Reading & Northern hires Laubenstine as VP of coal marketing

Reading & Northern Railroad yesterday announced it's expanding its coal marketing department with the hire of Karl Laubenstine as vice president of coal marketing and sales.

Laubenstine joins the railroad from the Atlantic Carbon Group Inc., an anthracite mining and processing company in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, where he was responsible for marketing, sales and logistics. During his tenure, the company logged a 39 percent increase in tons sold to the domestic steel industry and export markets.

Laubenstine also helped in the development and branding of Atlantic's heat-sealed bag for residential heating. Prior to Atlantic, he worked in sales and logistics for Reading Anthracite.

At Reading & Northern, Laubenstine will report to Bill Clark, senior VP of coal marketing.

Laubenstine's hire is part of Reading & Northern's plan to manage its growth in the railroad's anthracite coal business, said Reading & Northern President Wayne Michel in a press release.

"We have been buying coal cars and locomotives and working on infrastructure projects to better serve our coal shippers," Michel said. "With our hiring of Karl, we have again expanded the number of people assisting us in the development and management of the coal business, which is so critical to our success."

Also yesterday, Reading & Northern announced a new title and additional responsibilities for Jim Cerulli, now VP of business development. While he continues to be responsible for the coal equipment fleet as well as on-line coal industrial development projects, Cerulli also will support Michel on strategic efforts and long-term business development projects.

Cerulli joined Reading & Northern in 2015 in the transportation department as operations administrator. He was promoted to director of operations and then AVP of operations planning. In early 2020, he moved to the commercial side to become VP of coal marketing.

"Jim brings his tremendous knowledge of our railroad operations as well as a wealth of historical knowledge about the railroad industry to his new job," said Michel.

Reading & Northern is based in Port Clinton, Pennsylvania.