OREANDA-NEWS.  Union Pacific announced multiple appointments in the Marketing and Sales, Operating and Finance departments.

Marketing and Sales

Jason Hess now leads the Agricultural Products team as vice president and general manager, succeeding Paul Hammes who retired after 10 years with Union Pacific. Most recently, Hess was vice president of the National Customer Service Center. During his 19 years with Union Pacific, Hess has held Marketing and Sales positions in Agricultural Products, Industrial Products and Chemicals. He earned a bachelor's degree in history from Coe College.

Kate Betsworth succeeds Hess as vice president of the National Customer Service Center. Most recently, she was vice president of Intermodal Operations. During her 20 years with Union Pacific, Betsworth has held Marketing and Sales positions in Agricultural Products, Industrial Products, Chemicals, the Market Development Sales Center and Union Pacific Distribution Services. She holds a business administration degree from Iowa State University.

Kari Kirchhoefer now leads Union Pacific subsidiary Streamline as president, succeeding Tom Brown who retired after four decades in the rail and transportation industry. During her 22 years with Union Pacific, Kirchhoefer has held Marketing and Sales positions in Agricultural Products, Industrial Products and the Market Development Sales Center. She earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from Northwest Missouri State University.

Kenny Rocker is now assistant vice president of Chemicals, succeeding Jon Panzer who was appointed vice president of Planning and Analysis. Most recently, Rocker was assistant vice president of Industrial Products Marketing. During his 19 years with Union Pacific, Rocker has held Marketing and Sales positions in Industrial Products, Automotive and Chemicals. He earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Tuskegee Institute.

Michelle Gerhardt succeeds Rocker as assistant vice president of Industrial Products Marketing. Prior to this appointment, she was assistant vice president of Investor Relations. During her 24 years with Union Pacific, Gerhardt has held Finance Department positions in Financial Analysis, Investor Relations and Corporate Audit, as well as positions in Human Resources. She earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Iowa State University and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska Omaha.

Mike Parker is now general manager of Union Pacific Distribution Services, succeeding David Giandinoto who was appointed assistant vice president of Operations for the Northern Region. Most recently, Parker was senior director of Customer Communications and Resource Planning. During his 11-year Union Pacific career, Parker has held Marketing and Sales positions in Industrial Products, Intermodal and Union Pacific Distribution Services. He has a marketing degree from the University of Colorado and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Michigan.

Operating

Ed Weber now leads the Network Planning and Operations team as vice president, succeeding Cameron Scott who recently was named executive vice president of Operations. Most recently vice president of the Finance Department's Planning and Analysis team, Weber will now lead the operations planning function responsible for developing Union Pacific's transportation and operating plans. In his 34-year Union Pacific career, Weber has held positions in Finance, Marketing and Sales, Corporate Audit and Human Resources. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Wyoming.

Paul Borseth succeeds Betsworth as vice president of Intermodal Operations. Prior to this appointment, Borseth was assistant vice president of Intermodal Marketing. During his 19-year Union Pacific career, Borseth has focused on international and domestic intermodal markets. He earned a bachelor's degree in management from the University of Minnesota and a master's degree in marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

David Connell is now vice president of Engineering alongside Joe Santamaria. Most recently, Connell was regional vice president of Transportation for the Northern Region. During his 31 years with Union Pacific, Connell has held multiple leadership positions in the Operating Department. He earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from North Carolina State.

Greg Garrison succeeds Connell as regional vice president of Transportation for the Northern Region. Prior to this appointment, he was assistant vice president of Operations for the Southern Region. During his 28-year Union Pacific career, Garrison has held a number of positions in Operating and at the Harriman Dispatching Center. He earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Arkansas.

Brian McGavock succeeds Garrison as assistant vice president of Operations for the Southern Region. Most recently, he was assistant vice president of Locomotive Distribution and Network Operations at the Harriman Dispatching Center. During his 16 years with Union Pacific, McGavock has held positions in Operating and at the Harriman Dispatching Center. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Eastern Illinois University.

Tom Lischer succeeds McGavock as assistant vice president of Locomotive Distribution and Network Operations at the Harriman Dispatching Center. Most recently, Lischer was general superintendent of the Houston Service Unit. During his 18 years at Union Pacific, Lischer has held positions in all three of Union Pacific's operating regions and at the Harriman Dispatching Center. He earned a bachelor's degree in general studies from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Jack Huddleston succeeds Lischer as general superintendent of Transportation Services for the Houston Service Unit. Most recently, Huddleston was superintendent of Transportation Services for the Roseville Service Unit. During his 21-year Union Pacific career, he has held a number of positions in the Operating Department. Huddleston holds a master's degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix.

James Rawlinson is now general superintendent of Transportation Services for the Roseville Service Unit, succeeding Huddleston. Prior to this appointment, Rawlinson was director of Transportation Services for the Roseville Service Unit. In his 34 years with Union Pacific, Rawlinson has held several leadership positions in the Operating Department.

David Giandinoto is now assistant vice president of Operations for the Northern Region. Prior to this appointment, he was general manager of Union Pacific Distribution Services. During his 20-year Union Pacific career, Giandinoto has held positions in Marketing and Sales and Operating, including a role as general superintendent of the Chicago Service Unit. He earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln.

Finance

Jon Panzer is now vice president of Planning and Analysis, succeeding Ed Weber who was appointed vice president of Network Planning and Operations. Most recently, Panzer was assistant vice president of Chemicals. During his 18-year Union Pacific career, he has held Finance Department positions in Planning and Analysis, Investor Relations and Financial Analysis. He also has held Marketing and Sales positions in Intermodal, Streamline and Chemicals. Panzer earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree in business administration from Carnegie Mellon.

Mike Staffenbeal is now assistant vice president of Investor Relations, succeeding Michelle Gerhardt. During his 25-year career at Union Pacific, Staffenbeal has held Finance Department positions in Planning and Analysis, Accounting, Corporate Treasury and Corporate Audit. He earned a bachelor's degree and a master's of business administration from the University of Iowa.

Jim Lusk is now assistant vice president of Insurance, succeeding Warren Beach who is retiring. During his 34 years with Union Pacific, Lusk has held Finance positions in Planning and Analysis, Corporate Audit and Accounting, and a role in Marketing and Sales. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas and a master's of business administration from Lindenwood University.