Watco wins IT award, installs Grant and Chamberlain in GM posts

CIO Magazine recently named Watco Cos. L.L.C. a recipient of the 2014 CIO 100 Award.

Introduced 27 years ago, the award recognizes organizations worldwide that exemplify the highest level of operational and strategic excellence in information technology (IT), Watco officials said in a press release.

The magazine honored Watco for its Watco Service System (WATSS) IT project, which supports a variety of the company's rail-related services. WATSS enables the company to execute thousands of rail-car movements daily and accurately record marketing, finance and billing data.

The system is tailored to exceed the requirements of internal and external customers, and provides the company cost savings and more flexibility, said Cheryl Correll, Watco’s senior vice president of IT.

Meanwhile, Watco Transportation Services has named Stacy Grant general manager of the Great Northwestern Railroad (GRNW) and Travis Chamberlain, GM of the Wallula switching site in Washington.

Grant most recently was assistant GM of the GRNW and Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad (PCC). Since joining Watco in 2004, he has served stints as a PCC conductor and GRNW trainmaster. GRNW operates 77 miles of track between Lewiston, Idaho, and Riparia, Wash., and interchanges with BNSF Railway Co. and Union Pacific Railroad.

Chamberlain previously served Boise Cascade for 11 years prior to joining Watco in May 2014.