ABOUT OUR COMPANY

Who We Are

From our skilled executive and senior management team to our extensive service area, our experienced railroad experts are ready to serve you by providing rail transportation and construction services.

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WE ARE RAILROADERS.

Providing railroad excellence since 1997.

Unparalleled experience and knowledge in the railroad industry, all from a dedicated team committed to helping you solve problems and find success. We put a high priority on safety and consistency, providing a variety of expert rail services and our own 350-mile railroad to customers throughout the Midwest and in western Canada.

Our Services

Our Railroad

NORTHERN PLAINS

Meet our executive leadership team.

Our team has decades of experience working for and with the largest North American railroads, as well as with short lines and rail shippers. This experience allows us to provide operational and safety excellence, together with long-term value for our customers.

Gregg F. Haug

Chairman – Northern Plains Rail Services

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Gregg Haug founded Northern Plains Railroad (NPR) in 1997. Since then, he has negotiated the purchase of three additional lines and directed the startup of each. Over the years, Mr. Haug has led the diversification of Northern Plains to include affiliated companies that provide contracting services to shippers and the rail industry, including track construction, locomotive leasing and repair, terminal development, consulting and training, and intra-plant switching. Further, Mr. Haug has partnered in several strategic rail developments in western Canada, including the Alberta Midland Railway Terminal, Boundary Trail Railway, and Weyburn Industrial Transload.

Starting his career in the engineering department at the Illinois Central Railroad in Chicago, Mr. Haug held management and executive positions at the SOO Line/Canadian Pacific Railway prior to founding NPR. Mr. Haug has an MBA from the University of Chicago. He has a Civil Engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin, and is a licensed Engineer.

Ben Liden

VP, Operations

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Ben oversees operations and safety across Northern Plains Rail Services, providing leadership for the company's rail, track, locomotive, and industrial service operations. A long-time Northern Plains leader, he is well respected for his operational expertise, commitment to safety, and dedication to supporting employees, customers, and the communities the company serves.

Jonathan R. Rentz

Vice President Of finance & business strategy

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Jon oversees the financial operations and strategic business initiatives of Northern Plains Rail Services. Known for his collaborative approach, he works closely with leadership, customers, and communities to support the company's continued growth and long-term success.

Dan Mack

Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer

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Dan is responsible for business development and strategic growth initiatives across North America. Drawing on leadership experience with Canadian Pacific and CHS, he works with customers, industry partners, and communities to identify opportunities that strengthen Northern Plains Rail Services' rail, logistics, and industrial development offerings.

Shawn I. Smith

Executive Lead: NPRS Canada / Great Prairies Rail Ltd.

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Shawn provides executive leadership for NPRS Canada, strategic partnerships, and consulting services while serving as a strategic advisor to the Northern Plains leadership team. His experience includes executive leadership roles with CN, RaiLink, RailAmerica, Canadian Pacific, and Northern Plains.

Jalene Suda

AVP, Human Resources

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Jalene oversees human resources and benefits for Northern Plains Railroad and Northern Plains Rail Services, helping support the growth and development of the company's workforce. She is committed to strengthening employee engagement, leadership development, and succession planning to support the long-term success of the organization.

Julie Chalich

Chief Communications Officer

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Julie serves as Chief Communications Officer for Northern Plains Rail Services. A long-time Northern Plains leader, she plays a key role in supporting organizational communication and helping connect employees, leadership, and stakeholders across the company.

Ted Jakubiak

Vice President of Real Estate and Industrial Development

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Ted leads Northern Plains Rail Services' real estate strategy, overseeing property acquisitions, sales, and land leasing activities across the organization. He works with customers and industry partners to identify rail-served property opportunities that support business growth and economic development.

Lauren Rubin

AVP Government Affairs & Regional Development

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Lauren leads expansion efforts and internal and external communications initiatives at Northern Plains Rail Services. As a second-generation shareholder and employee, she brings a unique perspective to her work at the company and is committed to driving long-term sustainability and growth.

NORTHERN PLAINS RAILROAD SERVICES

Meet Our Senior Leadership

Brent Bader

General Manager of Mechanical Services

Based in Lansford, ND, Brent leads the operations and maintenance activities required to keep NPR’s fleet of locomotives reliably pulling freight for our shippers, our contract locomotive services group, and our locomotive sales and leasing efforts.

Riley Ferguson

Facility Manager – Car Repair

Based at Fordville, ND, Riley is responsible for car inspections and repairs, together with related projects on Northern Plains Railroad.

Steven Fry

Superintendent Safety, Training, and Operating Practices

Mr. Fry is an experienced railroader who both supervises and delivers technical safety training to a host of shippers and rail industry clients across the US.

Todd Gullickson

General Manager – Northern Plains Railroad

Based in Fordville, ND, Todd is the senior leader responsible for the 350-route-mile operation of Northern Plains Railroad across Minnesota and North Dakota.

Adam Liden

Manager Maintenance of Way

Based in Fordville, ND, Adam is the senior leader responsible for maintaining 350 miles of track, bridge, and grade crossing signals across Minnesota and North Dakota.

Derek Muir

Director Project Development – Northern Plains Rail Services/Complete Track Works Division

Based at our Grand Forks, ND HQ, Derek is responsible for planning and ensuring quality implementation of customer projects for clients of our track construction company located across the Midwest.

Rick Spiering

Superintendent of Industrial Switching, Terminals & Transloading

Rick has responsibility for day-to-day execution of rail operations delivered by Northern Plains at customer locations in a safe and efficient manner. In addition, he supervises operations of transloading activity on NPR and at our Grand Forks terminal.

Jesse J. Chalich

A Lasting Northern Plains Rail Services Legacy

Jesse J. Chalich was a lifelong railroader, a trusted leader, and a deeply respected member of the Northern Plains Rail Services family. He began his career with Northern Plains in 1997 as a conductor and grew with the company over nearly three decades, ultimately serving as President and Chief Operating Officer. Throughout his career, Jesse helped shape Northern Plains Rail Services through steady leadership, strong relationships, and a deep commitment to safety, service, and doing the job the right way.

More than his title, Jesse will be remembered for the heart he brought to this company and to the people within it. He led with humility, integrity, and genuine care for employees, customers, and partners alike. His legacy lives on in the culture he helped build – one grounded in hard work, trust, family, and pride in the railroad industry.

To learn more about Jesse’s life and legacy, we invite you to read more about Jesse, explore the Jesse J. Chalich Memorial Golf Tournament, and discover the Jesse J. Chalich Sports by Railroaders Fund, created in his honor.