R.J. Corman Railroad Company
As Vice President of Operations, Donnie Stilwell will direct the development and implementation of transportation plans and safety initiatives across the Southern Region for R.J. Corman Railroad Company, which owns and operates 19 short lines. The company also offers emergency rail services associated with derailments and natural disasters; provides switching, track construction, track material distribution, and signal design/construction services; and runs a dinner train.
With more than 27 years of railroad industry experience, Stilwell served most recently as AVP–Merchandise Service Design/Bulk Ops Service Design at BNSF in Fort Worth, Tex., where he maximized service plans for merchandise in all hump and flat switching yards on the Class I’s network. Also at BNSF, he held such positions as General Director of Intermodal Continuous Improvement, General Manager of the California Division, and General Director of Transportation of the Chicago Division. “His experience from the ground up allows him to have a unique perspective on car movement from shipper, ground crew, billing, cost management, and delivery,” according to R.J. Corman Railroad Company.
“We are thrilled to welcome Donnie to our team,” said Ray Goss, R.J. Corman Railroad Company President. “His expertise will enhance our already exceptional railroad operations. Donnie will help us continue to drive a culture of safety and safe work practices in our operations, leveraging his extensive experience. Together, we will maintain our commitment to providing creative supply chain solutions for our customers and continuously improving all areas of our operations.”
Earlier this month the company held its 10th annual safety week for employees.
Sound Transit
Victoria Baecher Wassmer and Hughey Newsome have been appointed to lead the newly restructured Finance and Business Administration (FBA) Department at Sound Transit, which offers Link light rail, Sounder commuter rail, and ST Express bus services. Wassmer assumes the role of Deputy CEO–Finance and Business Administration and becomes a member of Sound Transit’s leadership Cabinet. Newsome takes on the position of Chief Financial Officer, reporting to Wassmer.
Wassmer served most recently as Assistant Secretary/Chief Financial Officer at the U.S. Department of Transportation. She has financial leadership experience that spans federal, state, and regional agencies, and a comprehensive understanding of both the funding mechanisms and implementation of capital projects, according to Sound Transit. Wassmer holds a Master of Public Policy from Harvard’s John F Kennedy School of Government and is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College.
Newsome comes to the transit agency from Piston Group, an automotive manufacturing company focused on electrification, where he was Chief Financial Officer. He has also served as Chief Financial Officer for both county and city governments, where he led successful bond financing initiatives and credit rating improvements. Newsome graduated from Harvard’s Business School with a Master of Business Administration and has a Master of Electrical Engineering degree from Stanford University. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville.
“We are thrilled to bring on two deeply skilled and experienced leaders to steer Sound Transit through this complex economic and financial environment,” Sound Transit Interim CEO Goran Sparrman said. “Victoria and Hughey’s demonstrated success with organizational transformation and their shared commitment to Sound Transit’s values position them to be a fantastic team to join the agency’s leadership.”
Sound Transit’s next Link light rail extension is slated to open to Downtown Redmond on May 10, followed by connections across Lake Washington later this year and to Federal Way in 2026.
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