Executives & Operational Leadership

Jack Hellmann

Jack Hellmann became Executive Chairman in September 2023 after 16 years as Chief Executive Officer. Since joining the company in 2000, G&W has grown from 21 short line and regional railroads to more than 100 freight-rail operations. In addition to CEO, he has served as Chairman, President and Chief Financial Officer.

Jack was named Railroader of the Year by Railway Age magazine in 2018, Railroad Innovator by Progressive Railroading magazine in 2017 and to the All America Team of Best CEOs by Institutional Investor in both 2014 and 2017.

He received an A.B. from Princeton University, an MBA from The Wharton School and an M.A. from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) with a concentration in China Studies.

Michael Miller

Michael Miller is G&W’s CEO, ensuring safe and efficient service for customers in 43 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces. He previously served as G&W’s Chief Commercial Officer for eight years and President of G&W’s North American operations for five years.

Prior to joining G&W in 2010, Michael was General Manager of Norfolk Southern’s Modalgistics Supply Chain Solutions, where he improved customers’ supply chain efficiencies through rail, transload and intermodal service as well as Vice President of Strategic Development for Derivion. He also held logistics-related positions at Georgia-Pacific and Roadway Express.

Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and a master’s degree in business management from North Carolina State University.

Thomas Savage

Thomas Savage is G&W’s Chief Financial Officer, responsible for the company’s overall accounting, financial planning & analysis, tax and treasury functions. He previously was the company’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Treasurer, where he focused on mergers and acquisitions as well as corporate finance and was responsible for G&W’s global treasury functions.

Prior to joining G&W in 2005, Thomas worked at a boutique investment bank focused on real estate investments.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Colby College and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business.

Allison Fergus

Allison Fergus serves as General Counsel and Secretary since 2006, responsible for legal and regulatory compliance, claims & litigation, and contract management. She previously was Senior Counsel for the company.

Prior to G&W, Allison practiced in the capital markets group at Shearman & Sterling LLP in New York and worked in the treasury group of Omnicom Group Inc. and at JPMorgan Chase (formerly Chase Manhattan Bank).

Allison holds an undergraduate degree from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University and law degree from Fordham University School of Law.

Matt Walsh

Matt Walsh oversees business development at G&W and currently serves as Executive Vice President of Corporate Development, supporting the company in all major capital projects, including acquisitions, divestitures, leases and contracts. In addition to his business development roles, Matt also acted as Treasurer of G&W from 2006-2012.

Prior to joining G&W in 2001, Matt was an investment banker at Salomon Smith Barney, Inc., and Schroder and Co., Inc., both in New York and London.

He currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association and previously served as Chair of the Short Line Safety Institute and as a member of the Board of the Railroad Clearinghouse.

Matt is a graduate of Princeton University.

Kimberley MacMillan

Kimberley MacMillan is G&W’s Chief Human Resource Officer. She previously served as Vice President of Human Resources and Regional Director of Human Resources.

Kimberley brought more than 30 years of HR experience when she joined G&W in 2015, including a role as Vice President of Human Resources for The Broe Group/OmniTRAX as well as HR roles at Praxair and the baked goods division of Kraft Foods.

Kimberley earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Colorado State University and a master’s degree in business administration from Virginia Tech.

Tianbing Qian

Tianbing Qian (“TQ”) is G&W’s Chief Transformation Officer since 2024 and previously served as the company’s Chief Information Officer since 2019, responsible for leveraging information technology, data analytics and cybersecurity to enhance G&W’s customer experience, operational excellence, employee productivity and overall growth.

TQ was previously Senior Vice President/Chief Digital Information Officer for Ports America, where he modernized IT platforms across terminal operations, safety, equipment management and workforce management. Prior to that, he held senior IT management positions with Celestica International and Freescale Semiconductor.

TQ earned a bachelor’s degree in control engineering from Huazhong University of Science & Technology and two master’s degrees – one in systems engineering from Shanghai Jiaotong University and another in computer science from the University of Iowa – as well as a Ph.D. in operations management from the University of Iowa.

Jim Irvin

Jim Irvin is Senior Vice President of G&W’s American Region railroads. Throughout his 15 years with the company, he has also led several other former G&W operating regions, overseen its industrial switching operations and was Vice President of New Business Operations for its former Australia Region.

Prior to joining G&W, Jim, who has nearly 30 years of railroad experience, held a variety of management positions with CSX.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in transportation from the University of Alabama.

Bill Keough

Bill Keough is Senior Vice President of G&W’s National Region railroads, which include our Canada operations. He joined G&W in 2018 as Vice President of Transportation after spending more than 17 years with CSX in various operational leadership roles, including Division Manager and Terminal Superintendent, and six years in the trucking industry.

Prior to transportation, Bill worked in public affairs.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Randolph-Macon College and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of North Florida.

Andy Chunko

Andy Chunko serves as Senior Vice President of Operations Support, responsible for safety & compliance and service design as well as G&W’s engineering and mechanical functions. He previously oversaw several former G&W operating regions and the company’s customer service department.

Prior to joining G&W in 2002, Andy was operations manager for a short line railroad in Pennsylvania and held a variety of management positions with CSX.

Andy earned a bachelor’s degree in business management and economics from Empire State College.

Marty Pohlod

Marty Pohlod was named Senior Vice President of G&W Corporate Commercial in 2020. He previously led G&W’s former Midwest Region railroads since 2017. He joined G&W in 2008 as Marketing Manager with the acquisition of the Ohio Central Railroad System, where he had been since 1996, and thereafter served in roles of increasing responsibility. Mr. Pohlod began his railroad career in marketing and sales roles at the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway and Southern Pacific Railroad.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in transportation and logistics management from Kent State University.

Arielle Giordano

Arielle Giordano joined G&W as Vice President of Government & Industry Affairs in 2024.

She previously served as Assistant Vice President of U.S. Government Affairs for Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), managing government affairs at the federal, state and local levels. Before the CPKC merger, she led U.S. government affairs at Canadian Pacific, and, prior to that, was counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials as well as a law clerk for the U.S. Senate’s Committee on the Judiciary.

Arielle holds an undergraduate degree in political science and history from Monmouth University as well as a Juris Doctor from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law.

Tom Ciuba

Tom Ciuba was appointed Vice President of Communications in 2021 after seven years with G&W as both Manager and Director of Communicatons.

Prior to G&W, Tom held communications and public relations roles at global specialty chemical company Chemtura and the Connecticut Bar Association after beginning his career at a public relations agency serving clients in the food and housewares industries.

Tom earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Seton Hall University and a master’s degree in business administration from Western Governors University.