The National Advisory Council
The National Advisory Council (NAC) supports Operation Lifesaver's mission of ending collisions, deaths and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and on railroad rights-of-way. As an advisory body, the NAC assists the Operation Lifesaver National Office in creating the programs and materials used by Operation Lifesaver to deliver safety messages to the public. The NAC also helps the National Office establish priorities for developing new educational materials and programs.
The council includes representatives with expertise in the three E's of traffic safety - education, enforcement and engineering - as well as representatives from the major railroads, federal agencies, and others knowledgeable about highway-rail grade crossing or railroad trespass prevention. Operation Lifesaver state coordinator representatives from each of the Federal Railroad Administration regions are also on the council. Experts are brought in to serve on project teams when complex projects require expertise beyond that available on the NAC.
Current NAC members include:
- Jessica Feder, Co-Chair
Executive Director, Indiana Operation Lifesaver - Katie Chimelewski, Co-Chair
Director, Safety & Certification, American Road & Transportation Builders Association - Tasha Bartholomew
Communications Manager, Caltrain - Tracy Bergerson
Special Agent, CP Police Department - Jason Bishop
Regional Manager Community Affairs and Safety, CSX - Jon Bondra
Police Inspector, CN Police Department - Kevin Burns
State Coordinator, Connecticut Operation Lifesaver - Rick Campbell
Senior Project Manager, Alfred Benesch & Company - Janice Cowen
State Coordinator, South Carolina Operation Lifesaver - Jessica Devorsky
Executive Director, Texas Operation Lifesaver - Doug Farler
State Coordinator, Arizona Operation Lifesaver - Scott Gabree
Engineering Research Psychologist, Volpe Center - Tim Hull
State Coordinator, Missouri Operation Lifesaver - Taylor Kelley
Safety Manager, Rio Grande Pacific Corporation - Nadji Kirby
Senior Program Manager, Domestic Road Safety, Safe Kids - Steve Kreins
State Coordinator, Oregon Operation Lifesaver - Danny Lites
Public Safety Director, Kansas City Southern Railway - Jeff Longman
Assistant Chief, BNSF Railway Police - Will Miller
Public Safety Director, Norfolk Southern - R. Quinn Norman
Grand Lodge Representative, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen - James Payne
Staff Director, Grade Crossing and Trespassing Office of Safety, Federal Railroad Administration - Barb Petito
Police Lead Communications Specialist, Amtrak - Ryan Ringelman
General Director System Safety, BNSF Railway - Buck Russel
Senior Supervisor of Public Safety, Union Pacific Railroad - Kimbler Sloan
State Coordinator, Mississippi Operation Lifesaver - Alan Stouder
State Coordinator, Ohio Operation Lifesaver - Tamo Vahemets
Director, Estonia Operation Lifesaver