Associate Safety Professional

OSHA 30 General Industry

Lean Manager and Six Sigma Blackbelt

Proven leader with applied practices in railroad management, strategic initiatives, safety, process improvement, contract administration, and project management. Problem solver who prioritizes collaboration and a process-oriented approach to find innovative solutions.  Highly adaptable to new challenges and conditions.

Northumbria University

Northern Illinois University

·        Developed Genesee and Wyoming (GWI) Safety Management System, Risk Reduction Program, and industrial hygiene programs to comply with a diverse set of federal and regional regulations. Collaborated with railroad customers to ensure programs exceeded customer expectations for 110 North American Railroads
·        Negotiated settlement of over 200 FRA violations. In 2023, negotiated a penalty reduction of 38%, approximately 14% higher than the industry average.
Supported railroad management teams through operational and people development challenges by leveraging continuous improvement and quality improvement initiatives.
﻿·        Engineered a regulatory compliance framework encompassing policy benchmarking, periodic reviews, employee training, and process streamlining reducing company exposure to operational and regulatory risk.
·        Represented Genesee and Wyoming in regulatory audits resulting in regulator's commendation.
·        Built coalition of diverse stakeholders including executive leadership to established 5 PowerApps and 3 data marts integrating safety and compliance data from disparate systems and created Safety Leading Indicator dashboard.

AVP Safety and Compliance

·        Established and executed a business plan emphasizing safety, service, and financial goals in support of the overall company strategy for the Georgia Southwestern, Valdosta Railway, & Columbus and Chattahoochee Railroads.
·        Improved operational efficiency by redesigning train scheduling and freight management protocols, utilizing data analytics to optimize route planning and asset utilization for a fleet of approximately 20 locomotives, 500+ railcars, and workforce of up to 70 employees.
·        Reduced Human Factor Incidents 57% by establishing a culture of safety and service through employee engagement, risk management, and establishing clear expectations.
·        Spearheaded the expansion of rail operations by negotiating key contracts, streamlining logistics, and implementing cost-saving measures that resulted in a 20% reduction in operational expenses.

GM Georgia Southwestern Railroad

Manager, Joint Facilities | Jacksonville, FL                                                                               May 2013 - May 2014
·        Negotiated and administered intercarrier agreements governing Trackage Rights, Interchanges, Locomotive Run Through, Haulage, and Interlockings with multiple rail partners across CSXT's network.

Manager, Process Improvement | Jacksonville, FL                                                                January 2011 - May 2013
·        Collaborated with stakeholders to identify and eliminate performance gaps. Managed projects creating over $3 million in productivity savings. 
·        Collaborated with terminal improvement team to analyze and enhance performance of over 10 underperforming locations by implementing lean methodologies and data-driven solutions.

Trainmaster | Toledo, OH                                                                                               January 2010 - January 2011
Managed day to day operations of four Ohio yards: Stanley, Walbridge, Presque Isle Docks, and Rossford Yard and surrounding areas.

Operations and Support

·        Developed engine controls for Caterpillar Inc. Technology and Solutions Division test engines.

Consulting Engineer

·        Managed a team measuring and processing 100+ geographical logs on oilfield well sites, enabling real-time onsite production decisions.
Formed and managed district’s first Quality Steering Committee, improving operation efficiencies in shops on locations.

Nicholas Pecenka

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