Our Personnel
Karen Alston-President
Karen worked over 20 years for Ashland Inc. and its predecessor Aristech Chemical Corporation at one of the largest polyester resins plants. In her role, Karen was responsible for production scheduling for two 6000 gallon reactors and for ordering raw materials to meet production and sales. In addition, Karen was responsible for ordering raw materials to support terminal operations that supplied other Ashland Inc. facilities. Karen has extensive experience in rail, truck and barge operations. Karen's plant experience is invaluable when conducting DOT, and IATA regulatory training. She is able to input real world experience to improve the DOT and IATA training session.
Karen specializes in DOT hazardous materials training for tank cars and tank trucks. Karen is certified in DOT and IATA.
Karen holds a two year technical degree in robotics and an Associate degree from Robert Morris University.
Mike Alston, MBA , CHMM -Vice President/General Manager
Mike Alston is a highly accomplished transportation operations and compliance manager with over 30 years of experience in regulatory affairs, supply chain management, logistics, distribution, transportation auditing, and barge, rail, motor carrier, and transloading and terminal operations. His special expertise is in the handling, safety, security and regulatory compliance of hazardous materials, and he provides Transportation Compliance Associate clients an excellent knowledge of DOT, IATA, IMDG, USCG, OSHA, and TDG laws and regulations. Mike has extensive experience in regulatory compliance, safety audits, training, production facilities, transloading terminals, warehouses, rail terminal / rail, water, and motor carrier operations.
Mike spent his entire career with Sunoco, Inc. and its predecessor, Aristech Chemical Co. Throughout his career, Mike was responsible for ensuring compliance for DOT, IATA, USCG, EPA, OSHA and TDG regulations. He developed and implemented regulatory training programs for DOT, IATA, TDG-Canada, USCG-PIC, and Hazardous Waste Manifesting, as well as audit programs to qualify motor carriers, bulk liquid terminals, transportation cleaning facilities and railcar repair facilities to ensure performance and compliance with regulations and company standards. He also developed and implemented Hazardous Material (HM-232) Security Plans. In his career, Mike was charged with the duty to train, implement and oversee Carrier and Terminal Audit Programs and lead Marine Transportation Security Act (MTSA) and Rail Security Enhancement programs. Mike is a former member of the American Chemistry Council Truck Modal Security Team and the Association of American Railroads (AAR) Security Taskforce. His professional certifications include DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations, RCRA Training, IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, United States Coast Guard PIC Training, and ISO 9001:2000 internal auditing. Mike earned a BS in Logistics Management and an MBA from Robert Morris University. Mike is also certified as a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM). He holds certifications in DOT, IATA, IMDG, TDG-Canada, RCRA, and is a certified Facility Security Officer (FSO). Moreover, Mike is a tank car and tank truck specialist. Mike conducts training in all disciplines and specializes in Health, Environmental, Safety and Security consulting.
Rick Brittingham-Senior Rail/ Truck Operations Consultant
Rick had 43 years in the transportation industry with extensive experience in the chemical and oil refining business providing support for rail, truck and barge operations. Rick led field operations for Sunoco for over 30 years as an innovator and troubleshooter. During his career he improved operations, reduced costs and negotiated transportation rates for rail, barge and trucking operations. He specializes in improving plant and terminal rail operations and developing private rail switching. Rick conducts meetings with truck and rail carriers to improve operations. Rick is trained to the Specialist Level for tank trucks and tank cars.
Tom Crawford-Senior Marine Transportation Instructor and Consultant
Tom has spent 35 years employed in the petroleum refining and transportation industry. His years of experience cover refining, marine transportation, pipelines and terminals. Tom has been involved with the oil spill response planning and preparedness since 1980 and has served on numerous local and national industry advisory committees, oil spill cooperatives, and Area and Regional Response Team subcommittees. Most recently he was responsible to plan and institute the policies and procedures for the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) for a major pipeline and terminal corporation.
Tom has a Master’s degree in Education from Temple University.
Wayne Snyder-Senior Regulatory Instructor and Consultant
Wayne has over 40 years’ experience in the chemical industry. Wayne spent his entire career with Sunoco Inc. and its predecessors Aristech Chemical Corporation and USS Chemical Corporation. Wayne has an extensive and impressive resume. Wayne began his career in the lab conducting sample analysis and conducting air monitoring tests. Wayne continued his career as an operations foreman while finishing his BS degree in Economics. He then became supervisor of a plasticizer plant with sole responsibility for operations. Wayne was promoted to Manager of Material Handling which lasted over 10 years and where he significantly improved operations and increased throughput while continuing to lowering costs. Wayne finished his career as Plant Site Manager. Wayne has real world knowledge and experience in DOT hazardous materials, OSHA, EPA, and RCRA. He specializes in DOT hazardous materials training for tank car and tank truck and performs consulting for rail, truck and plant operations. Wayne is trained to the Specialist Level for tank car and tank truck.
Wayne earned a BSBA in Economics
from the University of Pittsburgh and is certified in DOT. IATA and IMDG.
Larry Frasher-Senior Rail and Truck Regulatory Consultant
Larry also has over 40 years’ experience in the chemical industry and like Wayne he spent his entire career with Sunoco Inc. and Aristech Chemical Corporation. Larry is well versed in Product Stewardship, emergency response, tank car, tank truck, ISO container and vessel loading and unloading. Larry is an OSHA Specialist Level instructor for emergency response for tank cars and tank trucks.
In addition, we employ several consultants which are technical specialists. They include Chemical and Mechanical Engineers and Certified Safety Professionals and Environmental Professionals.
Joseph E. Connelly - Senior Rail and Regulatory Consultant
Joe began his hazardous materials career as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Specialist with the U. S. Army, assigned to Escort and Disposal Team 3 of the U. S. Army Technical Escort Service. Team 3 responded to military and civilian hazardous materials problems and was responsible for all of the chemical munitions in the U. S. Army inventory.
After leaving the military, Joe joined CECOS International as a Hazardous Materials technician, responding to hazardous materials emergencies nationwide. He specialized in PCB mitigation, participated and supervised Superfund site clean ups along the eastern seaboard and responded to railroad accidents involving hazardous materials at Amtrak and Conrail. Joe joined the Federal Railroad Administration in 1982 as a Hazardous Materials Inspector, working over 20 years as a field inspector before accepting a position as a Supervisory Specialist. He finished his federal career as a professional staff member for the U. S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Upon his departure from the “Committee” Joe was cited in the Congressional Record for helping to instill a “culture of safety” into all the federal agencies that he dealt with and for making safety his life’s work.
Joe has extensive experience in railroad and hazardous material regulatory compliance, safety audits, training, plant and railroad security along with intermodal and transloading operations. While a member of Congressional Staff Joe also conducted investigations into liquid and gas pipeline failures and accidents involving cargo-tank motor vehicles.
