WASHINGTON — The Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association, or REMSA, has elected two new members to its board of directors.
Elected at the Nov. 6 membership meeting are Bob Coakley, sales director, Ballast Tools Equipment, and Matt Violin, vice president of sales, NARSTCO. They will join the board for two-year terms as of Jan. 1, 2025.
Coakley joined the railroad industry in 2008 and has held senior management positions with Nordco, ENSCO, and Ballast tools. His background includes maintenance-of-way equipment and aftermarket sales and support and advanced track inspection technologies. Violin has been in the rail industry for more than 18 years and leads the sales and accounts team ant NARSTCO, a manufacturer of steel railroad ties, turnout sets, and “e” clips.
“Both Mr. Coakley and Mr. Violin are exceptional candidates and we look forward to seeing their impact on the REMSA Board,” REMSA President Urszula Soucie said in a press release. “We’re confident that Bob and Matt will build on the accomplishments of REMSA and support its continued growth.”
Soucie also acknowledged the work of past REMSA chairman Jay Gowan, senior vice president, North American track, at Railworks. A board member since 2011, his term will expire at the end of 2024. “Jay’s leadership and dedication to REMSA over the past 13 years has been instrumental to the association and his passion for the association and industry will be missed,” Soucie said.
