Our Mission, Vision and Values
Through excellent customer service and sound business management practices, the Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) provides safe, efficient and economical transportation and real estate services that support and grow economic development opportunities for the State of Alaska.
The Alaska Railroad Corporation is committed to safe, reliable, and customer responsive rail operations and real estate services, furthering economic expansion in Alaska. ARRC will become a prominent leader in Alaska’s transportation and real estate industries and a driving force behind industry growth and economic development, emphasizing economic viability and stability of our services.
- SAFETY
Safety is a fundamental value. We are constantly building on best practices and prior improvements in our commitment to an accident-free, incident-free work environment in all areas of our operation.
Without exception, keeping each other, our customers and our communities safe as we operate across Alaska is the
responsibility of each employee at every level. We actively foster a culture where employees are expected
and empowered to act immediately to eliminate unsafe conditions and to minimize the risk of injury and
property damage as a result of our operations – in the workplace, on our trains or in the right-of-way.
- SERVICE EXCELLENCE
We understand our customers’ needs and create long-term relationships by delivering critical value. We help
our customers reach their goals by understanding their challenges and working to overcome obstacles where
we can. We understand the importance of clear and open customer communications; we are collaborative in
developing plans and solutions with customers, and responsive to questions or suggestions of opportunities
for improvement. Ultimately, we understand that our success is driven by the customers we serve.
- INTEGRITY
We are honest, ethical and transparent in all our actions. We are accountable to each other and our
stakeholders, acting in a manner that earns public confidence. We inspire trust by saying what we mean and
following through with actions that match our words and our mission to serve Alaskans.
- TEAMWORK
We strive to be one team – engaged and aligned in our mission. Across departments and locations, we
participate, collaborate and use our collective skills to achieve common goals to drive the Railroad forward.
All railroaders share in the focus on the success of the Alaska Railroad, our employees, our customers, our
state and the communities we serve.
- SUSTAINABILITY
We are focused on growing our business to support the Alaska Railroad’s long-term financial viability and
our purpose to foster economic development. We value stewardship for our environment, each other, the
communities we serve and our responsibility as a self-sustaining, state-owned enterprise.
Find downloadable PDF business fact sheets on the CORPORAGE > News-Media > Press-Media page under Corporate Press Kit. These fact sheets include railroad facts and figures (at-a-glance), the railroad's three major business lines (passenger train service, freight train service and real estate services), as well as safety and security topics, and the railroad workhorse locomotive, the SD70MAC.
Our Executive Team
William G. O'Leary is the President and Chief Executive Officer, effective November 1, 2013. He is responsible for the daily management and operations of the corporation.
Previously, O'Leary served as the Railroad's Chief Operations Officer, responsible for the oversight of rail transportation, engineering, mechanical, safety, labor relations, marketing, customer service and grant administration functions. From July 2001 to March 2013, O'Leary was the Alaska Railroad's Vice President of Finance and Chief Finance Officer (CFO), and in this capacity he was responsible for the financial activities of the corporation as well as human resources and supply management functions. He also served as Interim President & CEO from April 1 to September 22, 2010.
A Certified Public Accountant and lifelong Alaskan, O'Leary has worked in a variety of financial positions since 1988, including that of Controller of the Alaska International Airport System, the position he held before joining the Railroad.
Born and raised in Fairbanks, O'Leary earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Michelle Maddox was promoted to Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in March 2023. As head of the ARRC Finance Division, Maddox oversees the railroad’s financial planning and analysis, accounting, supply management, grant administration, technology and risk management. The CFO also advises the railroad’s executive management team and board of directors in financial matters.
Maddox joined the Alaska Railroad in May 1998 to head the ARRC Financial Division's payroll and accounts payable function. In 2020, she was promoted to Controller, overseeing the Accounting Department.
Originally hailing from Idaho, Michelle completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Utah State University, in Logan. With a degree in hand, Michelle and her husband Korey moved from Logan to Alaska in early May 1998. As avid outdoor enthusiasts, they sought the adventure of an outdoor haven. Within weeks of arriving in Anchorage, Maddox had secured the railroad’s assistant controller of payroll and accounts payable position.
Clark Hopp was promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO) effective January 1, 2018. Previously, he served as Vice President Engineering from May 2013 through December 2017. He has been with the Alaska Railroad since 2001 when he was hired as a Capital Projects Manager. In 2003, he became Manager, Civil Projects and in 2011, Hopp was promoted to Director of Special Projects, overseeing the two mega rail extension projects — Port MacKenzie Rail Extension and Northern Rail Extension, Phase One.
Before joining ARRC, Hopp worked for Transystems Corporation, a nationwide engineering consulting firm based in Nebraska. From 1995 to 2001, Hopp provided project management services to Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and Union Pacific (UP) railroads.
Hopp earned a degree in Construction Engineering Technology from Iowa Western College and completed additional engineering coursework at the University of Nebraska.
Andy Behrend is Chief Counsel at the Alaska Railroad Corporation. In addition to leading the Legal Department, he handles legal matters for ARRC involving real estate, environmental and labor and employment issues. Before joining the Alaska Railroad in 2010, he practiced complex commercial litigation at Heller Ehrman LLP and Stoel Rives LLP. He is admitted to practice before the state and federal courts of Alaska, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
Christy Terry is Vice President Real Estate having joined the Alaska Railroad Corporation in 2010 as the Seward Operations Manager. Later she became the Seward Port Manager until 2022 when she relocated to corporate headquarters for the position of External Affairs Director. She began her tenure as Vice President of Real Estate August 1, 2023. Prior to ARRC, she spent a decade working for the City of Seward performing long and short-range planning, permitting, and development culminating with her tenure as Seward’s Community Development Director.
Terry’s public service includes three terms as an elected official, most recently as Seward’s mayor until October 2022. She’s provided leadership on boards including the Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward Chamber and Seward Port Commerce. Terry now serves on the board of the Resource Development Council and Alaska Chamber. Her extensive contributions were recognized in 2021, when named Business Person of the Year by the Seward Chamber.
Terry lives in Eagle River, with her husband and their youngest of 6 children. Since moving to Alaska to attend UAF in 1991, she continues to enjoy the outdoors around the State visiting their cabin in Sterling and taking their boat out of Seward and Whittier.
Dale Wade is Vice President Marketing & Customer Service, effective March 10, 2013. He joined the Alaska Railroad as VP Business Development in early January 2012. He is a 30-year veteran of the freight transportation industry, involved in all aspects of freight service logistics, sales and marketing. Most recently Wade was Founder and President of GoldStar Logistics Solutions in Anchorage. Previous experience includes managing director and transportation consultant for AFMS Transportation Management in Portland, Oregon; national account executive for FedEx Corporation in Anchorage; and sales manager for CF Freight in Anchorage.
Wade served as a vice president with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) Anchorage Chapter. He studied Business Administration at the University of Anchorage Alaska with a focus on sales and strategic negotiations. Born in Racine, Wisconsin, Wade moved to Alaska in 1978.
Jennifer Mergens joined the Alaska Railroad as its Chief Human Resources Officer in March 2019.
After arriving in Alaska in 1995, Mergens spent 17 years working for an Anchorage labor and employment law firm, served as the Director of Human Resources and Administration for the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) and the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA), and most recently before joining the ARRC, served as the Director of Labor Relations and Benefits for the Anchorage School District.
Mergens earned a bachelor’s degree in human resources from Bellevue University, a master’s degree in management from Wayland Baptist University, and has completed additional master’s level coursework through Penn State University. She is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPRH), a certified SHRM-Senior Certified Professional, and a certified Health Coach.
Top Row, L-R: Ryan Anderson, John Binkley, T.J. Dinsmore, and Judy Petry
Bottom Row, L-R: John Reeves, Julie Sande and John Shively.
Board of Directors:
Ryan Anderson, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
John Binkley (Fairbanks), Fourth Judicial District Seat
Gale T.J. Dinsmore (Wasilla), Alaska Railroad Corporation Bargaining Unit Seat
Judy Petry (Louisiana), ARRC Board Vice Chair, Railroad Management Seat
John Reeves (Fairbanks), Business Owner/Manager Seat
Julie Sande, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development
John Shively (Anchorage), ARRC Board Chair, Third Judicial District Seat
