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Dennis Gilstad recently contributed $1 million to help establish the Edward A. Burkhardt Chair in Railway Management at Michigan State University (MSU).

The founder, president and controlling owner of rail equipment and financial services firm FCM Rail Ltd., Gilstad has played a leading role in bringing together leaders in the rail industry and MSU to develop a certificate program in railway operations to provide an educational and knowledge base for mid-career railroad managers seeking to become tomorrow's executives.

"This effort should culminate in degree programs that will be determined by the market demand of the national and international rail communities," said Gilstad in a prepared statement. "The rail and transportation industries have substantial academic and executive development needs."

Scheduled to launch in January 2008, the certificate program will include classroom and online components that can be completed within six months. Participants will use case studies and work in teams on projects designed to reinforce management principles. Course content will include railroad operations and networking, strategic planning, and management and decision-making skills.

Program developers named the chair in honor of Edward A. Burkhardt, founder, president and chief executive officer of Rail World Inc. and Rail World Holdings L.L.C., who ran the former Wisconsin Central Ltd. during part of his nearly 50-year career in railway management. The Burkhardt Chair will serve as the program's foundation.