LEADERSHIP
Tim Eklund
Managing Partner
Tim is the Founder of Rail Partners Management Group, LLC and serves as one its Managing Partners. Within Rail Partners, he has lead responsibility for Strategic Growth and Acquisitions, Investor Relationships, and Class 1 and Shortline Railroad Relationships.
Tim has over 25 years of rail industry experience, buying, building and operating shortline railroads and rail-related service businesses for two shortline railroad holding companies. He has also served as a long-time advisor to global infrastructure investors.
Craig Bargowski
Managing Partner
Mr. Bargowski is a Managing Partner of Rail Partners Management Group, LLC and has more than 20 years of experiencein all aspects of the railcar service industry, including but not limited to: leasing, maintenance, storage, cleaning systemsand fleet management.
― Held various professional positions with GATX.
― Is Founder and owner of Creative Railcar Marketing Services (CRMS )in 2001. CRMS was created to bring railcar serviceproviders and their customers together, in order to establish win/win/win relationships. CRMS has grown over the last 14 years in the services provided and the customers assisted, through providing creditable and reliable service in anefficient manner.
― Through CRMS maintains strong commercial relationships with every major rail car owner in North America.
Kevin Goins
Managing Partner
Mr. Goins has more than 20 years of rail and transload industry experience and is a Managing Partner of Rail Partners Management Group, LLC.
― In 2011, he was principal founder of Freedom Terminal services US & Canada, Freedom Railcar Solutions and served as the President with full P & L responsibilities for both companies with over 300 employees in total.
― His prior career experience highlights include starting WATCO Transload & Intermodal Services, where he led several key initiatives in the development of crude transload facilities and served as SVP and COO of the division; Director in CSX Corporation’s North American and international transload divisions; and management positions with Nucor Steel, responsible for new project management and expanding Nucor’s distribution networks.
― Mr. Goins proudly served in the United States Marine Corps and is an advocate for Big Brothers and Sisters of America
Human Resources
Whitley Lane
Director of Human Resources
Whitley Lane serves as the Director of Human Resources for Rail Partners Management Group. Within this capacity she oversees all aspects of the Human Resource function including organizing company strategy for human capital, employment legislation, benefit negotiation, talent management, as well as policy and procedure recommendations on personnel matters.
Kaci Pfaff
Human Resources Manager
Kaci joined RPMG in 2018. She holds over 8 years of Human Resources experience. Her prior career experience highlights include serving as a Human Resources Consultant working with clients in all different industries through safety, training, benefits, compensation, and other Human Resources areas. Prior to that, her experience included serving as a Human Resources Generalist for a banking institution with locations in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Before that, she specialized in training and staff development for a large manufacturing company in Southwest Missouri.
Kaci has her certification as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Society of Human Resources Management – Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), and has holds a Life, Accident, and Health Insurance License. She has a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Management, from Missouri State University. Kaci was also named one of the “Top 30 HR Professionals Under 30” by SHRM’s HR Magazine.
