Jerry Bakke, Vice President & Chief Mechanical Officer, has a wide range of railroad industry experience gained over a 43 -year period.  He conducts field operations and mechanical inspections, derailment investigations, new car quality control management, fleet maintenance management, car and locomotive repair estimating, car and locomotive repair bill auditing, and cost analysis services.  He also offers broker and inspection services for buying or selling freight cars and locomotives to short line railroads and other industry users.

Mr. Bakke has been the President of Toget and Superior Railroad Consulting, both companies that specialized in the major cost areas of car and locomotive operations by effectively and efficiently managing their maintenance, as well as, mitigating car and locomotive repair costs related to derailments.  Prior to that, he was Vice President of Operations for the Oregon Pacific & Eastern Railway Company.  Areas of responsibilities included interaction with online shippers; overseeing bridge reconstruction and track, bridge, crossing, signal inspections for compliance with FRA rules and regulations; solicitation of car repair work from railroads and private car owners; writing, implementing, and overseeing Quality Assurance programs for shop AAR certifications; safety training and operating rules training; administration of operating employee rules testing and issuance of engineer’s operating licenses; discipline for all employees; overseeing railroad land condemnations, land uses and associated misuse, and preparation of and bottom line responsibility for the annual budget.

Mr. Bakke has held various other positions in the railroad industry, including the following:  Manager Customer Service for Allrail, Rail Equipment Specialist for United States Rail Services, Production Supervisor for TTX Company – Calpro Division, Division General Foreman (Locomotive & Car) for a four state division, Locomotive Shop General Foreman, Car Repair Track Foreman & Locomotive Shop Foreman, Mechanic-In-Charge and Machinist for Chicago & North Western Transportation Company, and Sheet Metal Worker/Pipefitter for the Southern Pacific Transportation Company.

EDUCATION

Mechanical and Industrial Engineering studies at:

Los Angeles Trade Technical College, Los Angeles, CA: 1964-1965

Mount San Antonio College, Diamond Bar, CA: 1965-1966

Citrus College, Azusa, CA: 1966-1967

Mount Diablo College, Concord, CA: 1984-1985

American Management Association studies at:

University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA: 1980-1981

U.S. Navy

Engineman Class “A” School: 1962

Licensed Real Estate Broker and Agent: State of Minnesota 1995-2005

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Current

Steel Structures Painting Council (SSPC)

American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA)

Former:

Oregon Short Line Railroad Association – Vice President: 1993-1994

Private Car Owners Association (PCOA)

Mechanical Association Railcar Technical Services (MARTS)

(formerly the Car Department Officers Association)

Locomotive Maintenance Officers Association (LMOA)

Air Brake Association (ABA)

Houston HazMat Team

National Association of Realtors®

Minnesota Association of Realtors®

Duluth Area Association of Realtors®

Duluth Area Association of Realtors® Technology Committee – Chair:  1995-1996