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Marquette Rail has borrowed the very same set of organizational priorities that has made Southwest Airlines the phenomenal success it is today: people first, customers second, shareholders third.  We feel that if we take care of our people, they will take care of our customers, who in turn will take care of the bottom line and therefore, our shareholders.  Our lifeblood truly is our team of dedicated, hard working, customer focused employee-owners.  It is our pleasure to introduce our elite team of Champion Railroaders to you.

Our Leadership and Administrative Team

Kevin Ruble, President and CEO,  Member - Board of Managers (Kevin.Ruble@MarquetteRail.com)
Coming from a railroading family, Kevin started his career with the Katy Railroad.  After serving a stint as a lender and venture capitalist to middle-market companies, he returned to the railroad industry as consultant on over 85 shortline transactions over a 20-year span, while also advising in the development of high-performance employee-owned companies.  Kevin is single and has two children, Meghan and Killian, and two step children, Ashley and Josh, and he calls Dallas home.  He has an BBA in Economics from Sam Houston State University and an MBA from the University of Dallas.  Kevin enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with family, and is involved in leadership roles in both the employee ownership and short line railroad communities.

Rick Cecil, Member - Board of Managers

Duane Tolander, ESOP Trustee, Member - Board of Managers

Rick Jany, Vice President - Customer Service and General Manager , Member - Board of Managers (Rick.Jany@MarquetteRail.com)  Rick has over two decades of rail industry experience, during which he has managed the entire operations of over ten different shortline railroads.  He and Shawnda live in Ludington and have three children, Brandi, Brad and Brevin, and a dog, Winter.  Rick earned a BS in civil engineering from the University of Missouri at Rolla, and is a former member of the board of directors of the American Short Line Railroad Association.  Although he enjoys collecting vintage John Deere tractors, he stays busy just one step behind the boys, repairing go karts, quads, dirt bikes, jet skis, snowmobiles and the like!

Jen Robertson, Acting Controller (Jen.Robertson@MarquetteRail.com)

Jeff Davis, Roadmaster (Jeff.Davis@MarquetteRail.com)
Jeff came to Marquette from CSX, and has been a railroader for his entire adult life.  He and his wife Julia have three children, Nathan, Bridjet and Brianna, a deaf Australian Shepherd named Whisper, and an adopted cat, Kit Kat.  An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys fishing, biking, gardening and camping in his spare time.  Jeff and his family live in Manistee.

Mike Hnatiuk, Assistant Customer Service Manager (Mike.Hnatiuk@MarquetteRail.com)
Mike recently moved into Marquette's customer service area after a stint in business development support.  He graduated from Northwood University with a major in entrepreneurship and business management, and served as a Marquette intern for a year.  In his spare time he enjoys outdoor activities, sports and checkin' out the babes.  Yep, he's a normal guy!

Catrina Brown, Accounting Assistant (Catrina.Brown@MarquetteRail.com)
Catrina quite capably handles the office accounting and administrative duties, as well as conducting analyses and special projects.  She previously worked for Conrad Yelvington Distributors where she was a weighmaster and dispatcher.  Catrina and husband Judd (one of our locomotive mechanics) have one son, Benjamin, and they live in Manistee.  She enjoys gardening, shopping, reading, and spending time with her boys (the one she gave birth to and the one she married)!

Nikki Wever, Office Assistant (Nicole.Wever@MarquetteRail.com)
Nikki assists Catrina in the many office administrative duties as a temporary employee.  She formerly was an ofiice manager for Square Deal Building Supply and a cruise director for Lake Michigan Carriers aboard the SS Badger.  Nikki lives in Ludington with her son.

Christopher Brzozowski, Jr., Greatest Marquette Rail Fan, Super Elf and Future Intern . 
Christopher is the grandson of Jan and Matt Erlewein, and is practically a fixture around Ludington when we're all blessed with his frequent visits.  An avid railfan, Chrisotpher often creates his own Thomas the Tank Engine version of Manistee Yard on the dining room table.  When told it's time to go to bed, he's a true shortline conductor, "Not yet, Grandma, I still have to switch Morton's!"  Sounds like Grandpa's been coaching him . . .

Our Transportation Team

Sean Atteberry, Customer Service Specialist - Transportation, Safety and Training Coordinator (Sean.Atteberry@MarquetteRail.com)
Sean came to Marquette with 14 years' railroad experience, initially on the Chicago & Northwestern, and recently with CSX.  Prior positions include paramedic, fireman and a deck hand on Great Lakes vessels.  Sean and Rhonda live in Reed City with their children Jessica, Rachel, Emily, K.C. and Sara, as well as cats Garfield and Chessie, and dogs Shadow and Marquis.  An avid musician, Sean enjoys playing the guitar, bass and banjo in a band, and is serves Reed City as a reserve police officer.

Mike Bailey, Transportation Trainee (Mike.Bailey@MarquetteRail.com)
Mike was formerly a conductor for CN Rail in Michigan's Upper Peninsula after a 31-year career in law enforcement as a Deputy Sheriff, Michigan State Trooper and a Michigan Conservation Officer.  Mike and his wife have six children and live in the eastern U.P.  His spare time interests include church ministries and over 45 years of playing ice hockey.

Wayne Dault, Customer Service Specialist - Transportation (Wayne.Dault@MarquetteRail.com)
Wayne came to Marquette with nine years experience as a conductor and engineer, initially with Kansas City Southern in Kansas City and subsequently with CSX at Grand Rapids.  A lifelong mid-Michigan resident, Wayne spearheaded the rehabilitation of our caboose for Marquette's first annual Santa train.

Matt Erlewein, Customer Service Specialist - Transportation (Matt.Erlewein@MarquetteRail.com)
Matt came to Marquette Rail with nine years' experience as a conductor, prior to which he worked for Steelcase for twenty years.  In his spare time he enjoys working on a beautiful new home in the woods near Benzonia which he shares with his wife Jan, tending to his boat and fishing for salmon and steelhead, and of course spoiling his grandchildren!

Don Ferris, Transportation Trainee (Don.Ferris@MarquetteRail.com)
Don recently joined Marquette's transportation department as a conductor trainee after serving in our engineering department.  He has been a railroader for over twenty years, having previously worked for Grand Trunk Western/Canadian National in the track department.  Don and Tina live in Ludington, and are proud parents of Brian, Trisha, Travis, Ashley, Joshua, Tara and Dakota, as well as grandaughter Savanna.  Don enjoys bowling and softball in his leisure time.

Dave Grace, Customer Service Specialist - Transportation (Dave.Grace@MarquetteRail.com)
Dave is our resident psychologist, as demonstrated by his frequent question "How does that make you feel?"  He came to Marquette with twelve years' experience as a conductor and engineer for CSX, prior to which he was a tractor trailer owner operator for four years.  He holds an Associate's Degree in Engineering and comes from an entrepreneurial family.  Dave and wife Denise live in Wyoming (the town, not the state), and have "too many pets to list."  For relaxation, Dave likes traveling out West, model building, hunting and teasing Wayne Dault.

Bill Heiden, Customer Service Specialist - Transportation (Bill.Heiden@MarquetteRail.com)
Bill came to Marquette Rail from CSX with eleven years of experience, most recently as an engineer.  He and wife Vanessa live in Dorr with children Chrystal and Dean, dog Sam and Chessie the cat.  In his spare time, Bill likes to travel the West, is a self-professed "big history nut", and is recreating the Milwaukee Road through Idaho in his basement.

Bryan Lalevee, Customer Service Specialist - Transportation (Bryan.Lalevee@MarquetteRail.com)
Bryan came to us with over ten years in the railroad industry, most recently as a train dispatcher for NICTD in Michigan City, IN.  In his spare time he enjoys Texas hold 'em poker, golf and bowling.  Bryan currently resides in Ludington with his cat Wrigley (as in Field in Chicago).

Steve Majerczak, Customer Service Specialist - Transportation (Steve.Majerczak@MarquetteRail.com)
Steve joined Marquette Rail at start-up, having previously served for three years as a conductor with CSX Transportation in Grand Rapids.  He and Jenny live in Sand Lake and have two beautiful daughters, Emersen and Isabella, but no pets.  (Being parents of two girls will keep them busy enough - they will have no time for a dog).  When Steve is not on the ground or at the throttle for Marquette, he can be found fishing, hunting or spending time with his family.

George Micka, Customer Service Specialist - Transportation, DSLE (George.Micka@MarquetteRail.com)  
George came to Marquette as a qualified engineer from CSX at Grand Rapids.  Prior to working for CSX, he worked at several other employers, including Walt Disney World.  (There are those who would argue that move from Disney to Marquette is not exactly a huge leap).  George and his wife Jamie live in Muskegon with their cat TC (short for "Tiny Cat").  He holds BAA and MA degrees in parks and recreation from Central Michigan University, and in his spare time he enjoys hockey, bowling, and serving as president of the S.S. City of Milwaukee National Historical Society.

Linus Starring, Customer Service Specialist - Transportation (Linus.Starring@MarquetteRail.com)
Linus is a part-time engineer, conductor, mechanic and otherwise jack-of-all-trades for Marquette during the off-season.  He and Janice have owned Sauguatuck Dune Rides for 25 years, where you can buy a genuine Updoc at the gift shop.  He is also owner of Great Lakes Locomotive LLC, a locomotive leasing firm.  He holds an AAS degree in Heavy Equipment Service from Ferris State University.  A shortline railroader since the early 1990s, Linus has served several Michigan and Indiana shortlines as brakeman and engineer.  Linus and Janice have two daughters, Lisa and Jennifer, and three grandsons, A.J., Aaron and Aiden, and they live in Saugatuck.

Jason Varnes, Transportation Trainee (Jason.Varnes@MarquetteRail.com)
Jason recently became a conductor trainee after serving in our engineering department on a part-time basis since 2006, then full-time since the fall of 2007.  He was previously a heavy equipment operator in Arizona.  Jason has two children, daughter Makenzie and son Dakota, and lives in Fountain.  His leisure time activites include hunting and fishing.

Dan Wolf, Transportation Trainee (Dan.Wolf@MarquetteRail.com)
Dan comes to Marquette Rail from Blarney Castle Oil Company, where he was a bobtail delivery truck driver.  We were very impressed with Dan's pro-customer service attitude, and hired him as a conductor trainee.  Previously he worked at Harsco Track Technologies, where he applied his associates degree in welding for over eighteen years, most recently as  as the fabrication department foreman.  Dan lives near Custer with his wife Allyson and son Daniel.  They spend their time together owning and operating a 100-acre asparagus farm.

Sean Woolworth, Customer Service Specialist - Transportation, DSLE (Sean.Woolworth@MarquetteRail.com)
Sean had nine years as a CSX engineer and conductor when arriving on Marquette Rail property at start-up.  Prior to that, he was in hotel management for four years.  Sean and Megan live in Sparta and have four children, Alex, Zack, Max and Sam, two dogs, Copper and Dobby, and a bunch of nameless fish.  When he's not working, he enjoys bowling, camping, and playing games or outside activities with his family.

Our Engineering Team

Rob Kaczmarczyk, Track Inspector (Rob.Kaczmarczyk@MarquetteRail.com)
Rob has been a railroader for 25 years prior to coming to Marquette Rail, and was previously occupied as a painter and in the U.S. Army.  He lives in Fountain with Sonny, a Cairn Terrier, and has a grown daughter, Connie.  He enjoys motorcycling, fishing and hunting in his spare time.

Chuck Carver, Customer Service Specialist - Engineering (Chuck.Carver@MarquetteRail.com)
Chuck's service in Marquette's engineering department represents his first railroad experience, having previously served as a CNC machine operator at East Jordan Iron Works.  Chuck and Jeannie live in Manistee and have children Sarah, Samantha, Rebecca, Tyler, Slade and Sangie, not to mention a dog, Maggie Mae (probably not the one Rod Stewart sang about).  In his spare time, Chuck enjoys hunting, fishing, sporting events, and gardening with his wife.

Jason Coopshaw, Customer Service Specialist - Engineering and C&S Technician (Jason.Coopshaw@MarquetteRail.com)

Kevin Homrich, Customer Service Specialist - Engineering and C&S Technician (Kevin.Homrich@MarquetteRail.com)
Kevin comes to Marquette as an experienced railroader, having worked in maintenance of way and signaling for CSX Transportation, RailAmerica and a signal contracting firm.  He lives in Newaygo with his wife.

Our Mechanical Team

Judd Brown, Customer Service Specialist - Mechanical (Judd.Brown@MarquetteRail.com)
Judd was a conductor/engineer on the Adrian and Blissfield Railroad in southern Michigan for eight years before coming to Marquette.  Prior to becoming a railroader, he was a fuel specialist in the Michigan Army National Guard, where he served our country through a tour of duty as a Chinook door gunner in Iraq.  He and wife Catrina and son Benjamin live in Manistee.  In his spare time he enjoys historical pursuits.

Dave Leonard, Customer Service Specialist - Mechanical (Dave.Leonard@MarquetteRail.com)

Interested in joining our elite team of Champion Railroaders?