Join us for Rails to the Future: 200 Years of Progress, Building What’s Next conference that celebrates two centuries of rail innovation while charting the course for the industry’s next era of growth.
Last Updated: 5/08/26
Rails to the Future: 200 Years of Progress, Building What’s Next May 11 – 13, 2026
MSU Management Education Center 811 W. Square Lake Road, Troy, Michigan 48098
Day 1 – Monday, May 11
12:00 - 7:00 pm 2:00 - 3:00 pm 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Conference Registration
Lobby
Alumni Event Shuttle - Loop Service
Railway Management Certificate Program Graduates Reunion Event /Private Event/
Room 106
4:00 - 5:00 pm 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Welcome Reception Shuttle - Loop Service
Conference Welcome Reception
State of the Rail Industry Tony Hatch - Rail Analyst & Consultant, ABH Consulting Sponsored by RailPros
Dining Room
7:00 pm
Return Shuttles - Loop Service
Day 2 – Tuesday, May 12
6:30 am Shuttles Start - Loop Service 7:00 am - 6:30 pm Conference Registration
Lobby
7:00 - 8:15 am
Breakfast Buffet
Lobby
8:15 - 8:30 am
Welcome to Rails to the Future
Auditorium
Safety, Innovation, and the Future of Rail Education Val Kucherenko - Director, Rail Education, MSU Broad College of Business
Day 2 – Tuesday, May 12 continued
8:30 - 9:15 am
Opening Keynote
Auditorium
Developing the Next Generation of Rail Leaders David Souder - Dean, MSU Broad College of Business
9:15 - 10:00 am
General Session
Auditorium
Update from Association of American Railroads Ian Jefferies - President & CEO, Association of American Railroads (AAR)
10:00 - 10:30 am
Coffee Break Sponsored by FTS Rail
Lobby
10:30 - 11:30 am
Panel Discussion - The Rail Industry’s Financial Journey: Past, Present, Future
Auditorium
Moderator: Adriene Bailey - Partner, Oliver Wyman Panelists: • Tony Hatch - Rail Analyst & Consultant, ABH Consulting • Rick Paterson - Independent Rail Analyst
11:30 am - 12:45 pm Lunch & Networking
Dining Room
12:45 - 2:00 pm
Panel Discussion - Capital, Ownership, and Investment - Rail Equipment and Leasing - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Speaker & Moderator: David Nahass - President, Railroad Financial Corporation Panelists: • Jason Kuehn - Vice President, Transportation and Advanced Industrials, Oliver Wyman • Barbara Wilson - Senior Advisor, Railroad Financial Corporation • Patrick Hurst - Senior Vice President, Risk & Investment Portfolio, Trinity Rail
Auditorium
2:00 - 3:15 pm
Panel Discussion - Short Line and Regional
Auditorium
Speaker & Moderator: Chuck Baker - President, American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) Panelists: • Michael Stickel - President & CEO, Lake State Railway Company • Peter Gilbertson - President & CEO, Anacostia Rail Holdings Company • Justin Broyles - President & CEO, R. J. Corman Railroad Group
Day 2 – Tuesday, May 12 continued
3:15 - 3:45 pm
Coffee Break Sponsored by FTS Rail
Lobby
3:45 - 5:00 pm
Fireside Chat - Introduction by Ron Batory - Executive Director, CRRE
Auditorium
Moderators: Rick Paterson - Independent Rail Analyst & Tony Hatch – Rail Analyst & Consultant, ABH Consulting Panelist: • Matthew Rose - Executive Chairman (Retired), BNSF Railway
5:00 - 6:30 pm
Networking Reception Sponsored by RailPros
Dining Room/Lobby
6:30 pm
Return Shuttles - Loop Service
Day 3 – Wednesday, May 13
6:30 am
Shuttles Start - Loop Service Conference Registration
7:00 am - 1:00 pm
Lobby
7:00 - 8:00 am
Breakfast Buffet
Lobby
8:00 - 8:15 am
Welcome Back
Auditorium
Val Kucherenko - Director, Rail Education, MSU Broad College of Business
8:15 - 9:00 am
General Session - Introduction by Ron Batory - Executive Director, CRRE
Auditorium
FRA Perspective - Building What’s Next David Fink - Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
09:00 - 10:15 am Fireside Chat - Introduction by Ron Batory - Executive Director, CRRE
Auditorium
Moderators: Rick Paterson - Independent Rail Analyst & D. Lynn Kelley, Senior Vice President (Retired), Union Pacific Panelists: • Clarence Gooden - President (Retired), CSX • Charles Moorman - Chairman, President & CEO (Retired), Norfolk Southern • Beth Whited - President (Retired), Union Pacific
Day 3 – Wednesday, May 13 continued
10:15 - 10:30 am Coffee Break
Lobby
Sponsored by FTS Rail
10:30 - 11:45 am General Session - Introduction by Ron Batory - Executive Director, CRRE
Auditorium
STB Perspective - Building What’s Next Patrick Fuchs - Chairman, Surface Transportation Board (STB)
11:45 am - 1:00 pm Closing Keynote & Lunch
Dining Room
Rails to the Future Ronald Batory - Edward A. Burkhardt Chair in Railway Management and Executive Director, Center for Railway Research and Education
1:00 pm Shuttles
Thank you to all of our sponsors
- Platinum Sponsors -
- Gold Sponsor -
- Silver Sponsors -
- Bronze Sponsor -
- Networking Reception Sponsor -
- Coffee Break Sponsor -
- Lanyard Sponsor -
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