In a planned succession that will last through the year-end 2025, BNSF Industrial Products Group Vice President Colby Tanner will join OmniTRAX Inc. as Chief Executive Officer effective April 15, sharing leadership responsibilities with current CEO Dean Piacente, who will retire and shift to the OmniTRAX Board of Directors.
OmniTRAX, The Broe Group’s rail and real estate affiliate, describes Tanner as “an accomplished Class I rail executive whose career blends decades of rail and real estate leadership with industry giants BNSF Railway and Walmart.” His transitional pairing with Piacente is designed “to accelerate the company’s extensive 2025 growth initiatives.”
“Colby’s real estate development expertise is the ideal complement to our rail and real estate logistics platform,” said The Broe Group Founder Pat Broe. “The current demand for domestic rail-served sites is unprecedented, and OmniTRAX continues to deliver award-winning projects for industry leaders across North America. Colby’s dynamic real estate experience pairs perfectly with OmniTRAX Chairman David Garin’s BNSF Railway commercial relationships and Dean Piacente’s CSX Transportation expertise to create an unparalleled national knowledge network to drive company-wide growth.”
Tanner’s experience includes oversight of BNSF’s Industrial Products group as well as the management of billions of dollars in project site selection, construction and real estate development. He began his career with the Missouri Department of Economic Development and broadened his industrial project site selection experience with Carter & Burgess. Walmart tapped Tanner to manage industrial development and retail expansion for nearly a decade before being appointed to oversee the western U.S. real estate footprint for Sam’s Club. Tannert joined BNSF in 2015 and earned continued responsibility expansion, culminating with his 2021 ascent to Group Vice President for Industrial Products.
“Colby is well positioned to lead our immediate and long-term company growth,” said OmniTRAX Board Chairman David Garin. “His extensive real estate development expertise and proven Class I rail record provide tremendous resources to grow the OmniTRAX North American rail network. First- and last-mile rail service is essential to domestic rail growth, and Colby will help us accelerate expanded rail access for the intense customer demand we are experiencing throughout North America.”
Tanner says he “sees great opportunity in OmniTRAX’s entrepreneurial approach to bringing customers to rail through the company’s fully integrated rail and real estate development capacity. Paired with the rail network’s customer-centric culture and its industry-leading safety performance, there’s limitless potential. OmniTRAX is the fastest growing domestic railroad for good reason. Its growth strategy, resources and leadership are unique. The competitive benefits of pairing rail and real estate are undeniable. At BNSF, I have seen its powerful impact on supply chains across industry and I am excited to lead a company that recognizes this transformative power.”
Tanner, a Missouri native, holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Missouri as well as a Master of Arts degree from Missouri State University. He and his family will relocate to Colorado, OmniTRAX’s corporate headquarters.
The post Tanner Tapped for OmniTRAX CEO appeared first on Railway Age.