High profile

Railway Age, April, 2004

Peter Sklannik has been appointed COO of Trinity Railway Express. He will be responsible for oversight and day-to-day supervision of TRE operations, including the development of train schedules and equipment utilization plans, and will play a role in improving marketing strategies and customer satisfaction. Sklannik served previously as COO of Virginia Railway Express, where he implemented programs that led to the doubling of ridershlp from 7,500 to 15,000 passenger trips since his arrival in 2000. He also spent 10 years at MTA Long Island Rail Road, where he held management positions, including director-market development.

RailAmerica has split the chairmanship and president and CEO offices. William Pagonis, who served previously as vice chairman of the Board and chairman st the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, has been named chairman of the Board. Gary Marino will retain his position as president and CEO, Charles Swinburn, who currently serves on the Compensation and Government Relations Committees, has been appointed chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, succeeding Pagonis. John Sullivan will replace Pagonis on the company's Compensation Committee. Pagonis has served on RA's Board of Directors since February 2000. He is currently SVP-head of supply chain for Sears Roebuck and Co., and president of Senti Logistics Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears. Pagonis, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General, served in Desert Shield/Desert Storm as logistics commander for General Norman Schwarzkopf.