MSU certificate program graduates inaugural class

Railway Age, July, 2008

Seventeen participants of the inaugural session of Michigan State University's Certificate Course in Railway Management representing several railroads and a major railroad supplier graduated on June 20, following more than 160 classroom hours and 40 hours of independent study. The course was led by two well-known railroad economists, Robert E. Gallamore, Ph.D., and Steven R. Ditmeyer.

Robert C. VanderClute, Senior Vice President-Safety and Operations, Association of American Railroads, addressed the graduates, speaking about the challenges facing railroads in the next several years.

The Railway Management Program has been funded in large part by gifts from Dennis J. Gilstad, president, founder, and chairman of rail equipment and financial services company FCM Rail, Ltd, and Edward A Burkhardt, founder, president, and CEO of Rail World, Inc. and Rail World Holdings LLC. Both presented course units to the group.

The next Certificate Course is scheduled to begin Oct. 5, 2008, at Michigan State University. For more information on the course, see the Railway Management Program website, www.raileducation.com.