Short line and regional freight railroad holding company Patriot Rail Corp. has announced a restructuring of its operations management team, effective Jan. 1, 2012.
J.D. Ventrcek, who has been with Patriot since 2008, has been promoted to senior vice president — operations, in which capacity he will oversee the company's 12 railroads. Ventrcek, a decorated Vietnam veteran, has more than 30 years of railroad operations management experience.
Moreover, the company has reorganized its railroads into two regions.
Dave Eyermann, regional vice president, will lead the West region, which comprises the following railroads: Butte, Anaconda & Pacific Railway; DeQueen & Eastern / Texas, Oklahoma & Eastern Railroads; Columbia & Cowlitz Railway / Patriot Woods Railroad; Sacramento Valley Railroad; and Utah Central Railway. Eyermann came to Patriot from Watco Companies in 2009; he has more than 20 years of short line railroad experience.
David Rohal, who joined Patriot Rail in December 2011, will serve as regional vice president for the East region, which comprises the following railroads: Tennessee Southern Railroad; Golden Triangle Railroad; Louisiana & North West Railroad; Piedmont & Northern Railway; and Temple & Central Texas Railway. Rohal's more than 27 years in the rail industry includes experience with Class I, regional, and short line railroad companies.
In addition, Stan Wlotko has been named senior vice president and chief commercial officer; he will have responsibility for the company's sales and marketing efforts. Wlotko, who joined Patriot in 2006 shortly after its formation, has more than 38 years of railroad industry experience, including senior management positions in purchasing, rail operations, marketing, project management, and outsourced services.
"These initiatives were designed to fortify the company's management team and position Patriot for long-term growth and success," said Gary O. Marino, chairman, president, and CEO of Patriot Rail, in the company's announcement. "Our operations management team is extremely talented and has many years of railroad operations and marketing experience. I want to congratulate J.D. on his promotion and we are fortunate to have someone of Stan's caliber to lead our marketing group."
He added, "We have tapped two vice presidents with vast railroad operating experience to head up our newly-created regions. Both David Eyermann and Dave Rohal know the industry very well and have successfully managed significant railroad operations previously."