Railinc Corp. today announced that Joan Smemoe has been promoted to President, effective earlier this month on April 1. Current President and Chief Executive Officer Allen West will retain the CEO role through his retirement in July, working closely with Smemoe to sustain momentum across the organization.
Smemoe, who has worked at Railinc for 20 years and most recently served as Chief Information Officer, brings deep institutional knowledge, a strong operational perspective, and a long track record of delivering technology solutions that support the safety, efficiency, and interoperability of North America’s freight rail network. In her expanded role, she will assume responsibility for day‑to‑day operations and execution across the organization.
“Joan is a proven leader with a deep understanding of Railinc’s mission, customers, and technology,” said Todd Rynaski, Senior Vice President of Strategy at Union Pacific and Chair of the Railinc Board of Directors. “The Railinc Board is grateful for Allen’s successful stewardship of the company over the past two decades, and we are confident Joan has the ability, strategic mindset, and vision to continue leading the organization forward.”
Since joining Railinc, Smemoe has held a series of senior leadership roles where she has overseen the company’s technology strategy, platforms, and infrastructure. She has been involved in a number of important initiatives, including the AskRail mobile application, the Gateway Operations Services program, and moving Railinc’s mainframe infrastructure to the cloud. Under her guidance, Railinc has continued to modernize its systems while maintaining the reliability and security required by the freight rail industry.
“I’m honored to step into the role of President and grateful for the trust placed in me,” said Smemoe. “Railinc has an incredibly talented team and a strong reputation for delivering solutions the industry depends on every day. I’m excited to build on that foundation, continue serving our customers, and support our teams as we evolve to meet the future needs of the North American freight rail industry.”
West, who has served as Railinc’s President and CEO since 2006, believes he is leaving the company in good hands.
“Joan has earned the trust of our customers, our employees, and our Board through her leadership and commitment to results,” West said. “She is the right person to lead the organization, and I know she will continue to strengthen Railinc’s customer‑focused culture while advancing the technology and services our industry relies on.”
West added, “Leading Railinc for the past two decades has been a privilege. I’m proud of what this organization has accomplished and grateful for the talented teams who have made that success possible. I look forward to supporting Joan and continuing to work closely with her until my retirement, to ensure continuity for our customers and partners.”
Following West’s retirement in July, Smemoe will assume full leadership of the company as President and CEO, reporting to the Railinc Board of Directors.