R.J. Corman’s King to retire

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor

After nearly four years of dedicated service to R.J. Corman Railroad Group, Craig King he retire from his position as president and chief executive officer and will be assuming a seat on the board of directors.

 

Rick Corman, R.J. Corman’s founder, hand-selected King to fill the position before his passing in 2013. The company says King’s 35-year career with CSX Transportation made him an ideal candidate for the position.

“Rick Corman was a personal friend of mine for years,” King stated. “I am proud to have been able to continue his legacy and lead the company that he worked so hard to build. I greatly value the relationships I have built with our employees, customers and suppliers. With the help of a great leadership team, we have accomplished more than I had hoped to during my time with R.J. Corman.”

R.J. Corman says King’s experience and leadership have been influential in the continuous expansion of the company, growing from 1,065 to 1,646 employees. R.J. Corman Railroad Company has acquired two new shortlines since his start in January of 2013, beginning operations in Texas and the Carolinas and adding 104 miles of track.

Additionally, 10 new R.J. Corman Railroad Switching Company locations have been opened. R.J. Corman Railroad Services Company has added 135 new employees to its railroad construction and emergency response teams. This increase in manpower has contributed to a larger geographic footprint, increased railroad construction and maintenance-of-way capacity and improved efficiency for emergency response.

One of King’s primary goals was to continue to diversify the company by providing new value-added services to the railroad industry. King helped launch the R.J. Corman Signaling Company in April of 2013, adding to the list of services provided by R.J. Corman. This company now consists of a total of 56 employees. Additionally, R.J. Corman acquired the Roadway Worker Training company in 2014, which included the hiring of 48 new employees and added flagging and training services.

“Craig has served an integral role during his tenure with our company,” said Fred Mudge, chairman of the board of directors. “We thank him for providing invaluable leadership during the transition after our founder’s passing and for the contributions he has made toward R.J. Corman’s success. With Craig’s guidance and operational focus, we have solidified the strong foundation that was instilled by our founder and recognized significant strategic growth.”

The board of trustees will begin considerations for a new president and CEO immediately. The date of King’s transition will be announced following the board’s decision to name his successor.

“While we will greatly miss Craig King serving as our President and CEO, we are excited for his new chapter in life and know he will continue to be instrumental to the success of the company through his new role on our board of directors. On behalf of the board of trustees, I would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation for what he has done and will continue to do for R. J. Corman,” said April Corman Colyer, member of the board of trustees and director of public Affairs for R.J. Corman Railroad Group.

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