People news from IANA, TNW and HNTB

The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) will present Sam Niness, former president of Triple Crown Services, with the 2026 Silver Kingpin Award during Intermodal EXPO, to be held Sept. 14-16 in Long Beach, California. The Silver Kingpin is the industry's most prestigious award, which recognizes long-term contributions to intermodalism, IANA officials said in a press release. Niness started his over 40-year intermodal career with Chemical Leaman before joining Conrail Direct, where he supported the transition to Thoroughbred Direct Intermodal Services (TDIS). After a stint at WebModal, he returned to TDIS and was promoted to president in 2016. Niness oversaw the integration of TDIS and Triple Crown Services, which formally rebranded in April 2024. Additionally, Niness was a founding board member of the Transportation Intermediaries Association and has been involved with IANA. Previous Silver Kingpin award winners include Katie Farmer, BNSF Railway’s president and CEO; Joni Casey, IANA’s former CEO; Larry Gross, the president and founder of Gross Transportation Consulting; Ted Prince, co-founder of and chief strategy officer for Tiger Cool Express and a former IANA chair; Clarence Gooden, formerly CSX's executive VP and chief commercial officer; and Frank Richter, Progressive Railroading's co-founder who died in 2013. 

TNW Corp. on June 2 appointed Daniel Blank vice president of sales and marketing; Joey Evans, senior director of government affairs and business development; and Jeremiah Klun, director of safety, environmental and training. Blank joined TNW in 2024 following more than 15 years at Union Pacific Railroad. He will oversee strategic sales and marketing initiatives, TNW officials said in a press release. Evans joined TNW in 2017 as director of customer success and brings more than 21 years of rail-industry experience to his new role. He will lead public sector engagement, legislative strategy and real estate development activities. Klun joins TNW from UP, where he held roles in safety field operations, operating practices and technical training. He will lead the advancement of TNW's safety initiatives and provide employee training and regulatory compliance. 

HNTB has named Jacob Argiro lead for the company's New Jersey office and Anne Sheahan lead for the Illinois office. Argiro served as officer leader for HTNB's Connecticut office for the past six years. In New Jersey, he will work closely with HNTB clients, including the New Jersey Department of Transportation, New Jersey Turnpike Authority and New Jersey Transit, HNTB officials said in a press release. Sheahan joined HNTB in 2021 and has helped strengthen the firm's presence with Chicago-area public agencies and stakeholders. She has spent more than 20 years working for the city of Chicago in leadership roles.