can
remember, doing whatever is asked
of me and my family. I have taught
religious education, volunteered with
the youth group and still give talks to
high school confirmation candidates on
moral choices in life. Our men’s prayer
group has also prepared and served
meals at the local food pantry.
Another area which our whole
family is involved with is an organization called My
Brother’s Keeper
(MBK). During the
year, food and furniture are delivered
to needy people
through the greater
Boston area. At
the end of each
delivery as people
are thanking you
for what you have
done a simple
crucifix is handed
to them and they
are told “don’t thank us, we are just
the delivery people, He is the one who
sent it.” It is powerful!
At Christmas close to 2,500 families
and 10,000 people are served by MBK.
The furniture and food warehouse
is transformed to Santa’s workshop
where volunteers shop the shelves and
wrap the gifts for the needy. Another
group runs around making deliveries
right up until Christmas Eve. This is
perhaps the most exciting time of the
year for our family and we look forward to it each year.
Another area of involvement
has been coaching in a special needs
hockey program which my brother-inlaw began. His son has autism and was
unable to play in the more conventional
hockey programs. The boys and girls
who play are mostly autistic, have some
type of developmental disabilities, or
have Down’s Syndrome. Many have
siblings in hockey programs and the
parents often times thought their children would never have the chance to
play as the other siblings did. These kids
take to hockey very quickly and love it.
One of our goals is Safety and
Security. As a member of the
EMCS team, how do you tie
in all these community events
and your job at Amtrak?
Caring, compassion and genuine
concern for your fellow human beings
should be the hallmark of any community involvement. I try to bring these
same traits to my job as an emergency
manager. It is important to approach
everything I do with these same characteristics whether I am teaching internal
Block Training or external local first
responders, reviewing security plans,
or in daily interactions with fellow
employees or passengers. As stated previously I have been truly blessed, and
if I can dedicate my professional life
to making Amtrak employees and our
customers safer and more secure I consider it a duty and honor to do so. n
Employee Milestones
Congratulations to All of You!
25-Year
Anniversary
March 2014
ADAMS, COCOA
Los Angeles Offices
ADDISON,
CHRISTOPHER
Los Angeles Offices
ALLEN, ROBERT
Ivy City Maintenance
Facility
BECKLEY, LEWIS
Sanford Station
BLOMQUIST, JOHN
Bear Car Shop
BOOTH, TERESA
Chicago Locomotive
Shop
BROWN, LATIECE
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
BURSE, MINNIE
New York Penn
Station
CABELLO, ROBERT
Chicago Mechanical
&Terminal Offices
CASTA, CARL
N.Y. Sunnyside Yard
CERRA, SCOTT
Trenton Station
FARRIS, RAYMOND
New York Penn
Station
FOUYOLLE, PATRICK
N.Y. Sunnyside Yard
LATIFF, MICHAEL
Amtrak Corporate
Headquarters
GALIMORE, GARY
Chicago Locomotive
Shop
LEONARD, JOSEPH
New York Penn
Station
GERY, CRAIG
C&S Repair Shop
Lancaster, Pa.
MARTINEZ, LOUIE
Los Angeles Offices
GITTENS, KIRT
C&S Construction
Linden, N.J.
GLATTHORN, JAMES
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
GUADALUPE, FRANK
New York Division
Headquarters
HALL, LAZRUS
New York Penn
Station
HATZOLD, ANTHONY
New York Penn
Station
HEAPHY, JOHN
Mechanical Office
New Haven, Conn.
HENSLEY, DANIEL
Los Angeles Offices
COLEMAN, PATRICIA
Richmond Station
HICKS, ELIZABETH
Mid-Atlantic
Reservation Sales
Office
COLLINS, JUSTIN
Washington Union
Station
HOGAN, FRANCIS
CNOC
Wilmington, Del.
CORNISH, HERMAN
Washington Union
Station
JAMES, RUPERT
Ivy City Maintenance
Facility
COVARRUBIAS,
ALBERTO
San Diego Station/
Mechanical
JEFFERS, BRIAN
Rensselaer Mechanical
Facility
DITURSI, DANNY
N.Y. Sunnyside Yard
DOUGLAS, MARIE
Atlanta Station
KONKOL, DANUTA
N.Y. Sunnyside Yard
JIGGETTS, EUGENE
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
JOHNSTON, ERIC
New York Penn
Station
MC CLUNEY, LOWELL
N.Y. Sunnyside Yard
MC LEMORE, JOHN
Richmond Station
MCKINLEY, ROBERT
Bear Car Shop
MCNAMEE,
CHRISTOPHER
CNOC
Wilmington, Del.
MOBLEY,
JACQUELINE
Transportation
Building
Washington, D.C.
OMANIKEWEATHERSBY, AKU
Riverside Reservation
Sales Office
PARHAM, KRISTIN
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
PARILLO, ANTHONY
MOW Base
Hamden, Conn.
PARRA, DAVID
Los Angeles Offices
PENDLETON, JOSEPH
Transportation
Building
Washington, D.C.
PEREZ, MARY L
Los Angeles Offices
PIERCE, DONALD
New York Penn
Station
POWELL, NOEL
New York Penn
Station
RIVERA, LISA
Chicago Union Station
RIVERS, LASONYA
CNOC
Wilmington, Del.
30-Year
Anniversary
ROODENBURG,
CRAIG
Amtrak Corporate
Headquarters
ALLEN, JOHNNIE
New York Penn
Station
March 2014
RUDOLPH,
LAWRENCE
Omaha, Neb. Station
BACON, REGINA
Riverside Reservation
Sales Office
SANABRIA, JORGE
Los Angeles Offices
BROWN, DENNIS
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
SHANNON, KAREN
Miami Station
SLABODNIK, MARK
Kansas City
Maintenance Facility
STEPHENS, MONICA
Mid-Atlantic
Reservation Sales
Office
STRAIN, MICHAEL
Wilmington Shops
TRICOCHE, JOSEPH
N.Y. Sunnyside Yard
VAUGHAN, JOHN
Chicago Offices
VESPUCCI, ROBERT
New York Penn
Station
WATERS, ALAN
Transportation
Building
Washington, D.C.
WENCLAWIAK,
JOSEPH
Amtrak Corporate
Headquarters
WHITE, KEVIN
Chicago Locomotive
Shop
WILSON, JOHN
Ivy City Maintenance
Facility
YANG, YER
Kansas City
Maintenance Facility
YOUNG, STEPHEN
New York Penn
Station
Amtrak Ink
DANNER, DEEDRYL
Justison Office
Wilmington, Del.
EMERSON, ANITA
Riverside Reservation
Sales Office
FUNK, DALE
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
GADSON, VALERIE
New York Division
Headquarters
GARCIA, IRMA
Riverside Reservation
Sales Office
LEA, BRADLEY
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
LUKOWSKI, LARRY
Chicago Locomotive
Shop
MARTIN, SHELLEY
New York Penn
Station
MCMULLEN,
RODMAN
Philadelphia Coach
Yard
MURTAUGH, DENISE
Los Angeles Offices
OLESEN, RAY
Los Angeles Training
Center
PILLEY, JAMES
San Diego Station/
Mechanical
May 2014
|
17
Employee Milestones
Congratulations to All of You!
RODRIGUEZ,
SALVADOR
Riverside Reservation
Sales Office
ROESNER, TIM
Chicago Mechanical
&Terminal Offices
SENTINO, JOHN
New York Penn Station
TRIGGER, JAMES
Chicago Locomotive
Shop
35-Year
Anniversary
March 2014
BATZOLD, DAVID
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Mechanical Facility
CROASMUN, EVERETT
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
HAMMEL, DENNIS
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
JENSEN, CARL
Schenectady, N.Y.
Station
KROSS, JOSEPH
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Station
KRYNICKI, PETER
New York Division
Headquarters
LING, YASMINE
New York Penn Station
MAZZURCO,
DOMINICK
New York Penn Station
STAFFORD, LINDA
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
LEVANDER, LINDA
San Juan Capistrano,
Calif. Station
BALL, SIDNEY
Williamsburg, Va.
Station
VADEN, DAVID
New York Penn Station
MACINNIS, FAYE
Bear Car Shop
BENSIN, RAYMOND
Lancaster Station
WAGNER, VICTORIA
Chicago Crew Base
MARTIN, LORELEE
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
BERGHOLTZ,
GEORGIA
Mid-Atlantic
Reservation Sales
Office
WELLS, JACK
Riverside Reservation
Sales Office
WILSON, RICHARD
Va. Railway Express
ZEIGLER, TIMOTHY
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
40-Year
Anniversary
March 2014
ADAMS, LARRY
Miami Station
BERRY, LLOYD
Los Angeles Offices
BRUNSON,
THORNTON
Miami Station
CARTER, DEBRA
Lancaster Station
ETHERIDGE,
MARILYN
CNOC
Wilmington, Del.
FORDHAM, MARIAN
Jacksonville Station
GLASGOW, FRED
New York Penn Station
HERRIOTT, SHEILA
New York Penn Station
MEADOWS, GREGORY
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
HUBBARD, JAMES
Longview, Texas
Station
MEJIA, LAURA
Riverside Reservation
Sales Office
HUEBNER, RAE
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
RENT, KURT
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
KING, KATHLEEN
Chicago Mechanical
&Terminal Offices
ROSS, GEORGE
New Haven, Conn.
Station
LAMBERT,
ROMADELL
New Orleans Station
18
|
May 2014
Amtrak Ink
PALMER, LARRY
Chicago Crew Base
PECK, BONNIE
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
PIENTO, CAROL
Mid-Atlantic
Reservation Sales
Office
SMITH, MICHAEL
Portland, Ore. Station
STOKES, JOSEPH
Chicago Crew Base
TALMY, RICHARD
Los Angeles Offices
THOMAS, DALE
Chicago Crew Base
THOMAS, GEORGIA
Pittsburgh, Pa. Station
WEYRICK, PATRICIA
Chicago Union Station
WHITE, GREGORY
New York Penn Station
WILLIAMS, REGGIE
Miami Station
WUJCIK, WALTER
CNOC
Wilmington, Del.
Retirees
March 2014
ADAMS, GARY
Metrolink Montalvo
Crew Base
ALEXANDER, CLYDE
Little Rock, Ark.
Station
ARRUDA, KATHLEEN
Boston South Station
BAKER, STEPHEN
CNOC
Wilmington, Del.
HARVEY, COLLEEN
Mid-Atlantic
Reservation Sales
Office
HAYES, OSCAR
Riverside Reservation
Sales Office
HENDRICKS,
CONSTANCE
N.Y. Sunnyside Yard
BERNARDINI, MARK
Ft. Lauderdale Station
HUES, CLINTON
Richmond, Va. Station
BOUTWELL, RICHARD
Auto Train Lorton
Station
HULSHIZER, GILBERT
Harrisburg, Pa. Station
BURCH, REBECCA
Riverside Reservation
Sales Office
HYER, RICHARD
Amtrak Corporate
Headquarters
CAHALL, NOBLE
Wilmington Shops
HYTEN, BRUNO
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
CASTLE, GLENN
Amtrak Corporate
Headquarters
KOEHLER, KEVIN
Rensselaer Mechanical
Facility
CHEUNG, EMMANUEL
Amtrak Corporate
Headquarters
MORRESI, MARCO
New York Penn Station
COLLINS, JOHN
Amtrak Corporate
Headquarters
CRAWFORD, DANIEL
Trenton, N.J. Station
DEVINE, RALPH
St. Louis, Mo. Station
FARR, MELVIN
Sanford Station
FORD, HENRY
Los Angeles Offices
FOWLKES, CHARLES
Los Angeles Offices
GEER, CHARLES
Chicago Union Station
GONZALEZ, CARLOS
Chicago Offices
GRESS, PATRICK
Chicago Crew Base
HACKNEY, GEORGE
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
MORRIS, JAMES
Wilmington Shops
NEELY, CHARLES
Sacramento Station
PEDERSEN, GLENN
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
PIENTO, CAROL
Mid-Atlantic
Reservation Sales
Office
POWELL, GERALD
Riverside Reservation
Sales Office
RIVERS, JOHN
Chicago Crew Base
ROMANO, FRANK
Niagara Falls Station
ROTHBARD, WILLIAM
New Haven Station
RULKA, THOMAS
New York Penn Station
TEWEY, JOHN
Amtrak Corporate
Headquarters
Employee Milestones
Congratulations to All of You!
WALLS, BRENDA
Chicago Offices
LOVASZ, DAVID
Los Angeles Offices
WELSH, PAUL
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
MCHUGH, PETER
Portland, Maine Crew
Base
WHITE, EDITH
Chicago Mechanical
&Terminal Offices
MCKEON, JOHN
New York Penn
Station
WILLIAMS, HENRY
New York Penn
Station
PATTERSON, ANGELA
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
WILLIAMS, RICHARD
New Orleans Station
RANDALL, ALBERT
Reno Station
YOUNG, BENJAMIN
Miami Mechanical
Yard
RICHARDSON,
WENDI
CNOC
Wilmington, Del.
20-Year
Anniversary
April 2014
SCHAIBLE, LEONARD
Raymond Plaza West
Newark, N.J.
ALLEN, JAMES
Carbondale, Ill. Station
SHAW, PATRICIA
Amtrak Corporate
Headquarters
BROWN, KEVIN
N.Y. Sunnyside Yard
SULLIVAN, JAY
Los Angeles Offices
CARVER, PAUL
New Orleans
Maintenance Facility
TIGUE, MARTIN
Union Tower
Rahway, N.J.
CHADWICK-PURCIO,
KIMBERLY
Metrolink San
Bernardino, Calif.
Crew Base
CLARK, RICKY
Jacksonville, Fla.
Station
EDGAR, RALPH
Midway Tower
Monmouth Junction,
N.J.
HAIRSTON, YANCEY
Miami Station
HARRIS, RITA
N.Y. Sunnyside Yard
HERNDON, DIANE
Amtrak Corporate
Headquarters
JESTER, JAMES
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
25-Year
Anniversary
April 2014
ABRAMS, CARLEEN
Chicago Crew Base
COLES, JOHN
New York Penn
Station
HARRIS, PAUL
Van Nuys, Calif.
Station
MORGAN, DENNIS
Philadelphia Coach
Yard
COX, LAURENT
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
HASTINGS, KENTON
Sacramento Station
NORMAND,
CHRISTOPHER
New York Penn
Station
DALCERRO,
CHRISTOPHER
Seattle Mechanical
Yard
DANIELL, DOUGLAS
San Antonio Offices
D’COSTA, COLIN
Transportation Bldg.
Washington, D.C.
DEMPS, ALFONSO
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
DESPINOSSE, PETER
New York Penn
Station
DIGGS, STEPHANIE
Transportation Bldg.
Washington, D.C.
HOLT, SELICIA
Los Angeles Offices
HORNUNG, ERIC
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
HUNTER, MARK
Chicago Crew Base
JOHNSON, CEPHAS
N.Y. Sunnyside Yard
PRIESTER, STEVEN
New York Penn
Station
REEDER, JILL
Seattle Mechanical
Yard
REID, DARRELL
New York Penn
Station
RITTENHOUSE, EDITH
Los Angeles Offices
ROBERTS, TARLINE
Seattle Mechanical
Yard
JOINER, JACKIE
Chicago Crew Base
ROMERO, JAIME
Raymond Plaza West
Newark, N.J.
LA’VAN, GEORGINA
Boston South Station
SCHMIDT, RAYMOND
Portland, Ore. Station
LETTSOME, GERWYN
Chicago Crew Base
SHAW, BILLY
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
DUBUQUE, PAUL
Providence MOW Base
EANES, KENNETH
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
EMOND, PHILIP
Providence MOW Base
CASTRO-LEON,
MARIA
Denver Station
HILL, GREGORY
Quad Ave. M/W Base
Baltimore, Md.
POWERS, ELIZABETH
Chicago Crew Base
DREW, THOMAS
MOW Base
Hamden, Conn.
ALLEN, KAREN
New York Penn
Station
CALTON, PATRICK
Longview, Texas
Station
HERRING, HERMAN
Sanford Station
PAYNE, JEFFREY
Austin Station
JOHNSON, SIBYL
Chicago Union Station
ALLEN, DONNA
Va. Railway Express
BYRD, KEVIN
Wilmington Shops
HENDERSON, EDWIN
Lancaster Station
DILLON, DIANE
Jackson Miss. Station
EMMONS, ANDREW
Southampton St. Yard
Boston, Mass.
BORZILLO,
KIMBERLY
Raleigh Station
HEILIG, JEANNIE
Rensselaer Station
FOLDETTA, FRANK
Trenton, N.J. Station
GLASS, DALE
Chicago Union Station
GRAHAM, ROBIN
Los Angeles Offices
GRYM, KENNETH
New York Penn
Station
LILLIAN, NARCISSUS
Chicago Crew Base
LONG, JOHN
Chicago Crew Base
MCKINNEY, KEVIN
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
MCNARY, BARBARA
Material Control
Facility
Indianapolis, Ind.
MILLER, DENNIS
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
MOODY, RANDY
Sanford Station
Amtrak Ink
STEWART, MICHAEL
Quad Ave. M/W Base
Baltimore, Md.
SWAIN, STANLEY
New York Penn
Station
THORNTON, JAMES
N.Y. Sunnyside Yard
VENTIMIGLIA,
DUANE
D.C. Coach Yard
WALKER, ROBERT
Philadelphia Coach
Yard
WERCKENTHIEN,
RON
Chicago Crew Base
May 2014
|
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
M AY 14, 1 9 9 6
Auto Train converted to Superliners.
Auto Train is the longest passenger
train in the world with two locomotives and 40-plus passenger rail
cars and vehicle carriers. Auto Train
departs daily from both Lorton,
Virginia and Sanford, Florida, with
up to 600 passengers and up to 300
vehicles.
Presorted Standard
U.S. Postage
PAID
Timonium, MD
Permit No. 90