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Outstanding BNSF Employees for 2003
Last year as wildfires ravaged the landscape of Southern California, 25 employees banded together to provide as much help as possible to BNSF people who were displaced, maintain operations throughout the area and coordinate communications and relief efforts with state and local authorities. They worked consistently and tirelessly, earning a 2003 BNSF Achievement Award. And now members of the California Wildfire Team are among several teams and individuals named BNSF's 2003 Employees of the Year.
In 2003, 413 BNSF Achievement Awards were presented to members of Team BNSF. Of those, three individuals and nine teams, representing 181 people, have been selected by BNSF's Executive Team as best reflecting BNSF's Vision and Values.
Six Safety Employees of the Year, each representing a different segment of Operations, are also being honored.
"Each of you has demonstrated that everyone has the opportunity to make a difference in support of our strategic initiatives: growth, service, efficiency, ease of doing business and people," Matt Rose, BNSF chairman, president and chief executive officer, told Employees of the Year. "Thank you for your commitment to making BNSF a better, more efficient and safer place to work. Team BNSF respects and appreciates your talent and achievements."
Additionally, Dennis Robinson, carman, Newton, Kan., has been selected as BNSF's nominee for the Harold F. Hammond Award, an industry safety award sponsored by the Association of American Railroads.
2003 Employees of the Year are:
Top Achievement Award Recipients
California Wildfire Team
Twenty-five California Team BNSF members coordinated service and community assistance following the California wildfire tragedy. Team members include employees in Barstow, Cajon, La Mirada, San Bernardino, and Victorville, Calif., and Fort Worth.
Adler, Louis F., Track Supervisor; Bonnar, Jon, Chief Dispatcher; Bradley, Chris, Electrician; Carlson, Brian, Supervisor, Mechanical Car; Cushing, Cyndi K., Crew Planner; Daniels, Tod T., Track Supervisor; Dennison, Rich, Trainmaster; DePaemelaere, John, Road Foreman of Engines; Edwards, Michael S., Roadmaster; Girard, Ronald, Road Foreman of Engines; Gold, Jeff, Chief Dispatcher; Graham, Tim, Trainmaster; Hawkins, William C., Track Supervisor; Hudson, Rick R., Chief Dispatcher; Huson, Lyle J., Signal Maintainer; Jensen, Denny, General Road Foreman of Engines; Johnson, Eric, Locomotive Engineer; Kent, Lena, Regional Director, Public Affairs; Mejia, Joseph S., Track Supervisor; Salvini, John, Equipment Supervisor; Shadoan, Barry T., Locomotive Engineer; Silva, Dan, Assistant General Foreman; Skeels, Dennis R., Signal Supervisor; Slusser, Jerry D., Carman; Welte, Bradley N., Manager, Safety.
DOW Chemical Team
The Dow Chemical build-in was a multi-year, multi-departmental project that is expected to generate $15 million in revenue per year. The 23-member team consists of employees from Denver, Colo.; Kansas City and Topeka, Kan.; Austin, Fort Worth, Houston, and Temple, Texas.
Bailiff, Sarah, Senior General Attorney; Barnes, Jimmy, Roadmaster; Bilderback, Blaine, Director, Development & Acquisitions; Blundell, Gary, Project Engineer; Clift, Mike, Manager, Environmental Operations; Doran, Mary Nan, Senior General Attorney; Faust, Joseph, Regional Director, Public Affairs; Feldman, Matt, Manager, Risk Management; Herman, Ray, Manager, Engineering; Huya, Tim, Manager, Public Projects; Jones, Jody, Manager, Real Estate; Karp, Buddy, Project Engineer; Kearns, Dennis, Legislative Counsel; Large, Brian, Director, Facility Expansion; Mann Jr., Harry, Assistant Director, Terminal Planning & Operations Analysis; Naeger, L.J., Director, Sales; Norton, Mark, Director, Strategic Studies; Ring, Paige, Director, Sales; Ruple, Larry, General Director, Emerging Growth; Schubel, Gene, Director, Engineering Services; Seep, David, Director, Environmental Engineering & Program Development; Serna, Guadalupe, Superintendent, Operations; Thornton, Dave, Division Engineer.
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Ten Team BNSF members executed against the military’s tight transportation requirements for Operation Iraqi Freedom resulting in net military revenue of $29.9 million, a 40 percent increase compared with 2002. Team members work in Big Lift, Colo.; Fort Worth, Sweetwater and Temple, Texas; and Tacoma, Wash.
Bell, Bill, General Foreman; Burns, Dan, Terminal Manager; Frazier, Sequita, Senior Analyst; Gillaspie, Bruce, Director, Locomotive Utilization; Keigley, John, Director, Unit Train Operations; McCabe, Jessie, Director, Sales; Pinard, John, Manager, Sales; Randle, Rance, Trainmaster; Stephens, Beverly, Senior Analyst; Wolfe, Allen, Trainmaster
Crew Support Automation
The 40-member Crew Support Automation team enabled TY&E employees to self-serve, and created automatic calling of crews. The team consists of employees in Topeka, Kan., and Fort Worth.
Aberle, Patti, Test and Training Team; Amos, Silver, Test and Training Team; Ast, David, Manager, Technology and Facility; Banister, Wendy, Manager, Processes and Budget; Burrell, Beth, Senior Systems Developer I; Combes, Brenda, Test and Training Team; Corum, Jennifer, Test and Training Team; Cramer, Caree, Test and Training Team; Davis, Don, Manager, Yard Standards; Earwood, Bret, Test and Training Team; Francis, Chris, Senior Systems Developer II; Fultz, Reggie, Consulting Systems Developer I; Garcia, Robert, Test and Training Team; Gibson-Mwaniki, Jennifer Test and Training Team; Goodwin, Richard, Senior Systems Developer I; Graybill, Marilyn, Test and Training Team; Harrod, Brian, Senior Systems Developer I; Hass, Jon, Consulting Systems Developer I; Helmke, Ryan, Senior Systems Developer II; Henry, Brad, Director, Crew Support; Holt, Sherry, Manager, Crew Support; Hurla, Brian, Consulting Systems Developer I; Kraus, Roger, Test and Training Team; Lewis, TJ, Director, Technology Services; Long, Tom, Senior Systems Developer II; McMahan, Julie, Manager II, Technology Services; Mead, Dennis, Manager, Crew Support; Moeller, Pam, Test and Training Team; Pechal Jr., Bobby, Director, Crew Support; Robinson, Todd, Senior Systems Developer II; Rush, Jodi, Manager, Transportation Services; Samuelson, Gary, Senior Systems Developer II; Saylor, Stephanie, Senior Systems Developer II; Scheibe, Kappi, Test and Training Team; Spotts, Dave, Manager I, Technology Services; Stout, Dan, Director, Network Control Systems; Strong, Andrew, Test and Training Team; Sturm, John, Director, Crew Support; Taylor, Duwan, Test and Training Team; Zink, Ron, Manager, Crew Support.
Infrared Laser Warning System
Craig Seery developed an infrared laser warning system to increase employee safety around work areas and live track. Mr. Seery is a Fort Worth employee.
Seery, Craig Director, System Engineering Safety
Panhandle Subdivision Double Track
Twenty-five Team BNSF members oversaw construction of 43 miles of additional double track on the Panhandle Subdivision. The last 32 miles of track and signal work were constructed in three months. The employees work in Denver, Colo.; Amarillo, Fort Worth, Pampa and Saginaw, Texas; Kansas City, Kan.; Grand Forks, N.D.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Lincoln, Neb.; and Woodward, Okla.
Almaguer, Rudy, General Director, Maintenance Schedules; Bealmear, Bryan, General Construction Supervisor; Blundell, Gary, Project Engineer; Brackett, Larry, Supervisor Signals Construction; Curbow, Dwayne, Roadmaster; Dalquist, Dean, Division Engineer; Escalante, Danny, Construction Roadmaster; Gaffney, Darrel, Superintendent, Corridor Operations II; Gerstner, Chuck, Assistant Director Signal Design; Hayward, Ross, Trainmaster; Huya, Tim, Manager, Public Projects; Martin, Darin E., Roadmaster; Morgen, Joe P., Manager, Signals; Mustoe, Dennis K., Superintendent, Operations II; Payne, Bill, Coordinator, Tie Materials; Rankin, Dan, Assistant Director, Maintenance Production; Riley, Shawn J., Supervisor, Signals; Ruder, Lewis P., Manager, Engineering; Schaefer, Michael D., Project Engineer; Schmidt, Tom B., Director, Engineering Services; Sedlacek, David L., Project Engineer; Skovbo, Randy, Roadmaster; Thomas, Lori, Manager, Ballast; Thompson, Joseph, Construction Roadmaster; Thomson, William, Manager, Public Projects.
Non-Track Casualty Tax Resolution
A four-member team conducted a study relating to the deductibility of non-track related casualties which successfully supported allowance of an IRS refund claim worth more than $40 million cash savings as of year-end 2003. The team works in Fort Worth.
Brooks, John J., Director, Capital Planning; Henderson, Babette, Manager, Safety Business Information; Long, Carl J., Director, Taxes; Miller, Ryan, Six Sigma Specialist.
Tax Amortization Recovery
Ed Rines initiated an alternative approach to handling the tax amortization recovery on internally developed software saving $1 million. Mr. Rines works in Fort Worth.
Rines, Ed, Manager, Taxes
Counseling Pedestrian Contemplating Suicide
William Bisson of Spokane, Wash., discouraged a man from suicide off BNSF’s Latah Junction Bridge. In addition, a few weeks later he noticed an arson device on BNSF tracks and reported it to the Resource Protection Solutions Team.
Bisson, William, Head Welder
iPower Symposium Team
A six-person team developed and launched iPower symposiums increasing awareness of BNSF’s Internet offerings and encouraging customer usage. The initiative reduces manual transactions and saves about $4 million annually. Team members work in Fort Worth and Cicero, Ill.
Cassidy, Lisa, Senior Analyst, Customer Solutions; Disterlic, Peter, Manager, e-Business; Engstrom, Mike, Project Manager, e-Commerce; Hart, Drew, Assistant Manager, Hub Operations; Methum, Paul, Project Manager, ERM Systems; Voerster, Joey, Manager, Revenue and Customer Processes.
Ruia Claims Verification
Five-member team helped to reduce BNSF unemployment premiums by more than $15 million by developing and implementing an automated unemployment and sickness claim verification system. Team members work in Topeka, Kan., and Fort Worth.
Goodrow, Chris G., Consulting Systems Developer; Landavazo, Armond, Consulting Systems Developer; Parenteau, Kathleen, Director, Labor Protection; Roe, Deborah, Director, Taxes; Scott, Raymond, Assistant Manager, Labor Protection.
Safety Employee of the Year
System Engineering
Gary Dockter is a safety leader on the Montana Division Structures Team. This team has not had a reportable injury in more than three years. He is responsible for helping develop and ultimately train Structures employees in the 2004 safety certification. He also conducts training for new hires, hy-rail safety and confined space. In addition, Mr. Dockter conducts bridge worker safety training for the track and signal teams.
Dockter, Gary, Bridge Worker Safety Facilitator
North
Barry Green has served as chairman of the Badlands Safety Committee for more than six years, and is the designated safety assistant at Glendive, Mont. Mr. Green attends monthly safety team meetings at the Glendive Diesel Shop, in addition to the Monday morning safety meetings with the Glendive Maintenance of Way employees, the Glendive Terminal meetings and local Emergency Planning Committee meetings.
Green, Barry, Conductor/Switch Foreman
Central
Paul Meier has had zero reportable injuries in his almost 23 years of service. He has served BNSF as a brakeman, fireman, conductor, locomotive engineer, rules facilitator, and safety/rules training coordinator for the local locomotive engineer training program. In December 2002, he was recognized as Alliance Terminal Safety Employee of the Month. Mr. Meier is a certified Emergency Medical Technician and a certified First Aid/CPR
Trainer, as well as a Certified Personal Trainer through the America Council of Exercise.
Meier, Paul, Locomotive Engineer
System Mechanical
Larry Moncreary has nine years of experience with BNSF. During this time he has taken a leadership role on the Barstow Safety and Health Action Team. Additionally he has established monthly safety meetings for all second-shift employees to improve safety information-sharing at the Locomotive Maintenance and Inspection Terminal. With his leadership and safety focus, the shop worked injury-free in 2003, a shop first.
Moncreary, Larry, Machinist
BNSF Hammond Award Nominee
Dennis Robinson has been employed with BNSF for 39 years. Currently he serves as safety assistant for the Newton, Dodge City, Hutchinson, and Wellington, Kan., Mechanical Car and Locomotive Team. His leadership has helped the team remain injury-free for more than 5,000 days. He conducts retraining or re-certification for employees after an extended leave in addition to new-hire training. Mr. Robinson performs training and testing for the Safety Certification Program and holds rules review as part of the Safety Certification class. Mr. Robinson is also BNSF's Hammond Award nominee. The Hammond Award is a national honor named for the late Harold F. Hammond, the former president of the Transportation Association of America. Railroads from across the country each nominate an employee, one of whom will receive the national prize at this year’s ceremony in Washington, D.C.,
Robinson, Dennis, Carman
Resource Protection Solutions Team
John Ross joined BNSF as a patrolman in 1994 at Minneapolis, Minn. He has not had a reportable injury or been involved in an employee-caused vehicle collision during his BNSF career. He played a significant role in reducing trespasser fatalities and injuries by 38.5 percent in Western Washington and Oregon in 2003.Through November 2003, Mr. Ross had contacted 475 trespassers and made 179 arrests, many of which were for active felony warrants. Additionally, he works with the local Graffiti Task Force to identify subjects responsible for damage.
Ross, John F., Senior Patrolman
Loading Origin Guarantees Program (LOGS)
A cross-departmental, 42-member team developed and implemented the Loading Origin GuaranteeS Program (LOGS). More than 100,000 cars have been sold via LOGS, representing more than $250 million in pre-sold freight revenue since the program began in 1999. Team members are located in Vancouver and Spokane, Wash.; Vancouver, B.C.; St. Paul, Minn.; Chicago; and Fort Worth.
Anderson, Marthe, Senior Analyst; Baldwin, Lynn, Market Manager; Buhrle, Steve, Senior Systems Developer II; Coffey, Darrell, Manager, Truckload Marketing; Deaton, David, Market Manager; Delahoz, Joe, Senior Analyst; Flanery, Michelle, Market Manager; Gergen, John, Manager, Customer Revenue Support; Ghanchi, Asim, Manager, e-Strategy; Grant, Chris, Director, Equipment Utilization; Gruenke, Mike, Manager, Sales; Haque, Saiful, Assistant Manager, Carload Equipment; Hart, Bobby R., Manager II, Technology Services; Henderson, Larry, Manager, Equipment Utilization; Hill, Teresa, Senior Analyst, Equipment Support; Hudson, Donna, Senior Analyst, Equipment Utilization; Hulet, Joyce Web Publisher; Hunstable, Greg, Consulting Systems Developer I; Hutchison, Jody, Director, Customer Solutions; Johnson, Brent, Supervisor, Carload Rate Dispute; Johnson, Greg, Web Publisher; Keuck, Jim, Manager, Sales; Knutson, Rick, Director, Equipment Utilization; Kotylak, Blake, Manager, Sales; Krajenta, Murphy, Director, Equipment Information & Decision Support; Krase, Dick, Manager, Sales; Langston, Doug, General Director, Business Unit Miscellaneous Revenue; Larry, D'Andrae, Manager, Sales; Maul, Rick, Manager, Equipment Utilization; Mavuri, Chakravarthy, Senior Systems Developer II; McKinzie, Phil, Market Manager; Mialki, John, Manager, Industrial Products Planning; Mitchell, Karen, Assistant Market Manager; Robinson, Joann, Manager II, Technology Services; Roszak, Margaret, Senior Manager, Customer Revenue Support; Self, Aaron, Manager, Auxiliary Price Services; Staniford, Mac, Market Manager; Starnes, Mitch, Manager, Web Site; Thompson, Pat, Director, Economic Development; Thronsedt, Sara, Director, Customer Billing; Wilson, Mike, Manager, Sales; Wylie, Tommy, Senior Systems Developer II.
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