MARTIN HARRIS
SA Rail Services
Monclova,OH
31
years of professional experience
VP of Technical Repair and Services with over 26 years of experience in optimizing rail service operations.
Demonstrates visionary leadership in strategic planning, process innovation, and data
driven decision-making, ensuring compliance with industry standards and enhancing customer satisfaction.
Adept at fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement, driving operational efficiency, and
spearheading a work environment based on integrity.
Work History
VP of Technical Repair and Services
6 Months- Lead the technical review and validation of repairs across all repair locations to ensure compliance with Company standards and customer requirements.
- Identify gaps in repair quality, documentation, and billing support, and implement corrective actions across the network.
- Manage customer exceptions, rejections, and disputes related to repair work.
- Analyze trends in exceptions and rejections, identify root causes, and drive corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
- Provide technical coaching and guidance to shop and field leadership to improve repair execution and consistency.
- Serve as a technical resource and escalation point for complex repair, billing, and audit-related issues.
- Lead execution of the Company’s mobile repair services, including coordinating customer needs and delegating work across the network.
Sr. VP of Operations
3 Years 7 Months- Oversee 24 Running Repair sites, including two contract shop locations.
- Monitor [number] KPIs daily and monthly to improve operational efficiency.
- Lead cross-functional teams across maintenance, inspection, quality assurance, and customer service to meet production and safety targets.
- Conduct mechanical inspections of railcars in compliance with AAR, FRA, and customer-specific standards.
- Prepare detailed inspection reports and maintain accurate records with photos and supporting documentation.
- Maintain strong customer relationships, resolve issues, and support responses to rule disputes, exceptions, and rejections.
- Support budget oversight, cost control, and financial performance analysis to improve profitability and operational goals.
Plant Manager
2 Years 1 Month- Managed cross-functional teams across maintenance, inspection, quality assurance, and customer service to meet production and safety goals.
- Reviewed production schedules, car flow, and backlog hours to optimize resource allocation and reduce bottlenecks.
- Provided leadership and coaching to supervisors and department heads, clarifying responsibilities and performance expectations.
- Maintained safety and regulatory adherence by enforcing OSHA, BOE, DOT, FRA, AAR MSRP, M-1003, and M-1002 requirements.
- Built customer relationships, resolved service issues, and supported budget control, cost analysis, inspections, and union collaboration.
Regional Manager
7 Years 4 Months- Led railcar repair and maintenance operations in compliance with industry standards and safety requirements.
- Directed cross-functional teams to meet production and safety targets while improving day-to-day operational efficiency.
- Fostered customer relationships, resolved service issues, and maintained satisfaction with rail operations.
Wreck Repairman
13 Years 3 Months- Restored heavily damaged freight cars through wreck repairs, returning them to original construction standards.
- Fabricated replacement parts and applied protective coatings to improve durability and service life.
- Prepared estimates and handled program maintenance to support repair planning and scheduling.
- Managed inventory and used Resource allocation to reduce shortages and keep materials available for repair work.
- Used Process improvement and Data analysis to streamline repair workflows and strengthen day-to-day plant support.
Pipe Inspector
1 Year- Collaborated with the team to improve testing protocols and inspection efficiency.
- Analyzed test results and addressed issues promptly to limit operational delays.
- Maintained high product quality standards to support the company's reputation.
Headsawyer
2 Years 10 Months- Led sawmill machinery operations to improve output efficiency and reduce downtime.
- Resolved mechanical issues through hands-on troubleshooting, strengthening productivity and reducing repeat failures.
- Streamlined wood stacking workflows and worked with the team to reinforce safety protocols and lower incidents.
Education
Associate of Arts Degree in Business Management - Business Management, Marketing and Customer Service
Graduated with honors.
Skills
Project management
Team leadership
Cross-functional team coordination
Plant operations oversight
Technical coaching
Process improvement
Data analysis
KPI monitoring
Resource allocation
Railcar inspection
Regulatory compliance
Quality assurance
Budget oversight
Customer relations
Negotiation skills
Timeline
VP of Technical Repair and Services
SA Rail Services
04.2026 - CurrentRead More
Sr. VP of Operations
SA Rail Services
09.2022 - 04.2026Read More
Plant Manager
Union Tank Car Co.
08.2020 - 09.2022Read More
Regional Manager
The Andersons Inc.
04.2013 - 08.2020Read More
Wreck Repairman
Northwest Freight Car Repair
01.2000 - 04.2013Read More
Pipe Inspector
Prudential Steel
01.1999 - 01.2000Read More
Headsawyer
Gram Lumber
03.1996 - 01.1999Read More
Lower Columbia College
Associate of Arts Degree in Business Management from Business Management, Marketing and Customer Service
Read More