John Varnell of Pine Bluff received the J.C. Kenefick Safety Award during Union Pacific’s CEO Excellence Awards ceremony March 14 at the Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas.
Varnell, a locomotive engineer, was among 46 honorees across nine categories recognized for advancing Union Pacific’s Safety, Service and Operational Excellence strategy and laying the foundation to build America’s first transcontinental railroad, according to a news release. Varnell was honored in the transportation category.
Each category is tied to Union Pacific’s pillars of the strategy. The others include safety, service, people, asset utilization, cost leadership, growth, mechanical and engineering.
“John’s teammates know him as someone who listens first, communicates clearly and turns field challenges into practical, safe solutions,” according to a Union Pacific news release. “On his own time, he’s educated more than 5,000 people about grade crossing safety and safe driving — working with schools, community leaders and local businesses to protect the public around our tracks. John makes everyone around him safer: at work, at home and in the communities we serve.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
A committee representing multiple departments selected award recipients from nearly 260 employee submissions and used performance-based metrics to identify the best-performing operating teams, according to the release. The winning groups ranged in size from nine to 1,600 employees, and leaders selected representatives to attend the ceremony and receive a trophy created from a slice of authentic Union Pacific rail.
“We delivered best-ever safety, service and financial results while working to transform our industry,” railroad CEO Jim Vena said, according to the release. “This success was driven by the excellence of our people, and I could not be prouder of tonight’s recipients.”
While Varnell received the highest individual award, he said: “We always say it’s not possible without our team behind the scenes.”
Other winners include:
• Abraham Lincoln Service Excellence Award — Harriman Dispatching Center Iron Pulse Initiative Team.
• Spirit of Union Pacific Award — Litigation and Merger Deal teams.
• Shield of Excellence in Asset Utilization Award — Uber Crew Optimization Team.
• E.H. Harriman Cost Leadership Award — Labor Negotiation Strategy Team.
• Summit Award — Plastics Growth Team.
• Steel Wheel Award — Los Angeles Basin Mechanical Team.
• Golden Spike Award — Coffeyville Signal Maintenance Team.
• Building America Award — Settegast Terminal Team.