CHICAGO—January 30, 2025 (James Street Media Services)—The Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS) Winter Meeting set a record with more than 980 attendees. Among the many topics covered were how North American railroads can leverage their competitive advantages to increase market share by functioning as an optimized network.

The 2025 Executive Committee was also introduced at the recent MARS meeting. Elected officers are: President, Steve Blinn; First Vice President; Luke Jones, GATX Corporation; and Second Vice President, Monica Freeman, CHS, Inc. The Immediate Past President is Matt O’Kray.

“I am honored to move into my new role,” says Blinn. “Over the years MARS has evolved with the changing market to become a leading venue for railroads and shippers to work together in open and constructive relationships. Our upcoming Summer Meeting promises more productive communications at one of the Midwest’s premier meeting locations.”

New members of the MARS Executive Committee are:

• Elie Dakhoul, Senior Manager, Contracts & Compliance, CN                                  
• Kristin Dixon, Director, Rail Operations, Third Coast Commodities
• Bess Jones, Director Sales, Union Pacific                   
• Shelly Nowlin, Director Transportation & Logistics, Grain Craft
• Aaron Williams, Senior Sales Manager, Ag & Food, CSX

The next gathering will be the Summer Meeting on July 8-9 and will be held in conjunction with the MARS Scholarship Golf Outing at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. To accommodate the Independence Day holiday weekend, the golf outing is scheduled for Tuesday 7/8, and meetings will occur on Wednesday 7/9 this year. More information about the Summer Meeting will be available in the coming months at www.mwrailshippers.com.  

ABOUT MARS
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 together railroads, shippers, receivers, and rail supply companies 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.

EDITORS: High-resolution photos of the recent MARS Winter Meeting are available on request.

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