MEET OUR DEDICATED LEADERSHIP TEAM

MAX VANDERBY
MAX VANDERBYPresident
Max has been in the rail industry for 33 years supporting a number of committees and was President of the CABC in 2005-2006. He received his education as a Mechanical Engineering Technician from Mohawk College and furthered his education in Engineering Mechanical Technology. He currently is Director of Production Engineering at National Steel Car.
YI WANG
YI WANG1st Vice President
Yi Wang is a Principal Investigator I in the Vehicle Track Interaction Group at MxV Rail. Yi spent 10 years with Canadian Pacific in fields related to car engineering, brake systems, train dynamics & investigation. YI holds a M.Sc. in computational engineering from Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum, and is pursuing a PhD.

GARY ROGERS
GARY ROGERS2nd Vice President
Gary Rogers is Sr. Mgr. OE Freight Sales for New York Air Brake. Gary joined the rail industry in 2006 as Field Service Manager for Standard Car Truck. Gary has an extensive air brake background from his industry involvement through New York Air Brake for freight, locomotive, and passenger systems in the AAR market.
BRAD BLACK
BRAD BLACK3rd Vice President
Brad has been employed in the rail industry since 1980. Brad was Assistant Chief Mechanical Officer for MARC. Brad is the Senior Vice President, Virginkar & Associates, Inc. Brad serves on APTA Mechanical Standards Committees developing rail industry standards and is now the President of Railroad Passenger Car Alliance.
BRAD RAE
BRAD RAESenior Executive Officer
Brad Rae is President of BMS Locomotive Service Group, Inc. He drew his first pay check firing on a steam locomotive in 1988, for the Central Western Railway. He started BMS in 2003 as a 1 man operation. He joined the Canadian Air Brake Club in 2009 and is the president this year. Hanna, Alberta is home with his wife & son.
Ryan Kepley1st Executive Officier
Ryan Kepley
Christian Knapp2nd Executive Officier
Dale Parks
Dale Parks3rd Executive Officier
Andrew Specian
Andrew Specian4th Executive Officer
Andrew Specian received a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a Mechanical Development Engineer at Strato Inc., where he develops railcar components and systems. Andrew serves as a member of the AAR Brake Systems Committee and participates in multiple technical subcommittees.

MARK MICHEL
MARK MICHELInterim Secretary/Treasurer
Mark received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Clemson University in 1990. Mark’s career in the rail industry began with Ellcon-National. In 2004 he became Chairman of the Geared Hand Brake Manufacturers Engineering Committee. He is the Director of Engineering for Amsted Rail’s Brake Division.
ADAM EBY
ADAM EBY1st Year Publications
Adam Eby is currently the Senior Manager of Engineering, PTC and Brake Systems working at Amtrak’s Mechanical Maintenance Facility located in Bear, DE. He has been an Amtrak representative on the AAR Brake System Committee for the past 8 years. Adam graduated from University of Delaware with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering.
DON FRANCISCO
DON FRANCISCO2nd Year Publications
A native Northern New Yorker, Don retired from CSX railroad in April of 2021 and joined NYAB as a consultant. During his 34 years in the industry Don has held positions in the signal department, diesel shop & training department. Don has served 11 years on the AAR Brake Systems Committee and the ABA for 7 years.
MARK MICHEL
MARK MICHEL3rd Year Publications
Mark received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Clemson University in 1990. Mark’s career in the rail industry began with Ellcon-National. In 2004 he became Chairman of the Geared Hand Brake Manufacturers Engineering Committee. He is the Director of Engineering for Amsted Rail’s Brake Division.
MARY FRANCES OLSON
MARY FRANCES OLSONSergeant at Arms
President , Bransgate Transportation Co. (inactive corp. in Commonwealth of Pennsylvania) Former owner-operator of a private Pullman car. “In my opinion, the most important credential, in operating a private railcar, is a knowledge of air brakes.
I will be eternally grateful to the ABA for my education, and their resources”.