Josh Yates

• Directed daily operations across three states while overseeing six managers to reduce safety risk and foster increased quality and productivity.
• Worked closely with organizational leadership to guide operational strategy.
• Developed and evaluated processes to verify alignment with regulatory requirements.
• Optimized operational processes using analytics tools to drive location-specific metrics and overall goals.
• Established operational goals based upon departmental expectations and provided performance-based feedback.
• Trained and guided managerial team members to maintain high safety, quality and productivity performance.
• Monitored managerial workflow and administrative processes to keep operations running safely and efficiently.
• Tracked employee safety, quality and productivity, addressing repeat problems quickly to prevent long-term habits.
• Oversaw supply chain functions to verify inventory levels and budget adherence.
• Set budgets and monitored expenditures to mitigate risk of overages and adjusted to variances.

• Responsible for maintenance, repair and regulatory compliance of rail based fueling infrastructure across four states and nine sites within the western United States.
• Monitored and coordinated inspection and maintenance of above ground tanks and fuel delivery systems including associated piping, pumps, manways and nozzles.
• Managed nine designated site representatives (DSR) responsible for daily inspection, clean up and on-site repair.
• Coordinated with multiple regional contractors for in-depth site repair and capital improvement projects.
• Interacted with other regional peers to develop system standards for regulatory compliance, maintenance practices, fuel sourcing and capital funding.
• Assisted the Regional Superintendent with monitoring and improving service performance and operational efficiency through freight car variability reduction.

• Oversaw system "Go Team" derailment response, investigation/cause finding and assisted with site cleanup.
• Further developed and trained Derailment Cause Finding class system wide across departments.
• Collaborated with contractors providing necessary information to successfully model in-train forces and track/train dynamics.
• Coordinated with metallurgical lab to assure suspected defective components were received and reviewed lab findings with stakeholders.
• Leveraged data analytics within Oracle BI for report development, causal analysis, pinpoint prevention opportunities and examined derailments trends.
• Reported to senior executives monthly reviewing current trends and initiatives to address Human Factor, Track and Mechanical derailment risk.
• Met weekly with department heads to debrief progress and strategize next steps.
• Collaborated with local teams drilling down to root cause using LEAN tools to develop/implement countermeasures preventing reoccurrence.
• Developed and proposed capital expenditure projects to mitigate derailment risk and once funded, coordinated with departmental peers to install/implement.

• Oversaw union-based craft employees across three shifts at two locations.
• Controlled resources and assets for local activities to comply with departmental direction, industry standards and government regulations.
• Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance.
• Developed safety action plans, defined clear targets/objectives and communicated expectations to team members.
• Successfully managed budgets, reduced waste and allocated resources to maximize productivity and meet departmental goals.
• Identified and communicated inventory needs to supply chain partners.
• Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented 120-day onboarding process.
• Trained personnel in equipment maintenance and assured participation in field training exercises focused on developing key safety and productivity skills.

• Performed gap analysis and detailed data reviews to determine direction of focus and optimize initiative implementation.
• Designed, developed and delivered craft specific classroom and hands on training to address derailment risk.
• Performed site audits to ensure industry standards and federal compliance.
• Prepared and presented detailed audit reports for executive management and engineering teams as required.
• Suggested and developed system standard updates or changes upon review of location audits, industry trends and regulatory shifts.
• Established best practices and innovative solutions to enhance employee safety, production rates and output quality.
• Delivered service and subject matter support to locations within my responsibility.
• Resolved project specific operational problems to minimize delays and unexpected cost increases.
• Oversaw Systems Engineers team while completing Operations Management Training during my last year in position.