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Railinc Corp., an innovative U.S. resource for the railroad industry providing railroad data, IT, and information services, has announced that Joan Smemoe has been appointed President effective April 1, 2026. Current President and CEO Allen West will retain his role as CEO until his retirement in July and will work closely with Smemoe to maintain the momentum within the company.
Smemoe has been with Railinc for 20 years and most recently served as Chief Information Officer (CIO). She brings extensive institutional knowledge, a strong operational perspective, and years of experience in delivering technology solutions that support the safety, efficiency, and interoperability of the North American freight rail network. In her expanded role, she will take on responsibility for the daily operations and implementation within the company.
Experience and vision for the future
“Joan is a proven leader with a deep understanding of Railinc’s mission, customers, and technology,” said Todd Rynaski, Senior Vice President of Strategy at Union Pacific and Chair of the Railinc Board of Directors. “The Railinc Board is grateful to Allen for his successful leadership of the company over the past two decades, and we are confident that Joan has the capability, strategic mindset, and vision to further advance the organization.”
Since joining Railinc, Smemoe has held a number of leadership positions overseeing the company’s technology strategy, platforms, and infrastructure. She has been involved in several key initiatives, including the mobile application AskRail, the Gateway Operations Services program, and the migration of Railinc’s mainframe infrastructure to the cloud. Under her leadership, Railinc has modernized its systems while ensuring the reliability and security that the freight rail industry requires.
“It is an honor to take on the role of President, and I am grateful for the trust placed in me,” said Smemoe. “Railinc has an incredibly talented team and a strong reputation for delivering solutions that the industry relies on every day. I look forward to building on this foundation, continuing to serve our customers, and supporting our teams as we evolve to meet the future needs of the North American freight rail industry.”
West, who has served as President and CEO of Railinc since 2006, is confident that he is leaving the company in good hands. “Joan has earned the trust of our customers, our employees, and our board through her leadership and commitment to results,” said West. “She is the right person to lead the organization, and I know she will continue to strengthen Railinc’s customer-focused culture while advancing the technologies and services our industry relies on.”
Following West’s retirement in July, Smemoe will assume full leadership of the company as President and CEO and will report to the Railinc Board of Directors.
