Around The Railroad

Lance M. Fritz Elected Vice President-Labor Relations

February 29, 2008 | 09:51 a.m. CST

Lance M. Fritz has been elected vice president-Labor Relations, succeeding John Marchant, who has announced he is retiring at the end of June.  Fritz currently is the regional vice president for the Southern Region.

Gregory D. Workman has been elected to succeed Fritz as the vice president-Southern Region.  Workman, currently the assistant vice president-Operations for the Southern Region, will be succeeded by the superintendent of the Houston Service Unit, Daniel J. Shudak.  Brian McGavock will succeed Shudak as general superintendent of the Houston Service Unit.

Fritz joined Union Pacific in July 2000 in Marketing and Sales as vice president and general manager of the energy group.  In 2005 he was named regional vice president–Northern Region in the Operating Department.  He assumed his position in the Southern Region in 2006.  Prior to UP, he held positions with Fiskars Brands, Inc., and Cooper Industries. He is a graduate of Bucknell University, and earned an MBA from Northwestern University.

Workman started as a trainee with Union Pacific following his graduation from Purdue University in 1984 with a degree in civil engineering. He has held a number of positions in the Operating Department prior to being named assistant vice president-Operations in 2004.

Dan Shudak has led the Houston Service Unit since 2005.  Prior to that assignment, he held assignments in California, Texas and Illinois.  He started with the Chicago & North Western Railroad in 1972 following his graduation from South Dakota University.

Brian McGavock has been general director of Operating Practices in the Southern Region since 2006. He has held operating positions in Arkansas, Kansas, Illinois and Louisiana.  He is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University.

Marchant is retiring with more than 44 years of service with Union Pacific. He has led the company's Labor Relations group since 1996, serving as its chief labor negotiator during that period. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from Creighton University.

"John Marchant has been the undisputed leader of our industry's labor negotiations and strategy for over a decade," said Jim Young, chairman and chief executive officer of Union Pacific. "Very few individuals have had the kind of impact that John has had on this industry during a pivotal time in the history of railroads in America. We will miss his insight and judgment, and wish him and his family well in retirement. At the same time, we are delighted that Lance has accepted our offer to take over this important function at Union Pacific."