Montana Rail Link promotes Blakely, Lewis to officer posts

Montana Rail Link (MRL) recently promoted Van Blakely from director of procurement and real estate to chief procurement and real estate officer.

A certified public accountant and certified purchasing manager, Blakely has 23 years of experience at MRL, including posts involving procurement, real estate leasing, contract administration and surplus asset sales. He served as director of procurement and real estate since 2009.

MRL also promoted Jim Lewis from director of sales and marketing to chief sales and marketing officer.

Prior to joining the railroad in 2009 as director of sales and marketing, he was director of truckload operations for Watkins & Shepard Trucking. Lewis currently serves as a member of the Pacific Northwest Association of Rail Shippers' board and Missoula College's steering committee.

MRL operates more than 900 miles of track in Idaho, Montana and Washington.