Bob Nelson Email & Phone Number

181 W. Madison Avenue, Suite 4400, Chicago, 60602

Complete profit and loss responsibility for a privately held railcar service company composed of seven shop facilities, two service centers and one component fabrication plant reporting directly to the corporate CEO. Provide strategic leadership by working with key management personnel to establish mid and long range goals and strategies. Effectively develop and manage operating and capital budgets. Facilitate a culture that continually strives to improve operating processes and procedures. Develop and mentor key management employees and provide opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Winnipeg, Canada

Responsible for the overall management of CN’s largest railcar repair facility employing a total of 374 employees. Involved in the execution of CN’s capital maintenance budget relating to heavy repair / refurbishment of railroad owned freight cars. Reported directly to the Chief Mechanical Officer. Successfully managed labor unions representing three separate bargaining units. Improved safety performance through introduction of job safety analysis and performance recognition programs. Reduced cost through consolidation of facility operations. Successfully insourced car repair projects helping offset overhead cost of operation / facility. Consistently met operating budget targets.

Montreal, Canada

Responsible for technical / mechanical aspects of railcars involved in CN’s automotive, intermodal and bulk commodity market segments. Supported development of annual maintenance budget for subject car groups. Worked with marketing department to address future equipment needs and shipper issues. Represented CN on the AAR Special Equipped Freight Car Committee (as chairman). Developed / improved multi-level rack specification data base for existing equipment. Developed standard fitting requirements / specifications for new multi-level equipment purchases. Improved quality of annual maintenance plan through periodic equipment inspections and predictive component failure analysis. Represented CN on the AAR Open Top Loading Committee. Worked closely with CN’s marketing department and shippers to develop suitable open top loading / securement methods for new products.

Montreal, Canada

Responsible for technical aspects of railcar wheels, axles and bearings. Analyze failures and assess benefits of new technology. Involved in wayside detector systems, hot bearing, hot wheel and wheel impact recorders. Developed CN specification for reconditioned wheel bearings (based off AAR minimum standard). Developed bearing failure cause reporting process to standardize data collection. Developed training material for interpreting wheel impact data, gaging and change-out of suspect wheel sets.

Winnipeg, Canada

Responsible for the coordination of manpower and material requirements for heavy repair programs on various rail car types. Considerable time spent supervising a high production coating shop equipped with automated grit blast line and robotic paint systems.

Moncton, Canada

Responsible for the coordination of manpower to perform transportation yard train inspections and running repairs. Involved in on-line equipment disruption issues. Performed quality / mechanical audits at various line point locations in CN’s eastern Canada Atlantic region.