**This event is open to McCormick PhD students only**

Join Northwestern Engineering for the 2018-19 seminar series featuring lunchtime presentations by faculty from outside the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. Broaden your horizons by listening to speakers from disciplines such as theatre, economics, law, and philosophy.

Speaker: Shari Diamond
Howard J. Trienens Professor of Law and Professor of Psychology
Pritzker School of Law

Northwestern University Transportation Center’s Sandhouse Rail Group presents:

“Metra: On Track to Excellency & Regional Vitality”

Jim Derwinski - Executive Director & Chief Executive Office
Chris Krakar - Chief Engineering Officer
Kevin McCann - Chief Mechanical Officer

Metra recognizes its role in the economic development of Northeast Illinois by providing effective and efficient transportation. Doing this is challenging on a daily basis due to the age of Metra’s rolling stock and infrastructure. Jim will discuss how Metra is meeting these challenges and Metra’s vision for its future. Chris is going to discuss Metra’s response to this winter’s Vortex. Kevin is going to discuss how Metra is updating its locomotive fleet through purchases, rehab programs and remanufacturing of existing units as well as the coach rehabs programs and request for proposals (RFP) for new coaches. This should be a very informative session. Q&A will follow the presentations.

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THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM

METRA HEADQUARTERS
547 W. Jackson Blvd, Chicago, 13th Floor (Board of Director’s Room)

EVENTBRITE REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Please bring government-issued ID for building access.
Please bring your own lunch. Water and soft drinks will be provided.

NUTC encourages you to attend and travel by Metra to this Sandhouse Meeting.

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SPEAKER BIOS

As CEO/Executive Director of Metra, Mr. Jim Derwinski provides overall leadership and direction to all areas of Metra operations and administration to ensure that Metra achieves its vision, mission, goals and objectives. Financial responsibility includes oversight of Metra’s budget, which totals more than $1 billion for operations and capital. After a six-year stint in the U.S. Navy as an electrician on nuclear submarines, Mr. Derwinski began his railroad career as a locomotive electrician with the Chicago & North Western Railroad in 1993. He joined Metra as an electrician in 1997 and steadily rose through the ranks serving as a foreman, general foreman, shop superintendent, director of systems maintenance, locomotive superintendent, Rock Island division director and Milwaukee division director and then senior director of mechanical operations. He was named Chief Mechanical Officer in September 2013. Mr. Derwinski is a member of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Board of Directors, along with serving on several other APTA committees. He is also on the Safety Operations and Management Committee (SOMC) of the Association of American Railroads (AAR), Chair of the recently formed Commuter Rail Coalition and on the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) Board of Directors.

Christopher Krakar is the current Chief Engineering Officer for Metra, one of the largest and most complex commuter rail systems in North America serving the six (6) counties in Northeastern Illinois. His responsibilities for Metra have ranged from system design, maintenance supervision, and project management for numerous assignments throughout his 28 year railroad career. In his current role, he provides the complex direction, planning, development, and organization for Engineering activities ensuring the safe, efficient, and effective operation of the Engineering Department. Enlisting in the Air Force in his late teens, Christopher started out as an Electronic Technician and soon developed his passion for Engineering. Upon separation from service, he took advantage of his veteran benefits and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Kevin McCann was named Chief Mechanical Officer in January 2018. In this role, Kevin provides leadership and is accountable for directing all activities of the Mechanical Department, including Mechanical Operations and development and integration of Capital Programs while fostering cultural and process changes to maximize team productivity. Mr. McCann assists in the development of long term plans for Metra's rolling stock, maintenance facilities and coach yards. Kevin received his Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic License from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 1988. He then earned his Bachelor's degree in Aviation Maintenance Management from Lewis University in 1990. Mr. McCann started his career in Transportation with Midway Airlines before going to work for Norfolk Southern Railroad in 1992. Kevin came to Metra in 1996 as a Carman and since has served in various progressively responsible management positions throughout his career including: Project Manager for Metra's new gallery car and Highliner (EMU) programs, Superintendent, Division Director, Senior Director of Mechanical Operations, Senior Director of Mechanical Capital Projects and currently serves as Metra's Chief Mechanical Officer.

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The Northwestern University Transportation Center Sandhouse Rail Group hosts meetings to connect active and veteran rail practitioners with students and academics interested in rail-related issues.

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Northwestern University Transportation Center presents:

SPRING 2019 INDUSTRY TECHNICAL WORKSHOP

"Feeding First to Last Mile Demands for Fast(er) Food Delivery"

________

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15. 2019
1:00 - 4:30pm
Hilton Orrington/Evanston

REGISTRATION REQUESTED

________

Every year, NUTC and the Center for the Commercialization of Innovative Transportation Technology (CCITT) co-host two Industry Technical Workshops in conjunction with each of the Fall and Spring Business Advisory Council (BAC) meetings. These Workshops are co-chaired by Hani Mahmassani, NUTC director, and Breton Johnson, NUTC associate director and CCITT director.

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38th Annual Patterson Transportation Lecture:

“Uberizing Logistics and the Future of Freight”

Lior Ron, Head of Uber Freight

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2019
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Lutkin Hall, Evanston

REGISTRATION REQUESTED

Lior Ron has been at the helm of some of the most exciting technological developments of the past decade. He began his career as the CTO for Israeli Army Intelligence before joining Google in 2007. There he became the product lead for Google Maps, helping to scale the business from 10 million to 1 billion users, as well as launch products including My Maps, Google Map Maker and Google Local. After Google acquired Motorola in 2011, Lior was the first Google employee recruited to transform Motorola products, launching the award-winning Moto X and Moto 360 product lines. In 2016, Lior co-founded Otto, a self-driving truck company that was later acquired by Uber. Today, Lior is the Head of Uber Freight, Uber’s logistics on demand business, connecting shippers and trucking companies across the US, and Europe.

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The Annual William A. Patterson Distinguished Transportation Lecture is named for William A. "Pat" Patterson. In 1980, the NUTC established the Lecture as an integral part of the Patterson Endowment. It has since become an annual highlight at Northwestern University, drawing influential speakers from all facets of the transportation industry.

William A. "Pat" Patterson was a central figure in the United States air transport industry for more than four decades. He served as president and chairman of United Airlines from 1934 until his retirement in 1966. He was a life trustee of Northwestern University and was instrumental in the establishment and strategic leadership of the Transportation Center.

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NUTC's Business Advisory Council (BAC) is comprised of senior-level executives representing all modes of transportation including shipper and carrier firms, freight forwarders and third party logistics providers, financial institutions, consulting firms, and trade associations. Unequaled by any academic transportation advisory board in the country, the BAC is a critical asset to NUTC and a major factor in its long-term success.

BAC members serve as advisors to NUTC, providing important real-world insights into the issues and problems they face in their businesses. This perspective is vital to NUTC as it strives to shape its research and educational programs to best serve the changing needs of the dynamic transportation industry.

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Northwestern University Transportation Center presents:

EXECUTIVE EDUCATION | FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS:

Accelerating First to Last Mile

MAY 20 - 22, 2019

The global transportation and logistics market is changing before our eyes. Many challenges are upon us—shifting trade environments, rising fuel costs, growing impacts of e-commerce, capacity constraints, looming talent shortages, aging infrastructure, and more. At the same time, there have never been more opportunities—more efficient vehicles, improved information management systems, increased use of mobile technology, nimble agile business models, new capital pouring into the space-sector, greater analytics and tools to name a few. Rapid expansion since the advent of e-fulfillment has been a constant stress on the industry. From the first mile to the last in transportation, carriers, customers, investors, and their network, service levels, and economics are being tested. The transportation playbooks of the past, promising higher productivity, lower costs and cheaper shipping, no longer apply—leaving no better time to change our thinking and approach.

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Northwestern University Transportation Center presents:

EXECUTIVE EDUCATION | FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS:

Accelerating First to Last Mile

MAY 20 - 22, 2019

The global transportation and logistics market is changing before our eyes. Many challenges are upon us—shifting trade environments, rising fuel costs, growing impacts of e-commerce, capacity constraints, looming talent shortages, aging infrastructure, and more. At the same time, there have never been more opportunities—more efficient vehicles, improved information management systems, increased use of mobile technology, nimble agile business models, new capital pouring into the space-sector, greater analytics and tools to name a few. Rapid expansion since the advent of e-fulfillment has been a constant stress on the industry. From the first mile to the last in transportation, carriers, customers, investors, and their network, service levels, and economics are being tested. The transportation playbooks of the past, promising higher productivity, lower costs and cheaper shipping, no longer apply—leaving no better time to change our thinking and approach.

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Northwestern University Transportation Center presents:

EXECUTIVE EDUCATION | FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS:

Accelerating First to Last Mile

MAY 20 - 22, 2019

The global transportation and logistics market is changing before our eyes. Many challenges are upon us—shifting trade environments, rising fuel costs, growing impacts of e-commerce, capacity constraints, looming talent shortages, aging infrastructure, and more. At the same time, there have never been more opportunities—more efficient vehicles, improved information management systems, increased use of mobile technology, nimble agile business models, new capital pouring into the space-sector, greater analytics and tools to name a few. Rapid expansion since the advent of e-fulfillment has been a constant stress on the industry. From the first mile to the last in transportation, carriers, customers, investors, and their network, service levels, and economics are being tested. The transportation playbooks of the past, promising higher productivity, lower costs and cheaper shipping, no longer apply—leaving no better time to change our thinking and approach.

Related Info

Register Now

**This event is open to McCormick PhD students only**

Join Northwestern Engineering for the 2018-19 seminar series featuring lunchtime presentations by faculty from outside the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. Broaden your horizons by listening to speakers from disciplines such as theatre, economics, law, and philosophy.

Speaker: Todd Rosenthal
Professor of Theatre
School of Communication

Northwestern University Transportation Center presents:

"Spatial distribution of logistics facilities and truck traffic "

Kazuya Kawamura
Professor
Department of Urban Planning and Policy
Department of Civil and Materials Engineering (courtesy)
University of Illinois, Chicago

ABSTRACT:

Decentralization of urban logistics facilities, sometimes referred to as “logistics sprawl”, is a phenomenon that has been observed throughout the developed countries including the US. While it is generally assumed that logistics sprawl leads to an increase in negative externalities associated with trucking, such as air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and congestion, only a few studies have analyzed the impacts of logistics sprawl empirically. In this presentation, I will outline a series of studies that I and my colleagues have conducted that examined the impacts of logistics sprawl using large freight survey data sets. Our research shows that the relationship between the spatial distribution of urban logistics facilities and truck traffic is complex and nuanced, and logistics sprawl does not always lead to increase in truck traffic. We also found that land use policies aimed at controlling the spatial distribution of logistics facilities can be counterproductive in some cases.

SPEAKER BIO:

Dr. Kazuya Kawamura is a Professor of Urban Planning and Policy at the University of Illinois Chicago. He also holds a courtesy appointment in the Department of Civil and Materials Engineering at UIC. His research focuses on urban freight planning and policies. He received the Charlie Wootan Award for best Ph.D. Dissertation in policy and organization as well as Best Paper Award from the TRB AT025 (Urban Freight) for the work that comprises a part of this presentation. He has over 100 research publications. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the North Carolina State University and a MS and a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

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