BOARD MEMBERS

RONALD A. BOWES

Phone  302-530-9632

Email  rbowes@bigspringrailsystem.com

Mr. Bowes has exceptional skills in Safety & Quality Management, Employee Safety Team development, Productivity Improvement and Transportation Operations Team Development

His past experiences include Superintendent for Consolidated Rail’s New England Division, also Director of Risk Management Developed, where he planned, and directed the implementation of Safety Programs at several of Conrail’s operating terminals.

He directed, planned, and coached an employment team of 2,300 employees with a $28 mm budget. This operating team led with on time performance results, budget, and other key operating measures.  Ron was also one of the first to successfully implement a Safety Management System within the railroad transportation industry and created a Quality System at Consolidated Rail using IS09000 as the standard.  He coached and facilitated corporate officers and hourly workers in the Safety & Quality process.  Of the leading six teams to be recognized by the Conrail for meeting the Quality principles, four were his.

Certified in Health Safety and Environmental, through 0.S.H.A.'s "0utreach" program, National Safety Council’s "Advanced Safety" program and Executive Enterprises Environmental courses.

Mr. Bowes is also an adjunct professor of Economics in the School of Business and Finance at Delaware State University.

DAVID W. LEE

Phone  713-823-1182
Email  dlee@bigspringrailsystem.com

Mr. Lee has extensive experience in strategic planning, industrial development, productivity improvement, and transportation operations.  Dave convinced a major plastics producer to move inventory closer to their principal market area. This resulted in setting up Regional Distribution Centers in Indianapolis , IN and Birmingham, AL on Short Line Railroads. This generated incremental car loads and revenue additionally; this beneficially opened the business to competition.  He developed an innovative approach to attaining the new business and locating it on a Short Line that provided excellent daily service which was critical to making the project work.

He is an exceptional relationship developer working both in the public and private sectors.  He improved a company's commercial agenda to increasing car loadings and revenue without alienating or running afoul of the Operating Department's goals and objectives.

Past experience includes field operations assignments Conrail and Penn Central Railroads, Conrail’s customer Service Manager, and he led in the development of three short line railroads in the Southeast, Midwest, Western United States oil producing areas.  David while assigned to Conrail and CSX’s Houston offices gained substantial experience in the petroleum chemical industry managing large commercial customer accounts with Exxon, Oxy Chemical and Total corporations.

BAXTER WELLMON
Phone  484-832-1637
Email  bwellmon@bigspringrailsystem.com

Mr. Wellmon is internationally recognized as a Quality Management expert . Examples of such recognition are found in quotes or articles in National magazines and quality conferences. He has planned, developed, and directed the Quality initiatives to improve safety, environment, customer service, employee relationships, and productivity for various organizations. 
Mr. Wellmon is a primary Quality consultant to the Association of American Railroads and was the Quality Officer at Consolidated Railroad Corporation.
In response to a crisis situation, where the market share and profit of a $7 billion asset based company was at risk, Baxter boldly introduced and led a new Quality Management System which resulted in an increase in net profits, compliance to standards, and customer and employee satisfaction.
Mr. Wellmon has an ability to identify, quantify and eliminate waste through continuous process improvement and prevention planning.  In start-up, crisis, and high-tech situations, Baxter has provided to many organizations a structured process that gave them a meaningful, focused framework of related steps allowing them to plan, review, and monitor quality and safety.  In all cases the organizations made major improvements in profits, cycle times, errors, safety and environmental quality.
He is the author of numerous quality publications, one book and speaker at national and international quality conferences.

TEAM MEMBERS

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RICK BOILES, GENERAL MANAGER

Phone   432-264-7766

Email  rboiles@bigspringrailsystem.com

Rick serves as General Manager of Big Spring Rail and has been with the company since its inception on August 27, 2012. With over a decade of experience leading the railroad’s operations, Rick has played a key role in developing Big Spring Rail into a vital transportation link for the region’s industries and businesses.

Rick’s career in transportation and industrial operations has equipped him with deep expertise in shortline railroad management, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) compliance, and customer-focused service delivery. His commitment to safety, operational efficiency, and responsive service has been instrumental in positioning Big Spring Rail as a trusted partner to both the City of Big Spring and the broader business community.

Throughout his tenure, Rick has successfully overseen several major track restoration and expansion projects, funded in partnership with the Big Spring Economic Development Corporation, significantly enhancing the railroad’s capacity and long-term service reliability.

In addition to overseeing daily operations, Rick works closely with industry partners and stakeholders to develop tailored solutions that meet the evolving needs of customers. He is passionate about supporting local economic development and takes pride in building strong, long-term relationships with clients.

When he’s not managing the railroad, Rick enjoys spending time with his family, spoiling his grandchildren, listening to music, and watching football.