National Coal Transportation Association Letter From the President
Dear NCTA Members, Friends and Associates:
As we start this New Year, on behalf of the NCTA Board of Directors, I want to wish all of you every success in 2019.
The year 2018 presented our industry and the NCTA with new challenges and a few changes to our organization. In April, the Board of Directors entered into an agreement with Mr. Mark Ourada to learn and perform the role of Executive Director, and to succeed Tom Canter, who planned to retire at the end of 2018 after serving the NCTA for over 23 years. As of December 31, 2018, Mr. Ourada is no longer with the NCTA organization and we wish him the best in his future endeavors. As we now begin our search for a new Executive Director consultant, the Board is happy to report that Tom Canter has agreed to continue supporting NCTA for a limited time as a consultant in the role of NCTA Executive Director Emeritus. The organization will also continue to be supported by Melinda Canter in her capacity as Director of Communications and Administrative Services.
The Board of Directors is therefore seeking qualified candidates for the consulting position of Executive Director. If you know of someone who might be a good fit in the Executive Director role and who could be an asset to the organization, please share this information with them or pass your recommendation along to Emily Regis at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The attached materials outline the job description and details for submitting an application to our Search Committee. We can also refer you to our website www.movecoal.org/ where more information about NCTA can be found.
Our Directors are glad to report that the organization continues to be strong and is ready to meet future industry challenges thanks to its loyal and active membership. We recently expanded the Board to 13 members to include two new associate members in addition to the 11 members from the producer and utility membership. Participation on the various committees within the organization remains robust with more than twenty companies represented in leadership positions within the organization. In 2018, the NCTA held successful general conferences in April and September and a well-attended Operations and Maintenance Committee annual conference in June. The Logistics and Planning Committees continue in their activities to support the rail and producer network with a coordinated event held in the PRB in October that included presentations, tours and a producer-hosted breakfast. The Education Committee continues in its capacity to fund the scholarship program for college-aged children of NCTA member companies and recently changed its program to include a vocational or associate degree program scholarship. Additionally, NCTA continues to have a high level of national prominence and credibility by coordinating with other industry advocates, networking and providing resource material for governmental agencies, educating its membership on issues of concern within the industry and featuring prominent speakers at its conferences.
Our strength continues to be through our community of members working together and providing leadership on the many issues affecting our industry. We look forward to seeing you in 2019 at the Spring General Conference in San Antonio, TX April 1-3, the O&M Committee Conference June 10-12 in St. Louis, MO, and the Forty-Fifth Annual Business meeting and General Conference September 9-11 at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Baltimore, MD.
I wish to thank our Directors and membership for their support, enthusiasm and dedication to this organization as we look forward to a successful and productive new year.
Thank you,
Emily Regis
President, NCTA Board of Directors
For more information on the Executive Director Position please CLICK HERE
