Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS)

Registration is NOW OPEN for the NARS 2025 Annual Meeting in Chicago. We hope you will plan to join us for the following exciting events: Wednesday, May 7 1:00 pm - NARS Networking Event - Chicago Pizza Tour (additional fee) 5:00 pm - Welcome Reception Thursday, May 8 Educational Sessions from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Noon - NARS Luncheon & Networking with exhibitors 4:30 pm - Evening Reception overlooking the Chicago River & skyline Friday, May 9 Educational Sessions from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm More event & speaker details available here: https://lnkd.in/gJhWNmWe Registration available here: https://cvent.me/XqRGy1 Sponsorship details and sign up here (or through registration link above): https://lnkd.in/duZeXjD4 See you in Chicago! #NARS2025

?The countdown is on! Early bird pricing for the Traffic Club of Chicago’s 117th Annual Dinner closes in just 11 days - don’t miss out on the premier #networking event in #transportation and #logistics! ? Why attend? Check out testimonials from past attendees! ?? Register today before prices go up! https://lnkd.in/gsgQw_3p ?? A huge THANK YOU to our sponsors for making this event possible! Your support helps us bring the industry together year after year. Norfolk Southern GATX First Logistics LLC Raptor Tank Cleaning Systems Magellan Corporation First Tool Group Interested in joining this incredible group of sponsors? Sponsorship opportunities are still available! ?? Contact us to learn more about how your company can be part of this historic event - [email protected] #tccannualdinner #trafficclubofchicago #supplychain #networkingevent #logisticsandsupplychain #transportationindustry #logisticscompany #freight #logisticsindustry #chicago #illinois #trafficclub #tcc #earlybirdpricing #registertoday

EVP of Rail, James Kornas, shared the stage with a host of rail industry leaders and professionals at the 2025 Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS) Winter Conference to address the tough topic of erosion of freight market share to the trucking industry over the last two decades. The presentation centered on a shipper’s perspective of the key challenges facing the rail industry, and possible solutions to win back customers. To hear more about what rail solutions we can offer, send James a message. Thank you to the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association!

Thank you Progressive Railroading for the recap of our Winter Meeting last month!

Paulina San Millan, our SVP of Business Development, recently took the stage at the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS)'s winter meeting. ?? Moderated by American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association's Chuck Baker, she discussed industrial development trends with fellow panelists CSX's Christina Bottomley, and OmniTRAX, Inc.'s Ryan Higgins. Paulina highlighted the success of vetting large industrial sites via our #VettedSites program and the types of projects capturing interest in #Illinois. Check out a breakdown of the panel in Progressive Railroading: ?? https://bit.ly/40RmclF | #BeInIllinois

Stressed Out? The Solution Might Surprise You. Chronic stress isn’t just draining—it impacts your health, productivity, and even your ability to maintain a healthy weight. When constant stress raises cortisol levels, disrupts sleep, drains motivation, and makes it harder to focus and perform at your best. The antidote? Play. Yes, really. This was exactly what I shared at the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS) Winter Conference—not the usual wellness talk about exercise and nutrition, but the often-overlooked power of play in the workplace. Play isn't just for kids; it's a missing piece of workplace wellness that can boost creativity, resilience, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and overall well-being. But let’s be clear: ? Scrolling social media between meetings isn’t play. ? Watching Netflix isn’t play. ? Watching your kids play isn’t play. ? Drinking alcohol with your co-workers isn’t play. ? Playing a quick game of basketball with colleagues? Play. ? Laughing through a fun team challenge? Play. ? Trying a new hobby after work? Play. ? Taking a break to be creative? Play. Play resets your nervous system, lowers stress hormones, and boosts energy and focus. When stress is managed, productivity improves, cognition improves, and even weight loss goals become easier to achieve. Click here https://lnkd.in/gG3Zgdhr for a list of evidence-based stress management techniques that you can try in addition to playing more! ?? #WorkplaceWellness #StressRelief #PlayMore #CorporateHealth #MindBodyPerformance #MARSWinterConference

Just a reminder to you and to the college students in your life, the MARS Scholarship Application is open UNTIL NEXT FRIDAY, JANUARY 31! Encourage students in your family and any student you know who is pursuing a degree in logistics, transportation or supply chain management at an accredited university to APPLY NOW! https://lnkd.in/gtyJNPk5

Union Pacific's Kenny Rocker will be speaking tomorrow at the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS) winter meeting on “Starting the New Year on Track." View the full schedule for this event here: https://lnkd.in/dUYJ64h

Just one of many highlights from a terrific first day of MARS 2025 Winter Meeting! We were honored to welcome such incredible industry professionals to our stage today and look forward to tomorrow. Thank you to everyone who was a part of making today a success.

MARS would be nothing (^^quite literally!) without the generous support of our sponsors! For 2025, we have launched a new sponsorship program and could not be more grateful to the industry organizations who didn't bat an eye to continue (or - in many cases - enhance!) their support of MARS. New this year, we have a MARQUIS sponsorship and American Industrial Transport - AITX has partnered with us at this level for 2025. Thank you to Matt Keck Matt Liszt Tina Marzo Beckberger and Joe Sadofsky. See you in Schaumburg at #MARSWinter2025.