View source for About OnTrackNorthAmerica

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'''OnTrackNorthAmerica (OTNA)''' produces Industrial Systems Initiatives such as '''VitalRail''' and companion IntelliConference Series. The Continental Action Plans for Sustainable Industry (CAPSI) is the strategic thinking community, a part of OTNA, that designs Industrial Systems Initiatives and IntelliConference Series. 


'''OTNA''' was founded by '''Michael Sussman''' in 2007 as a nonprofit 501c3 industrial policy institute co-leading society in redesigning industrial systems to support sustainable life. Michael Sussman began his career in transportation in 1994 by launching [https://strategicrail.com Strategic Rail Finance], a North American transportation-industry consulting firm, and has since advised on infrastructure-related projects, companies, and systems for private and public sector clients in forty-three U.S. states and four Canadian provinces.



At OTNA, we value objectivity, non-partisanship, and autonomy from any financial, political, or personal interests. We are committed to industrial systems that are financially profitable and sustainable.</br></br>
<b>OTNA has developed state and regional plans, tools, </b><b>analyses</b><b>, and paradigms support</b><b>ing</b><b> these </b><b>values</b><b>.  </b>
* In 2023, OTNA led a four-county stakeholder process in New Mexico in the aftermath of a 350,000-acre forest fire resulting in the [[New Mexico Sustainable Forestry Business Plan|New Mexico Forestry Business Plan]].
* In 2021, OTNA convened hundreds of transportation stakeholders to create [[Nevada’s 2021 State Rail Plan]], a new whole-systems paradigm for statewide rail-enabled economic development.
* On December 11, 2008, OTNA [https://capsi.ontracknorthamerica.org/images/a/a2/Resolution-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf gathered industry and government leaders in the U.S. Capitol Building] to set a new collaborative framework for freight rail transportation efficiency.
* On December 8, 1998, OTNA convened [https://capsi.ontracknorthamerica.org/images/e/ef/1998-Invitation-US-Congressional-Briefing-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf a rail transportation educational event in the U.S. Capitol Building] for 55 congressional staff. 


<b>OnTrackNorthAmerica Frequently Collaborates with Partners in Academia </b><!-- This Paragraph doesn't have corresponding links -->

* Dr. Barbara Gray, founder of Penn State University’s Center for Research in Conflict and Negotiation, has contributed significantly to OTNA’s work. 
* The University of Tennessee’s [https://isse.utk.edu/ Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment] provided research assistance for OTNA’s Land Freight Lifecycle Impact Calculator.
* Philadelphia’s Temple University hosted Michael’s talk, [[How Collaboration, Trust, and Railroads Will Save the World|“How Collaboration, Trust, and Railroads Will Save the World,”]] on December 5th, 2023.
* The Transportation Research Forum honored Michael with its 2024 annual [https://trforum.org/presidents-award/ President’s Award].
* Michael serves on the Industry Advisory Board of the six-university consortium, [https://fersc.utk.edu/ Center for Freight Transportation and Efficient & Resilient Supply Chains]  


<b>He has contributed </b><b>to </b><b>improving public policy by meeting with s</b><b>taff or leaders of 6</b><b>9</b> <b>U.S. Senate and 1</b><b>9</b><b>5</b><b> U.S. House offices</b><b>.  </b>

* In March of 2011, Michael was the only private sector invitee to a [https://capsi.ontracknorthamerica.org/images/6/6b/2011-Invitation-US-Congress-Rail-Workshop-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf U.S. House Railroad Subcommittee Staff Workshop] to explore ways to improve the FRA RRIF loan program.
* On February 17, 2011, [https://capsi.ontracknorthamerica.org/images/f/f7/2011-Testimony-US-Congressional-Hearing-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf he testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Railroad Subcommittee] on reforms to the Federal Railroad Administration’s Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) program.
* On October 19, 2005, [https://capsi.ontracknorthamerica.org/images/a/ab/2005-Testimony-Surface-Transportation-Board-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf he spoke before the Surface Transportation Board] on the 25th anniversary of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980.


<b>Representative acknowledgments of these efforts:</b>

* Thank you letters from [https://capsi.ontracknorthamerica.org/images/d/d3/Thank-You-Letter-US-Rep-Wolf-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf Republican House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Frank Wolf] and [https://capsi.ontracknorthamerica.org/images/3/3e/Thank-You-Letter-US-Sen-Rockefeller-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf Democratic Senator Jay Rockefeller’s Chief of Staff].
* In 2003, he contributed to Washington State produce shippers by designing and writing important elements of the [https://capsi.ontracknorthamerica.org/images/f/f4/2003-Reference-Letter-2-WSDOT-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf Washington State Produce Railcar Pool Act] as passed by the 2003 state legislature.
* In 1999, he worked with the Federal Railroad Administration to eliminate audited financial statement requirements for Class II and III railroads from the [https://capsi.ontracknorthamerica.org/images/7/78/OMB-Caused-the-Delay-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing Act (RRIF loan program)].
* In November of 1997 he was responsible for making freight rail projects eligible in [https://capsi.ontracknorthamerica.org/images/1/11/OnTrackNorthAmerica-105v106.pdf H.R.115 – the National Infrastructure Development Act].


<b>Michael‘s writing has been published in many transportation industry journals:</b>

* [https://capsi.ontracknorthamerica.org/images/7/75/December_2014_Railway_Age_Perspective.pdf Railway Age, December 2014, “Revitalizing Direct Rail Service”]
* [https://capsi.ontracknorthamerica.org/images/e/e3/A-RRIF-Centered-Capitalization-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf Railway Age, April 2011, “A RRIF-Centered Capitalization Growth Strategy”]
* [https://capsi.ontracknorthamerica.org/images/b/b8/Leveraging-Capital-for-the-Entire-Industry-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf Railway Age, September 2008, “Leveraging Capital for the Entire Industry”]
* [https://capsi.ontracknorthamerica.org/images/2/23/Regional-and-Short-Line-RRs-in-the-US-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf Transportation Quarterly, Fall 2002, “Regional and Short Line Railroads in the United States”]
* [https://capsi.ontracknorthamerica.org/images/e/ee/Assessing-the-Process-of-Creating-the-RRIF-Program-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf Association of Transportation Law, Logistics & Policy, Fall 2000, “Assessing the Process of Creating the RRIF Program”]
* [https://capsi.ontracknorthamerica.org/images/f/f9/Getting-a-Lenders-Attention-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf Progressive Railroading, June 1998, “Getting a Lender’s Attention”]
* [https://freightforum.org/its-not-just-amazon-its-all-of-us/ It’s Not Just Amazon, It’s All of Us, May 7]
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==== <i><b><u>Board of Trustees</u></b></i> ====
<big>''Michael Sussman''</big>

Chairman, OnTrackNorthAmerica and Chairman & CEO, Strategic Rail Finance</br>

<big>''Eugene N. (“Gene”) Cipriani''</big>

Attorney; former advisor to the United States Railway Association (U.S.R.A.); former in-house corporate counsel for Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)</br>

<big>''Daniel R. Elliott''</big>

Transportation Attorney, Former Chairman of U.S. Surface Transportation Board</br>

<big>''R. Powell Felix''</big>

Founder, Indiana Boxcar Corporation</br>

<big>''Jim Hoecker''</big>

Founder, Hoecker Energy Law & Policy PLLC, former Chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

<big>''Arthur Menko''</big>

Founder and President of Telcodata and Business Planning, Inc

<big>''Carl Belke''</big>

Class I and Short Line Railroad Management Executive – Retired; Board member of numerous Northeast short line railroads; Founder, D&H Rail Consulting LLC

<big>''J. Vann Cunningham''</big>

Assistant Vice President, Economic Development, at BNSF Railway – Retired; Fellow Member, International Economic Development Council; Former TVA Chief of Regional Planning; Former Practice Principal in economic development and site selection, Lockwood Green Consulting<br>

==== <i><b><u>Advisory Board</u> </b></i> ====
<big>''Daniel Burgess''</big> 

Local Chairman, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, Division 456</br>

<big>''Dr. Beverly A. Cigler''</big>

Professor of Public Policy & Administration, Penn State Harrisburg</br>

<big>''Steve Gothreau''</big>

Norfolk Southern Rail Train & Engine Service (Retired)</br>

<big>''Philip Mortimer''</big></br>
Director, TruckTrain Industries

<big>''Mingzhou Jin, Ph.D.''</big></br>
Associate Head Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Tennessee

<big>''Brian Rademacher''</big>

CEcD Economic Development Director, City of Ormond Beach</br>

<big>''Karen Risa Robbins''</big>

Principal, Washington Progress Group</br>

<big>''Peter Schwartzman''</big>

Associate Professor & Chair, Knox College Environmental Studies Program</br>

<big>''Dr. Joseph Schwieterman''</big>

Director, DePaul University, Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development