“Mr. Baker brings a wealth of talent and rail industry experience to the position,” Petry says. “As the lead partner on government affairs efforts for the ASLRRA while at the rail lobbying and association management firm of Chambers, Conlon & Hartwell, including on our key priority, permanence of the Short Line 45G Tax Credit, he has showcased his keen understanding of the needs of our industry. In addition, he has led multiple industry associations and high performing teams. Finally, Mr. Baker has the respect of our members and practiced knowledge of how work in Washington is accomplished via legislative and regulatory channels.”
Prior to accepting the position at ASLRRA, Baker was a partner at Chambers, Conlon & Hartwell where, in addition to the ASLRRA, he represented clients such as the National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association, the OneRail Coalition, the American Railway Development Association, Canadian National Railway, Norfolk Southern Railway, and McHugh Construction.
During his tenure at CC&H, Baker served as the president of the NRC, responsible for the core financial, operational, and legal programs, including its federal legislative and regulatory program. For One Rail, Baker coordinated activities and messaging, and its interface with Congress and the Administration.
“America is blessed with the world’s premier freight rail system and I look forward to doing our part at the ASLRRA to ensure the industry is prepared to meet tomorrow’s challenges,” Baker says. “Along with the ASLRRA board, staff and most importantly the members themselves, I’m eager to tell the short line story including the significant safety, infrastructure investment, congestion reduction, environmental improvement, and economic development benefits we provide throughout the country.”
Baker is a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and a graduate of Rice University in Houston, Texas.
The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association is a non-profit trade association representing the interests of the nation’s 600 short line and regional railroads and railroad supply company members in legislative and regulatory matters. Short lines operate 47,500 miles of track in 49 states, touching in origination or termination one out of every four cars moving on the national railroad system, serving customers who otherwise would be cut off from the national railroad network.
Source: short line association announcement
