26th ANNUAL WHEEL RAIL INTERACTION CONFERENCE

Biography: After graduation from the University of Illinois in 1979 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, he accepted a position at Portec Railway Products Division as the Product Engineer for rail fastenings. Portec was a supplier of various railway track products including fasteners, mechanical joints and anchors. He was with Portec until 1984 and then accepted a position as Engineering Manager for Calorite Inc. a Division of the Delachaux Corporation. Calorite was a supplier of thermite rail weld kits to the North American railroad industry. In 1989 he accepted a position as Product Manager for Rail Welding at the Holland Company. The Holland Company is a supplier of contract rail welding services and equipment. He has been involved in the development of Certified Weld Programs for standard and alloyed rails, of techniques for making in-track closure welds and pf developing alternative methods for welding rails. Currently his is Engineering Manager for Research and Development.

In addition to being a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Richard is an active member in the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA), as previous secretary of Subcommittee 1 – Welding and current chairman of Committee 4 – Rail and is a member of the American Welding Society (AWS).