NRC Chairman’s Message –– November 2024

Joe Daloisio Chairman, National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC)

Courtesy of NRC

ATLANTA –– "Relationship Building Is The Fundamental 'Joint Bar'"

You can provide a great design, understand the plans and specs, and have a solid reputation with all the right credentials. You can provide the best schedule, plan out every detail and apply smart, safe, and efficient construction practices, utilizing the latest equipment and the best materials. But that’s only part of what it takes to build a strong railroad. It also takes people. 

Building solid relationships with the people around you is the most important way to ensure a successful, lengthy career in the railroad business. The process of establishing and maintaining connections with people is a skill that I fear is being lost by younger generations of railroaders. Emails and texts have their place in business. But developing a connection – a bond of trust and good communication with other people – is the fundamental ‘joint bar’ that holds it all together.  

A huge factor in the longevity of my railroad career is the open communication, honesty and trust I’ve fostered with my clients, suppliers, coworkers and other railroaders. My father, Joe Jr., was my primary teacher. He invested his time and energies in developing not just my railroad knowledge and expertise, but also my people skills. I watched him and saw how he listened and treated others. His connections with the people he worked for and with created a long-lasting, supportive team. 

Remembering those lessons I learned from my father, I try to live every day – both at work and in all facets of my life – treating people as I would want them to treat me. I’ve been blessed with the ability to build lasting, trusting relationships with clients, peers, and coworkers who I consider not just friends, but family. But I am not the only one. I’ve been fortunate to connect with many of you in our great industry who have the same philosophy and blessings. No matter our role or level in the company, it’s our responsibility to continue to strengthen those relationships and bonds and to teach and mentor those around us by example. 

But how do you do that? You can read countless professional development books about relationship building. You can even get professional help to uncover techniques to connect with others or to discover your blind spots. But I can’t think of a better way to get practical experience and exposure to relationship building than at the 2025 NRC Conference and NRC-REMSA Exhibition. 

NRC conferences past and present have been known to be the perfect place to build relationships with face-to-face communications with fellow railroaders – to create new contacts and foster old ones. The NRC conference speakers always provide valuable information and insights that we use to create our business plans for the year. But, just as important, the conferences provide the opportunity to talk to each other, and have meaningful discussions about how to solve challenges, about new industry innovations, insights into the market, and life itself. Once those connections are made and fostered, these fellow professionals become mentors, and friends. 

Please join us from January 5 through 8 at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Marco Island, Florida. Registration is tracking above prior years so we anticipate record attendance. It’s not too late to make plans to attend. Don’t miss the chance to put your relationship building skills into action and learn a lot about our business too. Scan the QR code (below) to find everything you need to know, including the complete conference lineup, exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities, golf, and trap shooting options.  

In this season of Thanksgiving, I’d like to thank all the NRC leaders and staff who have helped me to learn and grow over the past 13 years, and all the countless people who’ve guided me throughout my career and my life. I look forward to connecting with you and first-time attendees in Marco Island this January. 

“We aren’t just in this industry. We are this industry!” 

Joe