North Shore Railroad's Shields to attend White House forum on veteran hiring

North Shore Railroad Co. President and Chief Executive Officer Gary Shields has been invited to the White House to attend a Jan. 22 forum on the hiring of military veterans in the transportation industry.

Shields is among several senior transportation executives invited to the event, which will explore industry opportunities to strengthen hiring, training and retention practices for transitioning service members, military spouses and veterans.

Shields was a sergeant in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1972, and was stationed in Missouri and Pennsylvania. Fifteen percent of the North Shore Railroad's employees previously served in the military.

Based in Northumberland, Pa., North Shore Railroad is the contract operator for the SEDA‐COG Joint Rail Authority, which owns six short lines in central Pennsylvania: Juniata Valley Railroad, Lycoming Valley Railroad, North Shore Railroad, Nittany and Bald Eagle Railroad, Shamokin Valley Railroad and Union County Industrial Railroad.