The National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) and Chambers, Conlon & Hartwell (CCH) have selected Matt Bell, executive vice president/chief operating officer, to lead the association, which represents more than 425 rail contracting companies.
The NRC said Bell, in affiliation with CCH Senior Partner Don Norden, will continue to manage the NRC staff. Bell succeeds Chuck Baker, who was named president of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.
"The NRC is now the premier association representing the entire rail construction and maintenance industry, and we look forward to continuing our association's successes with our new staff leadership team," NRC Chairman of the Board Mike Choat (Wabtec) said.
Bell joined NRC in December 2014 as operations and events assistant. He was promoted to vice president of operations in April 2015 before being named executive vice president and COO in February 2018. Prior to the NRC, he worked on various political campaigns and non-profits.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
