U.S. short line operator OmniTRAX has elected Cameron Scott, a former Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) chief operating officer, as the chair of its board of directors.
The Denver-headquartered company says the appointment will help the company as it seeks to attract more customers to rail-based supply chains.
“As our customers ramp up for increased demand consumption and new supply chain models, our focus is on growing carload volume to support those expanded needs, as well as investing in our assets and the communities we serve,” said OmniTRAX CEO Kevin Shuba. “Cam’s record of optimizing rail operations and his extensive network of contacts provide the ideal guidance to meet the needs of a changing marketplace.”
“By further integrating OmniTRAX into the Class 1 network, Cam will help the team expand our reach and deliver rail’s transformative supply chain efficiency to more customers,” said Sean Broe, OmniTRAX board member and second-generation owner.
Scott has been a member of the OmniTRAX board since February 2019. He was appointed executive vice president and chief operating officer at Union Pacific (UP) in 2014 and held that position until he retired in 2019. According to OmniTRAX, Scott was responsible for train operations across 23 western states, and he oversaw the management and maintenance of locomotives, rail cars, tracks, train dispatching and crew calling.
Scott also served in other roles at UP, including vice president of network planning and operations, where he directed the railroad’s service design, transportation planning and network development, and regional vice president for the western region.
“In my three decades in rail, I know how remarkable OmniTRAX’s velocity of growth truly is,” said Scott. “Coming from Union Pacific, I recognize OmniTRAX’s unique ability to work with Class 1 railroad partners to generate growth using proven methods that resulted in its current position in the marketplace. The company’s deep industrial development capabilities and unparalleled expertise delivering complete rail-based solutions makes OmniTRAX uniquely positioned to grow American communities.”
OmniTRAX owns 23 properties across the U.S. and interchanges with major freight railroads: UP, BNSF (NYSE: BRK), Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC), CSX (NASDAQ: CSX), CN (NYSE: CNI) and Ferromex (FXE) via Kansas City Southern (NYSE: KSU).
Scott’s appointment is the latest in a string of leadership changes at OmniTRAX in just this year alone. In March, OmniTRAX appointed Robert Walker as its new chief financial officer and it added Justin Strickland as its director of economic development. In January, OmniTRAX promoted Sergio Sabatini to president after he most recently served as its chief operating officer. Meanwhile, Gord Anutooshkin is assuming Sabatini’s former role to become the company’s new COO.
In 2019, OmniTRAX acquired a number of short line railroads, including the Winchester & Western Railroad, which serves the mid-Atlantic market, and assets near the Great Lakes via the Port of Cleveland.
OmniTRAX is an affiliate company of The Broe Group, a privately-owned investment group focused on real estate, transportation and energy.
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