Recruiters
Lisa Birnbaum
Lisa received her undergraduate degree from LSU in Retailing/Business, and her MBA from Loyola University. She lived in New Orleans for 20 years. In New Orleans, Lisa had the pleasure of having the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad as a client, so she already knew how great the railroad employees were to work with. Lisa started her recruiting career in New Orleans with a large National Firm. She decided to move to Edna Rice, Executive Recruiter, so that she would be able to put a more personal touch on her National recruiting. She also loved the idea of specializing in the railroad/transportation niche.
Lisa's father was in the military, so she has lived in all parts of the country, but she is happy to call Houston, Texas her home now. Lisa and her family built their new home right along the Union Pacific mainline at the Mulberry Switching Station! She has a husband, a daughter, age 16 and a son, age 14.
Lisa has worked and placed a variety of railroad management positions including General Manager, AAR Accountants, Project Managers (Civil), Sales Managers, Director of Service Planning, Construction Project Manager, and transit management positions including a Contracts & Procurement Manager. She has also worked on several Logistics positions in the Chemicals and Oil and Gas industry including Distribution Manager, Fueling Manager, General Manager - locomotive fuels, Transportation Analyst and Customer Service Manager.
Lisa thrives on helping clients and candidates find the best fit! She looks forward to meeting you at industry events this year.
Business Cell: (713) 594-8118
E-mail: lisa@ednarice.com
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Otis Cliatt, Jr.
Otis joined Edna's recruiting team in 2006 and brings with him more than thirteen years of railroad experience. Otis's Class 1 railroad experience covered seven-years where he held a number of Managerial Positions in Train Operations, working in both Terminals (Hump Yards) and Road territories (Classification Yards). His Rail Switching Company experience covered six-years where he held the following positions; Director of Safety/Training and Operating Practices, Director of Service Delivery and Regional Vice President.
Otis received his undergraduate degree from Florida A & M University (FAMU) in Business Economics and a minor in Labor Relations. He was a scholarship/athlete on the FAMU Football team and still believes the fall season was made for college football.
Otis is also a military combat veteran (Desert Storm) having served in the US Army (Special Forces Command and Special Operations Command, Airborne).
Having served in both the military and the railroad Otis has lived and traveled to several different areas of the world; Asia, Middle-East, South and Central America as well as through-out North America including Canada. He enjoys traveling, experiencing new cultures and meeting a variety of interesting people.
Otis's clients and candidates cover a wide spectrum creating a variety of job opportunities for chemical, leasing and logistics companies as well as locomotive maintenance facilities, railroads (Class 1, Short lines and Switching companies) and rail car repair facilities. He looks forward to meeting you and will continue to attend many of the transportation club/association meetings to stay updated with new trends in this industry.
Business Cell: (713) 594-5522
E-mail: otis@ednarice.com
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Lynne Keenan
Lynne was born in England (of Scottish parents), but grew up in Zambia, Central Africa. She has an Economics Degree with Honors from Nottingham Trent University, England and worked as a Cost Engineer in the Engineering and Construction Industry in London and San Francisco before joining Edna A. Rice, Executive Recruiters, Inc.
Lynne considers herself fortunate to have experienced living in many different parts of the world including London, England; Brisbane, Australia; Northern and Southern California; Kingsport, Tennessee; and now Houston, Texas. She is married, with a son in high school and a daughter in college.
Lynne specializes in the freight side of the railroad industry making placements worldwide.
Business Cell: (713) 594-9620
E-mail: lynne@ednarice.com
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Shristi Shrestha
Shristi, a graduate from the University of Texas at Austin, holds a BS in Corporate Communications with minors in Chemistry and Biology. She has continued her education in human resource management and public health courses since. Starting her career as an Executive Recruiter in the healthcare Industry, she has continued her keen interest in recruiting in the railroad industry since the summer of 2004. While healthcare is entirely different than the rail industry, a similarity exists in understanding the wants and needs of both candidates and hiring companies.
During this exciting growth period in the rail industry, Shristi is working on a variety of job opportunities for railroads, rail car repair facilities, locomotive maintenance facilities, leasing companies, rail components manufacturing companies and chemical companies. She has a long, successful track record of placements both nationally and internationally. As a member of ASLRRA, AREMA, RSI, RSSI, NARS, SWARS, ASME, NRC, AWS, HTPA and TCH, Shristi will continue to attend various transportation conferences to stay updated with new trends in this industry.
Having lived in different areas of the world such as Kathmandu, Nepal, Lafayette, LA, Austin, TX, and Houston, TX, Shristi enjoys traveling, feasting on world cuisine, and staying highly involved with various non-profit organizations, such as Rotaract (Rotary International), Nepalese Association of Houston and AIDS Foundation of Houston. She has served as a Director, and is currently serving as a Secretary of the Transportation Club of Houston.
Business Cell: (713) 594-3939
E-mail: shristi@ednarice.com
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Jan Spreen
Jan has been a member of the firm since 2004. She has worked on assignments for many of the most well-known companies in the rail and transportation industry as well as for smaller, lesser known but very successful companies. Jan has placed candidates at all levels from skilled technical personnel to managers to president. Her client companies include railroads, engineering, construction and maintenance companies, leasing companies, suppliers, and public transit organizations among others. She is a member of many national, regional, and local industry organizations including APTA, MARTS, NRC, ASNT, and ASLRRA.
Jan grew up in the South and still returns there regularly to spend time at the family beach house on the Gulf Coast. She has a B.A. degree from Auburn University and an M.B.A. from Oklahoma State University. She was previously Director of Merchandise Information Systems for Foley's Department Stores (now owned by Macy's) and Director of Administration and Training for a Houston software company. She has also served as a consultant on corporate structuring and organization.
With a husband who is employed by a large international engineering and construction firm, Jan has enjoyed the chance to travel extensively and meet people with diverse backgrounds. As part of her many volunteer activities, she serves the American Red Cross as an Emergency Shelter Manager and has been a speaker at numerous emergency planning meetings including the National Hurricane Conference. When not working with her clients and candidates or volunteering, Jan spends her spare time at softball tournaments with her daughter who is an all-star catcher.
Business Cell: (713) 594-9896
E-mail: jan@ednarice.com
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Susan Vanderworth
Susan is a native Texan. She graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in Geology and worked in the oil industry as a production geologist. She married another geologist but both lost their jobs in the late '80s. Her husband started his second career in computer software, while she stayed home with their 2 young children. From volunteering in her children's' schools, she moved on to substitute teaching and eventually teaching middle school fulltime.
Their daughter is now a senior who is waiting on responses from colleges and will be graduating from high school with honors. Their son is 14 and enjoys mountain biking (dirt jumping) and playing guitar.
Susan believes in the value of volunteering and has spent most summers running the nonprofit community swimming pool. She is a board member of the PTO at her son's school. Her current hobby is butterfly gardening. She looks forward to vacations with her family whose favorite choices are going to the beach or skiing.
Susan enjoys learning the career story that each person she talks to has to tell. She claims to have more of a mechanical inclination than most women - which she credits to her dad who had her assist in car repairs at a very young age. So she feels comfortable talking with a rail car painter - or the company CEO. She strives to help job seekers find that new position that fits their long term goals.
Business Cell: (713) 594-6500
E-mail: susan@ednarice.com
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Tom Torsney
Tom joined in 2008 and brings over 32 years of railroad experience including 20 years of rail transportation with Conrail and its predecessors in various positions from Maintenance of Way to Terminal Superintendent. Additionally, his 12 years of Sales and Marketing with Conrail and Norfolk Southern, make him ideally suited for handling our Sales and Marketing practice.
Previously, Tom was Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Timcor Financial's 1031 Property Exchange Company. As a hiring manager Tom's greatest satisfaction came from the win/win of finding the perfect candidate to fill an identified assignment or role that produced a great positive result for both the company and the candidate.
Originally a native of Ohio, Tom currently resides in The Woodlands, Texas with his wife. They have two daughters, one married and one in college that keep them busy.
E-mail: tom@ednarice.com
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