Midwest Association of Rail Shippers Finalizing Plans for Record Attendance Winter Meeting January 13–15, 2026
Midwest Association of Rail Shippers Finalizing Plans for Record Attendance Winter Meeting January 13–15, 2026
CHICAGO–December 10, 2025—More than 550 attendees have already registered for the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS) Winter Meeting to be held January 13–15 in Schaumburg, Illinois at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel.
“We are currently trending well ahead of last year’s attendance,” says MARS President Steve Blinn. “This is a testament to how valuable MARS is to our attendees. Our Executive Committee and Meeting Content Committee always make sure this is a highly valuable meeting for networking and covering industry trends, and I thank them for driving MARS’ success.”
The conference starts with a welcome reception on the evening of Tuesday, January 13; a full day on Wednesday, January 14; and a half-day on Thursday, January 15. Vendor tables will be available Tuesday evening with the opening reception and will be open throughout the day on Wednesday and Thursday morning. Sponsorship opportunities and registration for the 2026 Winter Meeting are still available at www.mwrailshippers.com.
Keynote speakers will be Keith Creel, President & CEO, CPKC; Janet Drysdale, Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, CN; Katie Farmer, President & CEO, BNSF Railway; Dr. Chris Kuehl, Managing Director/Founder, Armada Corporate Intelligence; and Jim Vena, Chief Executive Officer, Union Pacific.
Other featured presentations from top-level executives include:
• Mike Barth, Vice President, Transportation & Logistics, United Sugar Producers & Refiners Cooperative
• Anthony Hatch, Founder/President, ABH Consulting
• Ian Jefferies, President & CEO, The Association of American Railroads
• Katie Beardslee Kloentrup, Senior Digital Mine Engineer, Carmeuse
• Dr. Chris Kuehl, Managing Director/Founder, Armada Corporate Intelligence
• James Pearce, Vice President, People Solutions, Savage
• Alex Peiffer, Chief Operating Officer, Intramotev
• Christian Rowe, Vice President, Development, Savage
• Lorie Tekorius, President & CEO, The Greenbrier Companies
The meeting registration fee is $395 through December 12. After that date, it is $450. Onsite registration will be $500.
The block of hotel rooms at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel is FULL. We have arranged for another block at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Schaumburg Woodfield which will offer a shuttle to the convention. The room rate at the Embassy Suites is $139.
ABOUT MARS
The Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS) is one of five regional North American associations under the North American Rail Shippers (NARS) national organization. Headquartered in the Chicago area, MARS provides an open forum for discussion and resolution of rail transportation issues by bringing railroads, shippers, receivers, and rail supply companies together twice annually for formal meetings in the Chicago area. To review the most recent meeting presentations and to inquire about MARS membership, please visit the MARS website at www.mwrailshippers.com.
Note to editors and reporters: Please let us know if you would like free registration to attend the meeting.
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