GNWRS–BSPRA Annual Conference
Conference Presentations
Select a day below to view and flip through presentation slides directly on this page.
Day 1 Presentations — Tuesday, August 25
Corridor Identification, Federal Policy Briefings & Opening Keynote Decks
Day 2 Presentations — Wednesday, August 26
Corridors of Commerce, Rail Terminals, Car-Free Tourism, Workforce & Regional Decks
Day 3 Presentations — Thursday, August 27
Regional Rail Collaboration & Public-Private Partnerships Decks
All Summit Presentations & Shared Directory
Complete shared Google Drive directory containing all presentation decks across all 3 summit days
Session and Speaker Guide (PDF)
View or download the complete 2026 Greater Northwest Rail Summit session schedule, panel breakdown, and speaker bio directory below.
Featured Speakers
Meet the voices leading this year's conversation
David Strohmaier
Chair, BSPRA
The Big Sky North Coast Corridor of Opportunity: Its Transformative Impact on People and Communities
Senator Tim Sheehy
U.S. Congress
Wednesday Lunch Keynote
Bruce Agnew
RIA Director, PNWER
Wednesday Welcome
John Putnam
Chair, Front Range Passenger Rail District
The Big Sky North Coast Corridor of Opportunity: Its Transformative Impact on People and Communities
Kelly Buckland
Former Disability Policy Advisor, USDOT
The Big Sky North Coast Corridor of Opportunity: Its Transformative Impact on People and Communities
Michael Rutherford
USDOT Office of Multimodal Freight
America's Great Corridors of Commerce: Moving People and Products across the Nation
Michael Giordano
Special Advisor for Policy, USDOT OST
America's Great Corridors of Commerce: Moving People and Products across the Nation
Duane Williams
MT Trucking Association
America's Great Corridors of Commerce: Moving People and Products across the Nation
Will Resch
Head of Project Development (Acting), USDOT Build America Bureau
America's Great Corridors of Commerce: Moving People and Products across the Nation
Jason Beloso
Strategic Planning Manager, WSDOT - Rail, Ports & Freight Division
Passenger Rail Updates from Across the Region
Jason Biggs
Director, Rail, Ports & Freight Division / WSDOT
Passenger Rail Updates from Across the Region
Elaine Clegg
Amtrak Board
Passenger Rail Updates from Across the Region
Chase Kitchen
Manager, Government Affairs / Amtrak
Regional Rail Collaboration: Coordinated Action to Advance the Rail Movement
Karen Hedlund
Surface Transportation Board
Passenger Rail Updates from Across the Region
Rob Eaton
Senior Director, State, Local & Community Affairs, Amtrak
Connecting to Rail Service: Expanding Car-free Tourism Options
David Clark
President & CEO, Visit Mobile
Connecting to Rail Service: Expanding Car-free Tourism Options
Jennifer Sellers
Multimodal and Rail Services Manager, Oregon DOT
Connecting to Rail Service: Last-Mile Transit Connections for Rural Communities · Passenger Rail Updates from Across the Region
Jeremy Butzlaff
CEO, MTR Western
Connecting to Rail Service: Last-Mile Transit Connections for Rural Communities
Jordan Hess
Mountain Line
Connecting to Rail Service: Last-Mile Transit Connections for Rural Communities
Lisa Stern
WisDOT
Passenger Rail Updates from Across the Region
Leann Wagner
Chief Operating Officer for Transportation and Economic Corridors & Assistant Deputy Minister, Government of Alberta
Passenger Rail Updates from Across the Region
Rep. Denise Baum
Montana Legislature
Regional Rail Collaboration: Coordinated Action to Advance the Rail Movement
Bre Brush
Sr. Policy Advisor, City of Boise
Regional Rail Collaboration: Coordinated Action to Advance the Rail Movement
Kim Riepl
Executive Director, Bismarck-Mandan MPO
Regional Rail Collaboration: Coordinated Action to Advance the Rail Movement
Dr. Meg Ann Traci
University of Montana Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
The Big Sky North Coast Corridor of Opportunity: Its Transformative Impact on People and Communities
Ross Lane
Vice President of Gov’t Affairs, Genesee & Wyoming
Regional Rail Collaboration: Coordinated Action to Advance the Rail Movement
Steve Balaski
Director, Business Development, Northwest Seaport Alliance
Driving More Business to the Rails: Investing in Frictionless Rail Terminals across the Greater Northwest
Patrick Boss
Director of Public Affairs & Business Development, Port of Quincy
Driving More Business to the Rails: Investing in Frictionless Rail Terminals across the Greater Northwest
Josh Hartford
IAM
More Jobs in More Places: Rail Workforce Needs and Investment in the 21st Century
Alan Westenskow
Deputy Head of Sales & Business Development, North America / Stadler
More Jobs in More Places: Rail Workforce Needs and Investment in the 21st Century
Sean Jeans-Gail
Rail Passengers Association
BUILD America 250: Federal Funding Coming Down the Line
Art Guzzetti
Vice President-Policy, APTA
Connecting to Rail Service: Last-Mile Transit Connections for Rural Communities
Rebecca Higgins
Vice President of Policy / Eno Center for Transportation
BUILD America 250: Federal Funding Coming Down the Line
Rep. Jake Fey
Washington Legislature
Driving More Business to the Rails: Investing in Frictionless Rail Terminals across the Greater Northwest
Ted Prince
Tri Cities Intermodal
Driving More Business to the Rails: Investing in Frictionless Rail Terminals across the Greater Northwest
Jacque Lavelle
Western Project Manager / Rails to Trails Conservancy
Driving More Business to the Rails: Investing in Frictionless Rail Terminals across the Greater Northwest
Meghan Clemens
External Affairs Director, Alaska Railroad Corporation
Driving More Business to the Rails: Investing in Frictionless Rail Terminals across the Greater Northwest
Alan Adolf
Regional Transportation Manager / Yakima Valley Conference of Governments
Regional Rail Collaboration: Coordinated Action to Advance the Rail Movement
Scott Rogers
Chippewa-St. Croix Rail Commission
Banquet Keynote Speaker
Thank You to Our Business & Organization Partners
We are grateful for the organizations whose generous support made this summit possible
Press & Media
Official press releases and coverage for the 2026 Greater Northwest Rail Summit in Helena, Montana.
Press Release
Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority and PNWER to Host 2026 Greater Northwest Rail Summit in Helena
Transportation, business and government leaders gather in Helena to discuss passenger rail, freight, economic development and regional connectivity.
Read Full Press ReleasePress Release
Connecting the Greater Northwest: Senator Sheehy, Federal Transportation Officials Join 2026 Rail Summit in Helena
U.S. Senator, federal transportation officials, national rail organizations and Tribal Nations gather in Helena for the 2026 Greater Northwest Rail Summit.
Read Full Press Release