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Midwest Association of Rail Shippers

July 13–14, 2026

MARS Summer Meeting

The State of Rail: Where We Are & What Comes Next

Grand Geneva Resort · Lake Geneva, WI

Full two-day agenda below. Open a presentation to read its detailed summary and connect with the speaker on LinkedIn.

View the agendaMeet the speakers

Format

Two-day meeting

Program

9 industry speakers

Field notes

7 session recaps

Agenda

  1. 7:00 AM
    MARS Registration· Ballroom Foyer
  2. 7:00 AM
    Breakfast & Networking

    Sponsored by Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway

  3. 7:30 AM
    Specialty Coffee Bar· Ballroom Foyer

    Hosted by MARS 2026 Marquis Sponsor: AITX

  4. 8:00 AM
    Luke Jones

    Welcome to MARS Summer 2026

    Luke Jones — Director of Sales, GATX · MARS 2026 President, GATX

    Connect
  5. 8:10 AM
    Bryan Vaughan

    MARS Summer 2026 Meeting Organization

    Bryan Vaughan — VP, Sales, Marketing & Business Development · MARS Sergeant at Arms & Second VP, Modern Rail Capital

    Connect
  6. 8:15 AM
    Maryclare Kenney

    Update from CSX

    Maryclare Kenney — Senior Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, CSX Transportation

    Read summary Connect
  7. 9:00 AM
    Patrick Fuchs

    Update from the STB

    Patrick Fuchs — Chairman, Surface Transportation Board (STB)

    Read summary Connect
  8. 9:30 AM
    Morning Coffee & Networking Break

    Sponsored by American Truck & Rail Audits, Inc.

  9. 10:00 AM
    Taylor Robinson

    The US Energy Landscape

    Taylor Robinson — Managing Director — Energy and Investment Strategy, PLG Consulting

    Read summary Connect
  10. 10:45 AM
    Stefan Loeb

    Update from Norfolk Southern

    Stefan Loeb — VP, Business Development — First & Final Mile Markets, Norfolk Southern Corporation

    Read summary Connect
  11. 11:30 AM
    MARS Announcements· Ballroom
    • • Golf Outing Results & Thanks — Tom Surma, Ingredion
    • • Professional Development & Service Committee — Mike Richardson, Kemira
    • • Scholarship Committee — Jordan Goerger, Ardent Mills
  12. 12:00 PM
    David Fink

    MARS Luncheon & Keynote Speaker

    David Fink — Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration

    Sponsored by Harris Technology Services

    Read summary
  13. 1:30 PM
    Jon Starks

    Industry Update — Trends & Forecasts

    Jon Starks — Chief Executive Officer & Chief Intelligence Officer, FTR Transportation Intelligence

    Read summary Connect
  14. 2:15 PM
    Harris Ligon

    Fact or Freight? A Reality Check for Rail Shippers

    Harris Ligon — Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Telegraph

    Read summary Connect
  15. 3:00 PM
    Luke Jones

    Closing Remarks

    Luke Jones — Director of Sales, GATX · MARS 2026 President, GATX

    Connect

Future MARS Meetings

  • MARS 2027 Winter Meeting — January 12–14, 2027 · Schaumburg, IL
  • MARS 2027 Summer Meeting — July 12–13, 2027 · Lake Geneva, WI

People to know

Get to know the speakers

Connect with the railroad, regulatory, energy, and freight leaders featured throughout the MARS program.

Bryan Vaughan

Bryan Vaughan

VP, Sales, Marketing & Business Development · MARS Sergeant at Arms & Second VP

Modern Rail Capital

Connect on LinkedIn
Maryclare Kenney

Maryclare Kenney

Senior Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer

CSX Transportation

Connect on LinkedIn
Taylor Robinson

Taylor Robinson

Managing Director — Energy and Investment Strategy

PLG Consulting

Connect on LinkedIn
Stefan Loeb

Stefan Loeb

VP, Business Development — First & Final Mile Markets

Norfolk Southern Corporation

Connect on LinkedIn
David Fink

David Fink

Administrator

Federal Railroad Administration

LinkedIn unavailable
Jon Starks

Jon Starks

Chief Executive Officer & Chief Intelligence Officer

FTR Transportation Intelligence

Connect on LinkedIn