Omaha Track hosted U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and railroad industry leaders on a tour of the company’s headquarters and facility in Omaha, Neb., on November 20.
Omaha Track provides products and services to Class 1 and short line railroads, rail contractors and industries across North America. Senator Pete Ricketts was sworn in as a U.S. Senator representing Nebraska on January 23, 2023. Prior to his election to the U.S. Senate, Ricketts was Nebraska’s 40th governor for two terms beginning in 2015. Ricketts serves on the Senate’s Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Special Committee on Aging.
“Omaha Track has been providing high-quality services the railroad industry for four decades, employing over 300 people in Nebraska,” said Senator Ricketts. “I’m happy I had the opportunity to tour the facility, meet the team, and discuss their impact on our state.”
“It was great to host Sen. Ricketts and his team at our facility today. Getting the chance to showcase our headquarters, talk about the state of the rail industry in Nebraska, and hear from the Senator about the happenings in Washington was terrific" said Jeff Peterson, president of Omaha Track. “We're proud to highlight our economic footprint in Nebraska and the jobs we create in the state and beyond. Being able to discuss that with Senator Ricketts was a great opportunity and experience,” continued Peterson.
Other attendees participating in the tour included Omaha Track’s CEO and Owner Terry Peterson, Kevin Hicks, senior vice president and freight market sector leader with TranSystems, Scott Traylor, vice president of Rio Grande Pacific Corporation, Wendy Whalen, vice president of supply chain with Union Pacific Railroad, and Mike McGonagle, NRC vice president government affairs & operations and REMSA vice president of government affairs.
Founded in 1983 and celebrating its 40th year in business in 2023, Omaha Track provides recycled and repurposed railroad products and services to Class 1 and short line railroads, rail contractors and industries across North America. Formerly known as the Tie Yard of Omaha, Omaha Track began operations with three employees and now employs more 300 people in North America. Omaha Track started by repurposing used railroad ties to landscape ties. Since its founding, Omaha Track has grown into one of the leading railroad material supply companies and services contractors in North America.
Omaha Track is a member of the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) and the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association(REMSA), two U.S. trade associations that advocate on behalf of railroad contractors and suppliers. Additionally, Lisa Roberts, chief growth officer with Omaha Track, serves on NRC’s Board of Directors.
About the NRC - The NRC is a U.S. trade association that advances the mutual interests of railway contractors and suppliers who construct, maintain and supply freight railroads and rail-transit and passenger lines. Founded in 1978, the NRC connects members with other railway industry professionals and government officials and policy makers. The NRC collaborates with its members, government, and industry leaders to create a positive business climate and to make railway construction and maintenance safer and more efficient. www.nrcma.org
About REMSA - REMSA’s mission is to provide global business development opportunities, to transfer knowledge about markets, products and the industry to members and their customers, and to support the initiatives advancing the North American railroad industry. REMSA was created in 1965 by the merger of the Association of Track and Structure Suppliers and the National Railway Appliances Association, two long-standing organizations in the railroad maintenance-of-way industry. The association represents companies and individuals who manufacture or sell maintenance-of-way equipment, products, and services, or are engineers, contractors and consultants working in construction and/or maintenance of railroad transportation facilities. REMSA members constitute a large part of the maintenance-of-way industry. www.remsa.org
The event at our facility in Kansas City, Kansas, proved to be a great way to engage our employees, the industry, and our local U.S. representative. The NRC did much of the heavy lifting to put this event together in a matter of weeks. We were fortunate our congresswoman took a genuine interest in our business. She spent additional time in discussions with our team and toured our manufacturing facility.
President
A&K Railroad Materials