RailAmerica restructures again...

RAILAMERICA RESTRUCTURES ORGANIZATION … AGAIN

BOCA RATON, FL -- Saying the change will improve operations, RailAmerica has said it will reorganize into five operating regions from its current three business units. The catch? The short line and regional railroad company shifted into the three business units, from five regions and two corridors, in June.

John Giles, chief executive officer at Boca Raton-based RailAmerica, said the changes will allow quicker responses to the needs of each road and each employee.

"I believe we will quickly see improved effectiveness and productivity, the introduction and execution of new programs and significant assistance in problem solving," Giles said. "These new territories will be more manageable in size, scope and complexity."

When it made its changes 10 months ago, RailAmerica named three regional presidents and eliminated about 20 upper and middle management positions.

The newest changes call for regional vice presidents to lead each unit. The company did not say whether it will increase other staff.

Two regional presidents are keeping their leadership roles in the new structure -- Jan Polley, formerly president of the company's eastern business unit, and Ray E. Stephens, formerly president of the company's western business unit.

Polley, an eight-year RailAmerica veteran is now to lead the company's northeast region. Before RailAmerica, Polley spent 24 years with Canadian National in the operating department.

His region includes Cape Breton & Central Nova Scotia Railway, Ottawa Valley Railroad, the Southern Ontario Railway, Goderich-Exeter Railway, the Massena Terminal Railroad, Connecticut Southern Railroad and New England Central Railroad.

Stephens, a two-year RailAmerica veteran is now to lead the company's central region. Before he joined RailAmerica, Stephens worked for Burlington Northern Santa Fe in the operating department.

His region includes Otter Tail Valley Railroad; Kyle Railroad; Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad; Bauxite & Northern Railroad; Kiamichi Railroad; Texas Northern Railroad; Dallas, Garland & Northeastern Railroad; the Rockdale, Sandow & Southern Railroad; and Point Comfort & Northern Railroad.

The other regional leaders are:

· Robert "Bob" Jones for the west region. Jones has worked for RailAmerica for four years. Before that, he worked for Union Pacific for 30 years in a variety of operating management positions. His region is to include Cascade & Columbia River Railroad; Puget Sound & Pacific Railroad; California Northern Railroad; Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad; San Joaquin Valley Railroad; Ventura County Railroad; Arizona & California Railroad; Lahaina, Kaanapali and Pacific Railroad; and San Diego & Imperial Valley Railroad.

· John "Brad" Ovitt for the midwest region. Ott was formerly vice president of operations for RailAmerica's central region. The a six-year RailAmerica employee started his railroad career in 1987 on the former Central Vermont Railroad. His region is to include Grand Rapids Eastern Railroad; Mid-Michigan Railroad; Michigan Shore Railroad; Huron & Eastern Railway; Indiana & Ohio Railway; Central Railroad of Indiana; Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway; Central Railroad of Indianapolis; and Chicago, Ft. Wayne & Eastern Railroad.

· Peter A. Touesnard for the southeast region. Touesnard was formerly vice president of operations for RailAmerica's eastern business unit. He has been with RailAmerica for 10 years and is a veteran of both the steamship and trucking industries. His region is to include Indiana Southern Railroad, Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway, Eastern Alabama Railway, Carolina Piedmont Railroad, South Carolina Central Railroad, Virginia Southern Railroad, North Carolina & Virginia Railroad and the Chesapeake & Albemarle Railroad.

When RailAmerica last restructured its operations, it was a publicly traded company. Since, then, an affiliate of Fortress Investment Group LLC has paid about $1.1 billion for the 42-railroad firm. - The South Florida Business Journal