MEET OUR RAILROAD PROFESSIONALS

The strength of FMW SOLUTIONS lies in its people. Our team brings together railroad operators, engineers, mechanics, safety professionals, project managers, preservation specialists, and business leaders whose experience spans Class I freight railroads, short lines, passenger operations, government agencies, private industry, and heritage railroads.

Collectively representing more than 250 years of railroad experience, FMW’s experts have held leadership positions with organizations including Canadian Pacific, Norfolk Southern, the Federal Railroad Administration, NASA, General Electric, the Panama Canal Railway, and numerous railroads, museums, public agencies, and transportation organizations throughout North America and abroad.

Like the railroads themselves, our team spans disciplines and defies easy categorization. What unites us is a shared commitment to technical excellence, practical judgment, and the craft of railroading. Whether advising on major infrastructure projects, restoring historic equipment, developing new operations, improving safety performance, or supporting complex transportation initiatives, our experts bring real-world experience and straightforward advice to every project they undertake.

Railroading’s greatest asset is not its equipment or infrastructure, but the knowledge, experience, and judgment of the people behind it.

OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM

President

Davidson Ward

Davidson Ward is the founder and managing partner of FMW Solutions, where he provides leadership, strategic direction, and advisory support for railroad, infrastructure, preservation, and transportation projects throughout North America. Since founding the company in 2016, he has helped grow FMW into a multidisciplinary consulting and contracting firm serving railroads, public agencies, cultural institutions, film productions, and private industry.

With more than 20 years of railroad industry experience, Davidson has supported hundreds of clients and complex projects across more than 30 states. His work spans strategic planning, economic development, grant funding, railroad operations, preservation, public-private partnerships, and organizational leadership. He is particularly recognized for helping clients navigate complex projects that require coordination between technical, financial, regulatory, and stakeholder interests.

In addition to his work at FMW, Davidson serves as Chairman of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Transportation Research Board Committee on Rail Rolling Stock and Motive Power. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture.

Vice President of Operations

Christopher Homco

Chris serves as Director of Operations for FMW Solutions, where he oversees project managers and coordinates operational initiatives across the firm's consulting, compliance, preservation, mechanical, fundraising, and strategic planning programs. His experience spans railroad operations, organizational development, regulatory compliance, grant funding, and project management, providing clients with a unique combination of operational and administrative expertise.

Prior to joining FMW, Chris served as Director of Onboard Experiences and Events for the Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad and as Membership Manager for the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, where he remains active as a volunteer and leader. His leadership has helped launch multiple successful tourist railroad operations, while his grant writing and funding support efforts have helped secure more than $47 million for railroad infrastructure, preservation, and development projects. He has also authored FRA compliance programs, operating procedures, and safety documentation for freight railroads, tourist railroads, and heritage operators.

Chris holds FRA Part 242 Conductor certification and serves on several industry committees, including the ASLRRA Safety and Training Committee, Small Railroad Committee, Heritage and Tourist Working Group, and the Railroads of Indiana advocacy committee. He holds degrees from Purdue University and Louisiana State University Shreveport, and is committed to helping organizations build sustainable railroad programs that honor the industry's past while supporting its future.

Director of Safety & Compliance

Kevin Sweat

Kevin Sweat brings more than 20 years of experience in railroad operations, safety, training, and regulatory compliance to FMW Solutions. His background spans tourist railroads, industrial operators, short lines, commuter railroads, intercity passenger carriers, and Class I freight railroads, providing clients with a comprehensive understanding of railroad operations and risk management.

A certified locomotive engineer and conductor with more than a decade of operating experience, Kevin specializes in rail safety assessments, compliance audits, operations training, accident investigation, and regulatory program development. He maintains extensive knowledge of Federal Railroad Administration regulations and workplace safety standards and holds FRA certifications in Accident Investigation and Positive Train Control.

Prior to joining FMW, Kevin served for more than six years as an FRA Operating Practices Inspector for the Florida Department of Transportation, providing oversight for passenger railroads, freight carriers, regional railroads, and short lines. His experience includes leading safety initiatives for Fortune 500 companies, developing training programs for railroad operators, and conducting operational reviews for industrial rail clients in the port, agricultural, mining, and manufacturing sectors.

Kevin is known for his practical, data-driven approach to railroad safety and compliance. By combining regulatory expertise with real-world operating experience, he helps organizations strengthen safety culture, improve operational performance, and achieve lasting compliance improvements.

Vice President – Mechanical

D. Shane Meador

Shane serves as Vice President of FMW Rail Operations and oversees the company’s machine shop, field operations, and mechanical services programs. With more than 25 years of railroad mechanical and operations experience spanning both Class I and short line railroads, he provides leadership for locomotive repair, passenger car work, fabrication, restoration, and complex mechanical projects throughout North America.

Following eight years of service in the United States Navy and an honorable discharge as a Petty Officer First Class, Shane spent nearly 14 years at Norfolk Southern’s Chattanooga Diesel Shop, where he advanced from machinist to Gang Leader. From 2010 to 2013, he was selected by Norfolk Southern leadership to manage special railroad projects, developing a reputation for practical problem-solving, operational discipline, and technical expertise.

Today, Shane leads a team of machinists, fabricators, craftsmen, and railroad specialists supporting freight railroads, passenger operators, museums, and private clients. He is particularly recognized for helping organizations recover troubled projects, providing realistic plans, accurate cost estimates, and practical solutions that bring challenging projects back on track. His qualifications include locomotive engineer and conductor certifications, railroad operations and training experience, mechanical trades certifications, and extensive leadership training.

Manager of Operations and Finance

Roy Wullich

Roy brings more than 40 years of experience in accounting, finance, corporate management, and organizational leadership to FMW Solutions. His career includes senior leadership positions with internationally recognized firms including Intel, KPMG, and Price Waterhouse, where he developed expertise in financial management, strategic planning, governance, and organizational development.

In addition to his corporate career, Roy has more than two decades of experience in railroad operations, passenger car management, private railcar ownership, and historic preservation. He has held leadership and advisory positions with numerous organizations throughout the rail industry, including Canadian Pacific, the Railroad Passenger Car Alliance, the Lexington Group, the American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners, the Tom E. Dailey Foundation, and the Nashville Steam Preservation Society.

Roy provides clients with a unique perspective that combines executive-level business experience with a deep understanding of railroad operations, preservation, governance, and long-term organizational sustainability. His work helps organizations navigate complex financial, operational, and strategic challenges while positioning them for future growth and success.

Director of Training & Operations

Stephen M. Hooper

Steve Hooper brings more than 30 years of railroad operations, training, safety, and management experience to FMW Solutions. A certified locomotive engineer, conductor, and Designated Supervisor of Locomotive Engineers (DSLE), Steve specializes in railroad operating practices, crew training, safety programs, regulatory compliance, and organizational development.

Steve began his railroad career with Canadian Pacific in 1987 and spent more than two decades advancing through a series of increasingly senior operating positions. His experience includes train operations management, network planning, dispatching, crew management, locomotive utilization, yard operations, and safety leadership. During his tenure with CP, he served as Operations Manager, Road Foreman of Engines, Yard Manager for Calgary’s Alyth Yard, and Superintendent of the Laggan and Red Deer Subdivisions, overseeing more than 350 operating employees and leading significant improvements in safety performance and operational efficiency.

Following his time at Canadian Pacific, Steve joined the Panama Canal Railway, where he rose to Director of Operations. In that role, he led railroad-wide safety, training, dispatching, maintenance-of-way, and transportation initiatives, including the implementation of GCOR operating rules and Positive Train Control.

Today, Steve serves as one of FMW’s leading experts in railroad operations, rules, training, and compliance, helping clients develop operating programs, train employees, improve safety performance, and launch new railroad operations with confidence.

Vice President – Engineering

Wolf Fengler

Wolf Fengler is a co-founder of FMW Solutions and serves as the firm's lead engineer for alternative fuels, energy systems, locomotive design, and advanced railroad technologies. His work spans mechanical engineering, propulsion systems, railroad equipment design, regulatory compliance, and emerging energy technologies, supporting clients throughout North America and Europe.

With experience at NASA, General Electric, and multiple railroads in both the United States and Germany, Wolf brings a unique combination of railroad expertise and advanced engineering knowledge. He leads projects involving hydrogen, fuel cell, and alternative-fuel propulsion systems and maintains extensive familiarity with EPA, FRA, AAR, APTA, and Amtrak standards. His work at FMW includes locomotive engineering, alternative energy research, rolling stock design, and technical support for both modern and historic railroad equipment.

Before entering the railroad industry, Wolf contributed to engineering programs at NASA and General Electric, including advanced fuel cell development, thermal systems modeling, and energy systems design. In addition to more than two decades of experience in railroad preservation and steam locomotive engineering, he is a cum laude graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, holding degrees in control systems engineering and heat and mass transfer.

Director of Marketing & Strategy

Kelly Lynch

Kelly Lynch leads marketing, strategic planning, media production, consulting, and movie train coordination for FMW Solutions. His work supports railroad operations planning, transportation logistics, and client development initiatives, bridging the worlds of railroading, tourism, preservation, communications, and film production, helping organizations connect technical expertise with public engagement and long-term growth.

An Indiana native, Kelly brings more than two decades of experience in railroad operations, digital marketing, media production, fundraising, historic preservation, and organizational development. Throughout his career, he has served in a variety of railroad operating roles, including trainmaster, conductor, and locomotive fireman, while also leading passenger experience programs, community engagement initiatives, grant-funded projects, special events, and tourism development efforts.

Prior to joining FMW, Kelly worked with organizations including Apple, NBCUniversal, CBS, Paramount, and Sweetwater Sound, where he served as Video Creative Director. He is a nationally recognized consultant to the motion picture industry, coordinating railroad equipment, locations, logistics, and historical research for film and television productions. Since 2005, Kelly has served on the Board of Directors of the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society and currently serves as Executive Director, helping guide one of North America's most recognized heritage railroad organizations.

ASSOCIATES & CONSULTANTS

In addition to our leadership, field, and shop personnel, our broader consultant team includes additional railroad, agency, and industry leaders, each of whom brings a unique perspective to rail-related projects. Each of these experts has a deep understanding of the industry and a passion for seeing it continue to prosper.

John F. Betak, Ph.D. | Senior Associate

Dr. John Betak is a Senior Associate with FMW Solutions and Managing Member of Collaborative Solutions LLC. With more than 40 years of experience in railroad management, consulting, research, and strategic planning, he advises clients on risk analysis, litigation support, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), railroad restructuring, and short line development.

Prior to founding Collaborative Solutions, Dr. Betak served as Assistant Vice President at Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail), where he managed industrial development, line sales, short line marketing, real estate strategy, and GIS initiatives. He was a member of Conrail’s Strategic Management Team and contributed to the restructuring efforts that helped return the railroad to profitability and shaped the modern short line and regional railroad industry.

In addition to his consulting work, Dr. Betak serves as a Senior Research Fellow at both The University of Texas at Austin and Rutgers University, bringing a unique combination of railroad industry experience, strategic insight, and academic research expertise to clients throughout North America.


Brian Keller | Senior Safety Associate

Brian Keller is a Senior Safety Associate with more than 40 years of experience in railroad operations, training, rules development, and regulatory compliance. His career spans freight, commuter, intercity passenger, and high-speed rail operations, providing clients with a comprehensive understanding of railroad best practices and operating standards.

A recognized expert in railroad operating rules and employee training, Brian previously served as Director of Training & Development at Amtrak and held leadership roles involving operating rules, training, and compliance at Norfolk Southern, Conrail, and SEPTA. His expertise includes railroad safety programs, operational compliance, risk management, and workforce development.

Brian helps clients develop effective operating programs, improve safety performance, and implement practical training solutions grounded in decades of real-world railroad experience.

Daniel C. Collins | Senior Associate

Daniel Collins is a former Federal Railroad Administration official and Senior Associate specializing in railroad safety, regulatory compliance, emergency response planning, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). He advises both public and private sector clients on operational risk, hazardous materials compliance, and transportation safety initiatives.

Throughout his career, Daniel has managed projects involving railroad safety systems, emergency response technologies, and GIS-based compliance solutions for short line and regional railroads. His work includes the development of software platforms supporting hazardous materials routing compliance and emergency response coordination for railroad incidents.

Drawing upon decades of regulatory and operational experience, Daniel helps clients navigate complex compliance requirements while improving safety, efficiency, and risk management practices.

R. Lee Meadows, Jr., P.E. | Senior Infrastructure Associate

R. Lee Meadows, Jr., P.E., is a Senior Infrastructure Associate with nearly 50 years of experience in railroad engineering, track maintenance, infrastructure planning, and construction management. A former Division Engineer with Norfolk Southern, he was responsible for the inspection and maintenance of more than 5,000 miles of Class I railroad infrastructure across a wide range of operating environments.

Following his railroad career, Lee has continued to support infrastructure projects involving track construction, rehabilitation, bridge and culvert renewals, tunnel improvements, and large-scale maintenance programs. His expertise spans both field operations and engineering design, allowing him to provide practical, cost-effective solutions for complex railroad infrastructure challenges.

Lee specializes in infrastructure assessments, value engineering, capital planning, litigation support, and risk evaluation for railroads, public agencies, and private industry.

J. Allen Rider | Senior Mechanical Asscociate

J. Allen Rider is a Senior Mechanical Associate and recognized expert in railroad motive power, locomotive engineering, and rolling stock management. His career spans more than 40 years in the mechanical departments of two Class I railroads, culminating in his role as Manager of Locomotive Engineering at Norfolk Southern Railway.

Allen’s expertise includes locomotive troubleshooting, fleet planning, mechanical reliability, Positive Train Control implementation, shop operations, and equipment management. His experience ranges from hands-on maintenance and diagnostics to executive-level decision-making regarding locomotive fleets and long-term capital planning.

Today, Allen supports clients with motive power evaluations, mechanical troubleshooting, strategic planning, and operational assessments, helping organizations maximize the performance and reliability of their equipment.

Thomas P. Loftus | Senior Finance Associate

Thomas P. Loftus is a Senior Finance Associate with extensive experience in railroad finance, valuation, due diligence, acquisitions, and strategic planning. A former Senior Vice President and Treasurer of Genesee & Wyoming, he has advised railroads, government agencies, lenders, and investors on complex transportation finance projects throughout North America and abroad.

Tom has served on advisory teams supporting the Federal Railroad Administration’s Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) Program, evaluating passenger and freight railroad financing requests and conducting financial due diligence on major transportation investments. He has also assisted railroad clients in securing RRIF financing through business planning, financial modeling, and loan application development.

His experience includes work on international railroad restructuring projects, high-speed rail initiatives, passenger transit development, and freight railroad acquisitions, making him one of the industry’s most experienced railroad finance professionals.

Doyle Cheatham | Senior Operations Associate

Doyle Cheatham is a Senior Operations Associate with more than 40 years of railroad operations, training, and transportation management experience. Prior to retiring from Norfolk Southern Railway in 2017, Doyle served in a variety of senior transportation leadership roles, including Division Road Foreman of Engines, Assistant General Superintendent of Transportation, and Manager of Specialized Locomotive Applications.

Doyle specializes in railroad operations, employee training, safety audits, locomotive technology, and transportation management. His expertise includes distributed power operations, Positive Train Control, train energy management, operating efficiency, workforce development, and budget management.

Since retiring from Norfolk Southern, Doyle has continued to provide consulting support to railroads and transportation organizations seeking to improve operational performance, strengthen safety programs, and develop effective employee training initiatives.