North Coast Railroad Authority Approves Staff Changes

Ukiah, CA June 19, 2003 – With the recent resignation of Executive Director Doug Christy, the NCRA announced at it’s June 18^th regular board meeting that it has hired Mr. Rick Kennedy as Interim Executive Director. Kennedy is a professional engineer with extensive background in civil engineering, having worked for many years as the Public Works Director and City Engineer for the City of Ukiah. Said NCRA Chair John Woolley of Kennedy, “Rick’s an asset, there’s no doubt about it. The other board members and myself were in complete agreement that Rick has just the right skills to get us through this transition and continue Doug’s forward momentum in utilizing FEMA’s Alternate Project that will fund the restoration of rail service to our south end.”

In addition to Mr. Kennedy’s placement, Executive Assistant Dina Polkinghorne was promoted to Office Manager. “The Office Manager position is a newly created position,” said Christy, “With the authority’s need to continue to control expenses, increasing staff responsibility is a necessity. We are pleased we have someone of Dina’s caliber to absorb these functions, especially the critical area of property management. The Board and I feel she will do great in her new role.”

Christy has accepted a senior position with Schneider National in their Rail Intermodal Division and will be moving with his family to Green Bay, Wisconsin.

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The North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) was formed in 1989 by the California Legislature under the North Coast Railroad Authority Act, Government Code Sections 93000, et seq . The Mission of the North Coast Railroad Authority is to provide a unified & revitalized rail infrastructure meeting the freight and passenger needs of the region; a first class service working in partnership with others to build and sustain the economy of the region.