Amtrak announced Jan. 4 several significant management and organizational changes instituted by President and CEO Wick Moorman.
Effective immediately, Moorman reduced by half the senior management team into six direct reports: Operations - Scot Naparstek, Chief Operating Officer; Marketing and Business Development - Jason Molfetas, Executive Vice President; Finance - Jerry Sokol, Chief Financial Officer; Law - Eldie Acheson, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary; Administration - DJ Stadtler, Chief Administrative Officer; Planning, Technology and Public Affairs - Stephen Gardner, Executive Vice President
“Since joining the Amtrak team in September, I’ve been impressed by the dedication and passion of our employees and leadership team,” said Moorman. “This new structure aligns with our focus on improving the way we do business, modernizing and enhancing the customer experience, and investing in the future.”
Also, train operations will be managed regionally through three general managers and supported by Mechanical, Engineering, Network Support, Police and Security organizations.
A new Administration group will manage key administrative and support functions including Human Resources, Labor Relations, Procurement and Enterprise Project Management.
Certain corporate planning, IT and station and facility functions, as well as the Government Affairs and Corporate Communications division, will be transferred to the new Planning, Technology, and Public Affairs group.
Amtrak says "the changes will also allow Amtrak more organizational flexibility to fully comply with the new account structure created in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), and will provide greater transparency to Amtrak’s customers and stakeholders. Congress included Amtrak reauthorization for the first time ever in the 2015 surface transportation bill, affirming the importance of Amtrak’s network of service that connects more than 500 rural and urban communities in 46 states."
These changes arrive before Amtrak plans to relocate its headquarters. After 30 years in Washington Union Station, Amtrak is looking to move its main offices to another location in Washington D.C.