Rail News: Railroading People
Black, Despos join Watco's management ranks

Watco Transportation Services L.L.C. recently named Pat Black director of operations for the Gulf Region. He will be responsible for managing operating and financial resources to achieve a specified level of growth.

Black most recently was director of marketing and sales for OmniTRAX Inc.'s Chicago Region. Prior to that, he served as general manger for OmniTRAX's Great Western Railway of Colorado L.L.C., Hudson Bay Railway Co. and Coors Switching Facility (a startup). In addition, Black held various positions at BNSF Railway Co. from 1977 to 2007.

Watco also named Matt Despos GM for the South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad. He most recently was an assistant GM for the Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad.

Despos previously served the Chicago, Fort Wayne and Eastern Railroad as a signal maintainer, conductor, assistant trainmaster and trainmaster. Prior to joining the rail industry, he spent 11 years serving fire departments in Indiana and Maryland.