Watco names new EVP/CFO

Watco Companies, LLC appointed Matt McKenzie to executive vice president and chief financial officer.

McKenzie has been serving as interim CFO since July of 2012. As CFO, McKenzie will continue to oversee the areas of finance, accounting, treasury and investor relations. In addition, he has assumed responsibility for the performance management, information technology and operational analysis teams. McKenzie will support all of these areas in following the Customer First Foundation Principles and will oversee the implementation of all financial aspects of Watco’s strategic plan.

“During the past six years Matt has led many improvements in several facets of our company. As we conducted our search, it became evident that the best candidate for the CFO position at Watco was Matt. We are very pleased and excited that Matt has accepted the position on a full-time basis,” said Terry Towner, Watco president.

McKenzie got his start with Watco in 2007 as senior vice president, chief accounting officer and corporate controller and served as senior vice president finance and corporate controller before being named interim CFO.

Stantec names new heavy rail lead in Midwest

Stantec hired Peter Josefchak as heavy rail lead for the US Midwest. Josefchak will focus on expanding the firm’s heavy rail market share, while being responsible for consistency, quality, delivery and profitability of Stantec’s rail business. He will also provide leadership on some of Stantec’s major railway engineering projects.

Josefchak has more than 42 years of experience in the engineering and railroad transportation industries. His background includes 13 years in the railroad industry with Canadian Pacific as a Class 1 divisional operating officer, transportation analyst, transport planner and cost analyst.

He has conducted research on rail construction, privatization and rehabilitation and specializes in negotiating and coordinating agreements with railroads. He has provided rail operations and engineering expertise on projects for clients such as Chicago’s Metra, Chicago Transit Authority, Canadian National and Union Pacific, as well as CSX, Norfolk Southern, Toronto’s Metrolinx and Metro-North Railroad. His project management experience involves all heavy rail core technical disciplines for major Class 1 Railways and third party departments of transportation.

He joins Stantec’s heavy rail team providing a complete railway engineering service package addressing bridges, track, signal and communication, rail yards and terminals for Class 1 and shortline railroads, as well as supporting industrial and mining sector clients across North America and internationally.

Pacific Imperial Railroad and JLP enter into bridge management agreement

Pacific Imperial Railroad, Inc. (PIR), has entered into a Services Agreement with J.L. Patterson & Associates, Inc., (JLP).

Under the agreement, JLP will provide a bridge management program, inspect 57 bridges, inspect 17 tunnels and provide a track inspection of the Desert Line. Additionally, JLP will provide oversight during the test train operations in compliance with PIR’s agreement with the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System.

Ernie Dahlman, CEO of PIR, stated, “Once these inspections are implemented, we are prepared to immediately commence reconstruction activities on the Desert Line.”