CHICAGO—May 23, 2024 (James Street Media Services)—The Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS) Summer Meeting will be held July 8–9, 2024, at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. The theme for the meeting is: “Rail Innovation, Connecting Shippers with Technology.”

This year’s meeting will feature the annual Scholarship Golf Outing, plus a reception and networking dinner on the first day, July 8. New for 2024, we are offering the MARS Inaugural Pickleball Tournament. The business meeting is scheduled for a full day on July 9. 

“Shippers, railroads, equipment owners, and other industry stakeholders are rapidly leveraging technology for safer, more efficient, and greener rail logistics,” says Matt O’Kray, MARS President, and Vice President Commercial, Transtar, LLC. “This summer’s meeting will focus on these advances, as well as being a great place to network with a diverse variety of industry leaders.”

The agenda is still being finalized for the two-day event, but will include high-level executives from railroads, major shippers, and industry experts, including:

Chuck Baker, President, American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association
Jon Gabriel, Vice President – Network Strategy, Design & Innovation, BNSF Railway
Karen Hedlund, Member, Surface Transportation Board
Michael Miller, CEO – North America, Genesee & Wyoming Inc.
Eric Monger, Vice President, KBX Rail
Adam Nordstrom, Principal, Viking Navigation LLC
Eric Gehringer, Executive Vice President, Operations, Union Pacific
Conrad Victor, Director Logistics, Cleveland Cliffs

MARS 2024 Summer Meeting

Dates
Monday and Tuesday, July 8–9, 2024

Location
Grand Geneva Resort
7036 Grand Geneva Way
Lake Geneva, WI 53147

Hotel Accommodations
Grand Geneva Resort
Timber Ridge Lodge

Meeting Cost
$360 registration fee before June 8, 2024.  On June 9, registration increases to $435. Onsite registration $500.

Registration
• Online conference information and registration
• Email: mars@mwrailshippers.com
• Phone: (872) 212-4134

About The Midwest Association of Rail Shippers
The Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS) is one of five regional North American associations under the North American Rail Shippers (NARS) national organization. Headquartered in the Chicago area, MARS provides an open forum for discussion and resolution of rail transportation issues by bringing railroads, shippers, receivers, and rail supply companies together twice annually for formal meetings in the Chicago area. To review the most recent meeting presentations, and to inquire about MARS membership, please visit the MARS website at www.mwrailshippers.com.

Note to editors and reporters: Please let us know if you would like free registration to attend the meeting.

MEDIA CONTACT
Bill Fahrenwald
James Street Associates
708-528-0681
bill@jamesstreet.net