Omaha Track Hosts Nebraska Senator Pete Ricketts at Its Headquarters
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska visited Omaha Track’s headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska.
Courtesy of NRC
OMAHA, Neb. – Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska visited Omaha Track’s headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska.
Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska visited Omaha Track’s headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. Senator Ricketts has been representing Nebraska since January 23, 2023 after serving two terms as Nebraska’s 40th governor. Senator Ricketts now serves on the Senate’s Committee on environment and Public Works (EPW), Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Special Committee on Aging. Omaha Track “provides products and services to Class I and short line railroads, rail contractors and industries across North America.”
Senator Ricketts said of his visit: “Omaha Track has been providing high-quality services to Nebraska’s railroad industry for four decades, employing over 300 people. . . I’m happy I had the opportunity to tour the facility, meet the team, and discuss their impact on our state.”
President of Omaha Track, Jeff Peterson, welcomed Senator Ricketts and said it was “great hosting” him and his team at the facility and that “getting the chance to showcase our headquarters, talk about the state of the rail industry in Nebraska, and hear from the Senator about the happenings in Washington was terrific. . . Highlighting our economic footprint in Nebraska and the jobs we create in the state and beyond is something we’re very proud of, so being able to discuss that with the Senator was a great opportunity and experience.”
Omaha Track was founded in 1983 and celebrated their 40th year in business. The company provides “products and services to Class 1 and Short Line railroads, rail contractors and industries across North America. Formerly known as the Tie Yard of Omaha, Omaha Track started with three employees, and now employ over 270 people in North America. Omaha Track started by repurposing used railroad ties to landscape ties. Since then, Omaha Track has grown into one of the leading railroad material supply companies and services contractors in North America by providing a variety of services and recycled railroad products to Class 1 and short line railroads, rail contractors, and other industries.
“Omaha Track is a member of the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) and the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA), two U.S. trade associations that advocate on behalf of railroad contractors and suppliers. Additionally, Lisa Roberts, Chief Growth Officer, of Omaha Track serves on NRC’s Board of Directors. Other attendees participating in the tour included: Omaha Track’s CEO and Owner Terry Peterson, Kevin Hicks, Principal | Senior Vice President, Freight Market Sector Leader, TranSystems, Scott Traylor, VP, Rio Grande Pacific Corporation, Wendy Whalen, Vice President, Supply Chain, Union Pacific, and Mike McGonagle, NRC Vice President Government Affairs & Operations and REMSA Vice President Government Affairs.
“The NRC is a U.S. trade association that advances the mutual interests of railway contractors and suppliers who construct, maintain and supply freight railroads and rail-transit and passenger lines. Founded in 1978, the NRC connects members with other railway industry professionals and government officials and policy makers. The NRC collaborates with its members, government, and industry leaders to create a positive business climate and to make railway construction and maintenance safer and more efficient. www.nrcma.org.
“REMSA’s mission is to provide global business development opportunities, to transfer knowledge about markets, products and the industry to members and their customers, and to support the initiatives advancing the North American railroad industry. REMSA was created in 1965 by the merger of the Association of Track and Structure Suppliers and the National Railway Appliances Association, two long-standing organizations in the railroad maintenance-of-way industry. The association represents companies and individuals who manufacture or sell maintenance-of-way equipment, products, and services, or are engineers, contractors and consultants working in construction and/or maintenance of railroad transportation facilities. REMSA members constitute a large part of the maintenance-of-way industry. www.remsa.org.”
