Cedric Ousley
Bear,DE
Summary
Motivational leader and organizational problem-solver with advanced supervisory, team building and customer service skills. Experience stepping into roles and quickly making positive changes to drive company success. Results-driven individual with a solid track record in delivering quality work. Known for excellent communication and teamwork abilities, with a commitment to achieving company goals and delivering exceptional service. Passionate about continuous learning and professional development.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Director – System Operations
Amtrak
Wilmington, DE
09.2023 - Current
- Responsible for optimizing the delivery of services to customers, with a heavy focus on continuous improvement in all customer-facing processes.
- Lead Service Disruption Division conference calls, Service Restoration efforts, and Service Adjustments.
- Collaborated with the Service Planning and Revenue Management Department to enhance revenue and ridership.
- Integrated scorecards in all divisions to enhance KPIs.
- Developed and implemented strategic plans to maximize organizational efficiency, effectiveness, and profitability.
- Built relationships with external partners, vendors, and customers in order to foster collaboration.
- Guided Junior and Senior Managers in professional growth. Manage 14 direct reports, establishing development plans, and setting standards.
- Partnered with staff to create professional development plans to support personal and business growth.
- Implemented quality control measures to uphold company standards.
- Established key performance indicators to track progress towards goals.
Superintendent –Mechanical Operations
Amtrak
Chicago, IL
05.2022 - 08.2023
- I have a team of direct reports, breakdown is as follow, 216 Indirect Reports, 1 Assistant Superintendent, 8 General Foreman
- Responsible for Chicago Mechanical Service and Inspection Pits/Yard and all outlying points (Port Huron MI, Pontiac MI, St. Louis, Quincy, Carbondale, Grand Rapids, Kansas City, Denver, Minot)
- Coordinate 'Boots on the Ground' and Safety Walkabouts and implementation of 'Safety Committees'
- Coordinate inspection and mechanical service activities with internal constituencies such as Transportation Operations, Contractors, New Equipment (Siemens), Rolling Stock Engineering and local commuter, regional, and state organizations
- Assists and participates with cross-functional teams, including process focus teams, Quality Assurance, to ensure proper management and control of inspection and mechanical service project schedules, Safety Action Plans, and resources
- Major focus on Amtrak Caused Delays (daily goals)
- Monitor productivity to ensure efficient resource utilization and make necessary adjustments and procedural changes
- Monitor the status of materials procurement and ensures proper material installation
- Work directly with Rolling Stock Engineering to properly create Standard Mechanical Procedures and Job Safety Analysis
- Responsible for ensuring the safe and efficient servicing of all daily mechanical activities that support the servicing and inspection of the train services
- Work closely with Transportation, Engineering, and other departments to meet the train schedules and minimize delays
Assistant Superintendent –Train Movement/Terminal Operations
Amtrak
Chicago, IL
11.2018 - 04.2022
- Responsible for the Train Movement Office (Midwest & South Territories) and the Chicago Control Center Operations
- I oversee 35 staff associated with the safe and efficient movement with Amtrak’s third largest operation, with 194 daily trains, infrastructure maintenance, Positive Train Control deployment and maintenance, Management Staff consist of 6 Equipment Planners who oversees Chicago Operating Plan/Preventative Maintenance Programs and 3 Manager of Train Operations who is responsible for auditing Train Dispatchers managing 245 miles of High-Speed (110mph) territory in the Midwest and South Region
- Champion Safety processes and implementation of rule changes through 'Root Cause Corrective Actions' and Safety Action Plans
- Investigation/Charging Officer for the Central Division
- I Handle and coordinate extensive state of good repair for track, signal, positive train control, systems auditing, escalation, and management for train movement systems
- Lead rule implementation processes for the Central/Northwest Division
- I handle and coordinate infrastructure maintenance for 10 – 15 major overbuild construction projects of Chicago, for roadways and buildings
- I oversee the planning process for cars, locomotives, train make-up, terminal management and division reporting as required
- Critical freight operations, I work closely with the Norfolk Southern Railroad Leadership Team in Michigan, dispatching 20,000 to 30,000 cars monthly across the Amtrak Michigan Line (High-Speed)
- Work closely with Amtrak Government Affairs in terms of contracts/new business with several Department of Transportations (Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Missouri)
Trainmaster II - Control Center-Chicago Union Station
Amtrak
Chicago, IL
12.2015 - 11.2018
- Responsible for creating and driving the Operating Plan for the Chicago Terminal Midwest and Long Distance service trains managing the logistics and train movements for internal/external customers
- I work to drive several communication channels between Mechanical, On-Board Service, Engineering and Transportation to ensure that all exceptions and priorities are being properly communicated and escalated to the right audience
- Aim to strengthen cross departmental relationships to create more of a 'Team Work' culture
- Manage equipment processes ensuring that rail equipment preventative maintenance schedules are met
- Also, take the lead on special projects to improve efficiencies for Chicago Terminal Operations and outlying terminals
Manager Business Development- Intermodal Sales (Marketing)
BNSF Railway
Chicago, IL
10.2014 - 12.2015
- Accountable for client base portfolio of $500 million net revenue
- Managing customer’s products and transportation pipeline in excess of over 10,000 units year over year
- Interfaced with internal and external executive leaders concerning contract negotiation and management
- Increased market share through negotiation of long-term contracts valued over $80 million
- Worked with Stakeholders to add infrastructure in terms of Spur Tracks, increase capacity
- Monitor ROIC and other financials to ensure all projects and business unit profitability
- Worked to convert over-the-road shipments to intermodal
- Worked closely with BNSF Economic Development Team/local developers to Identify new developmental opportunities, expanding market share and protecting the franchise by establishing new 'private' facilities (not open to competition)
Hub Manager – Intermodal Hub Operations (Marketing)
BNSF Railway
Chicago, IL
01.2011 - 09.2014
- Stabilized and cultivated strong working relationships with major intermodal customers; resulting in longstanding viability for BNSF and customers
- Lead team of four managers and 8 Supervisors who oversee 150 union employees monitoring their productivity and job safety
- Implemented an employment involvement team 'EIT' to help transition from a culture of compliance to a culture of commitment, which helped improve safety/performance
- Achieved 2 years injury free
- Through SOPs (Efficiency Test) my Direct Reports was able to maintain a 3 percent failure rate holding employees accountable, working to change behaviors
- Created a process that lowered the amount of customer goal failures by 12 percent in 2013
Terminal/Division Trainmaster – Manager of Field Operations (Intermodal)
BNSF Railway
Chicago, IL
07.2006 - 12.2010
- Lead and managed over 300 union & non-union employees
- Primarily responsible for the entire logistics of train movement and coordination, scheduling of employees throughout the Chicagoland region—constant coordination with METRA, commuter trains and UPS freight trains
- Safety is top priority—the territory I managed received recognition and accolades for 597 days injury free
- Cultivated long-term relationships with online customers by proactively collaborating and fostering partnerships
- Investigation/Charger Officer for my responsible territory, holding TY&E employees accountable for attendance/rules violations
- Lead several monthly 'Test Teams (SOP Efficiency Test)' to ensure there’s different perspectives when identifying TY&E at risk behaviors, aiming to identify a monthly exception rate of 3 percent
Education
B.S. Degree - Business Administration with concentration in Management
Southwest Baptist University
Bolivar, MO05.2006
Skills
- Safety Action Plans
- Building Professional Relationships
- Budget Management
- Process Optimization
- Team Leadership
- Resource Management
- Process Improvements
- Contract Negotiations
Training
- Completed Courses: General Code of Operating Rules
- Safety Align
- Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Training
- Project Management
- Marketing Sales Strategies
- Delegating
Activitiesaffiliations
- Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (2014- Present)
- Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals: Chicago Roundtable (2014-Present)
Timeline
Senior Director – System Operations
Amtrak
09.2023 - Current
Superintendent –Mechanical Operations
Amtrak
05.2022 - 08.2023
Assistant Superintendent –Train Movement/Terminal Operations
Amtrak
11.2018 - 04.2022
Trainmaster II - Control Center-Chicago Union Station
Amtrak
12.2015 - 11.2018
Manager Business Development- Intermodal Sales (Marketing)
BNSF Railway
10.2014 - 12.2015
Hub Manager – Intermodal Hub Operations (Marketing)
BNSF Railway
01.2011 - 09.2014
Terminal/Division Trainmaster – Manager of Field Operations (Intermodal)
BNSF Railway
07.2006 - 12.2010
B.S. Degree - Business Administration with concentration in Management
Southwest Baptist University