RailAmerica names Conklin COO

RailAmerica names Conklin COO       RailAmerica Inc., the big short-line and regional railroad operator, has named Rodney J. 'Joe' Conklin executive vice president and chief operating officer of its North American rail group, replacing Gary Spiegel who resigned from the company to pursue other interests.
   Conklin, a 27-year rail industry veteran, was senior vice president, eastern corridor, for the North American rail group. Before joining RailAmerica in 2000, he served as vice president, field operations for RailTex Inc. Prior to that he spent 23 years with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and its predecessor railroads.
   RailAmerica, based in Boca Raton, Fla., has 49 railroads operating about 17,700 miles of track in the United States, Canada, Australia, Chile and Argentina.