Prentice T. Fortner
Chicago
Summary
Professional with extensive rail operation experience seeking to reunite with the Chicago Transit Authority in a management capacity, enhancing team efficiency, and supporting city transit needs. Background as Owner/Operator with strong business management and operational skills. Expertise in team leadership, strategic planning, and customer service, with a history of driving growth and achieving key business results. Proven success in increasing profitability through effective management and direct involvement.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Owner/Operator
U-Freight Logistics
Chicago
01.2021 - Current
- Hired and trained brokers on CRM software, including BATs and load boards.
- Directed sales lead management with brokers, facilitating deal closures.
- Monitored broker performance through daily remote meetings and quarterly in-person reviews.
- Ensured compliance with safety regulations across the facility.
- Conducted regular performance evaluations to meet efficiency and productivity goals.
- Reported delays from breakdowns, weather, or traffic affecting product delivery.
- Provided leadership and mentorship to new employees on company programs.
Rail Ops- CRO/Switchworker
Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago
01.2016 - 02.2022
- Preparing trains for service and operating trains safely.
- Interacted with and effectively assisted customers in normal and emergency situations.
- Extinguishing fires on the right-of-way.
- Providing protection for workers who are working on or near the right of way.
- Reading switch points and signals.
- Put out trains for service, and lay up trains for storage.
- Properly couple and uncouple rail cars.
- Operate track switches in the rail yard and on the right-of-way.
- Operates 600-volt power disconnect switches within yards.
- Manually operate interlocking switches when an interlocking plant is defective.
- Reading rail feeder maps.
- Following detailed safety protocols, and maintaining schedules.
- Having direct radio contact with the CTA Control Center in emergency situations.
- Utilizing the two-way intercom system in each car to communicate with passengers during emergencies.
- Assisting passengers, including those with disabilities (e.g., setting up ramps).
- Making announcements, especially when rerouting or experiencing delays, to inform customers about the train's destination.
- Monitoring safety conditions and inspecting trains.
- Troubleshooting and reporting maintenance issues.
- Communicating with control, and other team members, to maintain the schedule and address operational challenges.
- Preparing paperwork and getting the train ready for service.
- Applying and releasing handbrakes.
- Operating signals.
Union Representative
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 308
Chicago
11.2020 - 08.2021
- Represented members’ interests in employer dealings, focusing on grievances and disputes.
- Ensured compliance with collective bargaining agreement, addressing any violations.
- Maintained communication regarding union activities, contract negotiations, and workplace concerns.
- Educated members on their rights under the CBA and union bylaws.
- Supported members with health, safety issues, and professional development resources.
- Adhered to union constitution while promoting trade unionism principles.
- Acted as advocate for various transit worker classifications within ATU Local 308.
- Guided members through disciplinary processes, fostering a supportive environment.
CSA
Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago
01.2013 - 01.2015
- Maintains amiable relations with customers at all times
- Interacts with and effectively assists customers in normal and emergency situations
- Knows and understands the Authority’s transit system, fares, schedules, routes, transfer and connecting points and major points of interest in the Chicagoland area
- Monitors and coordinates station cleanliness
- Monitors defective revenue equipment or station repair needs in and around the faculties and either reconciles or reports conditions to appropriate personnel in a timely manner
- Provides assistance in the evacuation of persons from CTA facilities and/or vehicles as necessary
- Perform daily inspections of station equipment and its proper operation, e.g. elevators/escalators, Customer Call Buttons, station PA system, LED signs, other ADA related equipment, etc.
- Provides special assistance to mobility limited patrons utilizing gap fillers and other aids as required to board and alight vehicles and ingress and egress facilities.
Broadband Technician
Frontline Communications
Chicago
01.2009 - 01.2012
- Performed new connects, reconnects, disconnects, upgrades, downgrades & change-of-service
- Installed or removed converters & cable modems
- Installed interior & exterior wiring
- Monitored, repaired & recorded system, drop, and in-house leakage
- Assured proper signal levels & picture quality
- Identified causes of picture &/or signal degradation
- Troubleshot from consumer device to tap
- Troubleshot, repaired & replaced components from tap to consumer device
Broadband Network Technician
Wide Open West
Harvey
01.2007 - 01.2009
- Maintained & repaired fiber network from HUB to node
- Maintained, repaired & replaced optical & RF components of fiber nodes
- Spliced fiber optic cable
- Performed fiber network troubleshooting & fault resolution
- Performed FCC tests for system proof-of-performance
- Used spectrum analyzer & video base band testing equipment to perform routine maintenance, & testing of the return path network to include quad receivers
- Identified & reported all incidents of noncompliance (FCC, NESC, OSHA & WOW standards)
- Provided excellent customer service
- Completed all tasks to Wide Open West quality standards
- Maintained professional appearance & behavior at all times
- Maintained excellent attendance
- Was responsible for motor vehicle per company policy including equipment & tool inventory, vehicle security & vehicle maintenance
- Performed other duties as assigned
Broadband Technician
Various Entities
Chicago/ West Chicago
01.1999 - 01.2007
- Provided training to technicians
- Provided quality control checks for company techniciansProficiently installed telephone services
- Proficiently buried telephone lines
- Proficiently installed whip guards and interface boxes
- Proficiently installed Comcast high speed internet, digital and high definition cable television
- Provided excellent client and customer service by following proper installation specifications
- Proficiently connected and reconnected cable services
- Followed safety guidelines as determined by OSHA
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Electrical, Electronics And Communications Engineering
DeVry University
Tinley Park, ILSome College (No Degree) - Computer Information Systems
City Colleges of Chicago
Chicago, ILSkills
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Profit and loss management
- Customer relationship management
- Sales lead management
- Employee training and development
- Broker supervision
- Effective communication
- Conflict resolution
- Time management
- Operations management
Certification
- Networking Systems & Technologies Daley College 2012
- Computer Information Systems Daley College 2012
- System Technician Jones NCTI 2009
- Flagman CTA 2015
- Rapid Transit Operator CTA 2016
- Switchman CTA 2018
References
Available Upon Requests
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
Owner/Operator
U-Freight Logistics
01.2021 - Current
Union Representative
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 308
11.2020 - 08.2021
Rail Ops- CRO/Switchworker
Chicago Transit Authority
01.2016 - 02.2022
CSA
Chicago Transit Authority
01.2013 - 01.2015
Broadband Technician
Frontline Communications
01.2009 - 01.2012
Broadband Network Technician
Wide Open West
01.2007 - 01.2009
Broadband Technician
Various Entities
01.1999 - 01.2007
Some College (No Degree) - Electrical, Electronics And Communications Engineering
DeVry University
Some College (No Degree) - Computer Information Systems
City Colleges of Chicago
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