CLEWISTON, Fla. — Chris Starnes has been hired for the newly created position of sales, marketing, and revenue manager, short line South Central Florida Express has announced. The company says he will lead efforts to drive business development, expand its customer base, and increase the value of SCFE rail services.
Starnes’ nearly 20 years of rail experience most recently includes serving as chief operating officer for Gulf & Ohio Railways in Knoxville, Tenn., where he oversaw operations, revenue, and marketing at four short lines in Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina. He also held positions at Gulf & Ohio including general manager, designated supervisor of locomotive engineers, and engineer/conductor.
“We are thrilled to welcome Chris to our leadership team,” said Bob Lawson, SCFE General Manager. “His deep industry expertise, proven track record in operations and marketing, and passion for railroading will be a tremendous asset as we continue to grow our footprint and strengthen our customer relationships.”
Starnes holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Management and Leadership from Virginia Intermont College. His interests include photography, particularly of rail and aviation subjects; his work has been featured in national publications and recognized in competitions.
South Central Florida Express is the short line arm of U.S Sugar, operating a network of more than 170 miles in five Florida counties and offering connections to CSX and Florida East Coast Railway.
