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OnTrackNorthAmerica (OTNA) was founded by Michael Sussman in 2007 as a nonprofit 501c3 transportation think tank and consultancy co-leading society in redesigning industrial systems to support sustainable life. <b>Michael Sussman</b> began his career in transportation in 1994 by launching Strategic Rail Finance, a North American transportation-industry consulting firm, and has since advised on infrastructure-related projects, companies, and systems for private and public sector clients in 44 states and Canada.</br></br>
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=== Continental Action Plans for Sustainable Industry ===
<blockquote><i>“Whenever I hear that we need a national dialogue, as in, we need a national dialogue on gun control, police reform, or voter rights, I wonder, where exactly would we have that dialogue? In the newspapers, on social media, in our courts? These venues are ill-suited for </i><i>substantive </i><i>national</i> <i>dialogues.”</i><i>  '''...''' </i><i>'''Michael Sussman'''</i></blockquote>


At OTNA, we uphold objectivity and nonpartisanship. Our autonomy from financial, political, or personal interests undergirds our ethics. Historically, industrial growth has prioritized economic advancement over community and environmental stewardship. We advance industrial systems that are financially profitable and sustainable. </br></br>
The Continental Action Plans for Sustainable Industry (CAPSI) is the strategic thinking community, a part of OTNA, that designs Industry Action Plans and IntelliConference Series.


</br></br>
Industrial sectors operate as fragmented silos, each pursuing narrow, sometimes conflicting goals. As a result, industrial development unfolds as a series of isolated projects rather than integrated systems. Given the challenges posed by climate change, we must redesign our industrial systems and supply chains for efficiency and sustainability.


OTNA continually embraces the latest perspectives that inform progress toward these goals. We support investments in projects that enable the transition from fossil fuels, petrochemicals, and environmental stresses while acknowledging pragmatic challenges. OTNA values rationality and paths that provide the greatest benefit to the most people. </br></br>
Addressing these challenges demands unprecedented collaboration among all stakeholders within a framework that fosters trust and actionable plans. Therefore, CAPSI brings together diverse representatives from industrial sectors to facilitate whole systems planning for profitable and sustainable outcomes. '''We achieve this through topic-focused IntelliConferences®'''.


</br></br>
'''As a society, we aren’t lacking intelligence for solving problems.''' What we have lacked is a communication framework and platform for building solutions without being derailed by excessive competition and mistrust among vested interests. Over thirty years as trusted advisors working with thousands of partners from industry, government, academia, and communities, OnTrackNorthAmerica '''developed IntelliSynthesis®, a powerful tool for mobilizing stakeholder intelligence and goodwill.''' Despite prevailing beliefs, addressing all elements of a system makes it easier to build consensus and develop action plans. New solutions appear that would have otherwise remained concealed. The more aspects of a system we identify, measure, and consider, the more we turn its interactions into positive synergies.   


<b>OTNA has developed state and regional plans, tools, </b><b>analyses</b><b>, and paradigms support</b><b>ing</b><b> these </b><b>values</b><b>. </b></br></br>
Consider how transportation has typically been planned, or more accurately, not planned. '''Supply chains have evolved as a chaotic response''' to shippers’ and developers' indiscriminate land transactions, regardless of the transportation inefficiencies those choices impose. Supply chain shortcomings that became public during COVID-19 were met with a massive public investment in infrastructure. Unfortunately, this precious capital is allotted for individual competing projects while '''serious system inefficiencies remain.''' Consequently, we continue to stimulate more highway-centric supply chain activity and underutilize railroads’ energy, space, and capital efficiencies for moving heavy weight over land.  


</br></br>
Stakeholders operate in a competitive and, in some cases, monopolistic mode, neither of which allows for the collaboration needed for supply chain efficiency. To create sustainable, multimodal industrial systems, we must shift toward integrated planning of supply chains, land use, and transportation. 


In 2023, OTNA led a four-county stakeholder process in New Mexico in the aftermath of a 350,000-acre forest fire resulting in the New Mexico Forestry Business Plan.</br></br>
'''''"Yes, a profound shift is necessary.''' Time is of the essence. We live in a critical moment of potential environmental collapse alongside the need to expand economic vitality to more people. Thankfully, we have the tools to produce action plans for success. Redesigning industrial systems will deliver both environmental and economic sustainability. Join us in CAPSI for a brighter'' <i>future!”  '''... Michael Sussman'''</i>
 
In 2021, OTNA convened hundreds of transportation stakeholders to create Nevada’s 2021 State Rail Plan, a new whole-systems paradigm for statewide rail-enabled economic development.</br></br>
 
On December 11, 2008, OTNA gathered industry and government leaders in the U.S. Capitol Building to set a new collaborative framework for freight rail transportation efficiency.</br></br>
 
On December 8, 1998, OTNA convened a rail transportation educational event in the U.S. Capitol Building for 55 congressional staff. </br></br>
 
</br></br>
 
<b>OnTrackNorthAmerica Frequently Collaborates with Partners in Academia </b></br></br>
 
Dr. Barbara Gray, founder of Penn State University’s Center for Research in Conflict and Negotiation, has contributed significantly to OTNA’s work. </br></br>
 
The University of Tennessee’s Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Future provided research and development assistance for OTNA’s Land Freight Lifecycle Impact Calculator.</br></br>
 
Philadelphia’s Temple University hosted Michael’s talk, “How Collaboration, Trust, and Railroads Will Save the World,” on December 5th, 2023.</br></br>
 
The Transportation Research Forum honored Michael with its 2024 annual President’s Award.</br></br>
 
Michael serves on the Industry Advisory Board of the six-university consortium, Center for Freight Transportation and Efficient & Resilient Supply Chains  </br></br>
 
</br></br>
 
<b>He has contributed </b><b>to </b><b>improving public policy by meeting with s</b><b>taff or leaders of 68 U.S. Senate and 1</b><b>65</b><b> U.S. House offices</b><b>.  </b></br></br>
 
</br></br>
 
In March of 2011, Michael was the only private sector invitee to a U.S. House Railroad Subcommittee Staff Workshop to explore ways to improve the FRA RRIF loan program.</br></br>
 
::On February 17, 2011, he testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Railroad Subcommittee on reforms to the Federal Railroad Administration’s Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) program.</br></br>
 
On October 19, 2005, he spoke before the Surface Transportation Board on the 25th anniversary of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980.</br></br>
 
<b>
</b><b>Representative acknowledgments of these efforts:</b><b> </b></br></br>
 
Thank you letters from Republican House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Frank Wolf and Democratic Senator Jay Rockefeller’s Chief of Staff.</br></br>
 
In 2003, he contributed to Washington State produce shippers by designing and writing important elements of the Washington State Produce Railcar Pool Act as passed by the 2003 state legislature.</br></br>
 
In 1999, he worked with the Federal Railroad Administration to eliminate audited financial statement requirements for Class II and III railroads from the Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing Act (RRIF loan program).</br></br>
 
In November of 1997 he was responsible for making freight rail projects eligible in H.R.115 – the National Infrastructure Development Act.</br></br>
 
</br></br>
 
<b>Michael ‘</b><b>s </b><b>writing</b><b> </b><b>has</b><b> </b><b>been </b><b>published in </b><b>many</b><b> transportation industry journals</b><b>:</b></br></br>
 
Railway Age, December 2014, “Revitalizing Direct Rail Service”</br></br>
 
Railway Age, April 2011, “A RRIF-Centered Capitalization Growth Strategy”</br></br>
 
Railway Age, September 2008, “Leveraging Capital for the Entire Industry”</br></br>
 
Transportation Quarterly, Fall 2002, “Regional and Short Line Railroads in the United States”</br></br>
 
Association of Transportation Law, Logistics & Policy, Fall 2000, “Assessing the Process of Creating the RRIF Program”</br></br>
 
Progressive Railroading, June 1998, “Getting a Lender’s Attention”</br></br>
 
::</br></br>
 
::<i><b>Board of Directors</b></i></br></br>
 
<h3>Michael Sussman</h3></br></br>
 
<h4>    Chairman, OnTrackNorthAmerica and Chairman & CEO, Strategic Rail Finance</h4></br></br>
 
<h3>Eugene N. (“Gene”) Cipriani</h3></br></br>
 
<h4>Attorney; former advisor to the United States Railway Association (U.S.R.A.); former in-house corporate counsel for Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)</h4></br></br>
 
<h3>Daniel R. Elliott</h3></br></br>
 
<h4>    Transportation Attorney, Former Chairman of U.S. Surface Transportation Board</h4></br></br>
 
<h3>R. Powell Felix</h3></br></br>
 
<h4>    Founder, Indiana Boxcar Corporation</h4></br></br>
 
<h3>Jim Hoecker</h3></br></br>
 
<h4>Founder, Hoecker Energy Law & Policy PLLC, former Chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission</h4></br></br>
 
::</br></br>
 
::</br></br>
 
::<i><b>Advisory Board </b></i></br></br>
 
::</br></br>
 
<b>Daniel Burgess </b></br></br>
 
    Local Chairman, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, Division 456</br></br>
 
</br></br>
 
<b>Dr. Beverly A. Cigler</b></br></br>
 
    Professor of Public Policy & Administration, Penn State Harrisburg</br></br>
 
</br></br>
 
<b>Steve Gothreau</b></br></br>
 
    Norfolk Southern Rail Train & Engine Service (Retired)</br></br>
 
</br></br>
 
<b>Philip Mortimer</b></br></br>
 
    Director, TruckTrain Industries</br></br>
 
</br></br>
 
<b>Mingzhou Jin, Ph.D</b>.</br></br>
 
    Associate Head Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Tennessee</br></br>
 
</br></br>
 
<b>Brian Rademacher</b></br></br>
 
    CEcD Economic Development Director, City of Ormond Beach</br></br>
 
</br></br>
 
<b>Karen Risa Robbins</b></br></br>
 
    Principal, Washington Progress Group</br></br>
 
</br></br>
 
<b>Peter Schwartzman</b></br></br>
 
    Associate Professor & Chair, Knox College Environmental Studies Program</br></br>
 
</br></br>
 
<b>Dr. Joseph Schwieterman</b></br></br>
 
    Director, DePaul University, Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development</br></br>
 
</br></br>
 
</br></br>

Latest revision as of 13:53, 7 April 2025

Continental Action Plans for Sustainable Industry

“Whenever I hear that we need a national dialogue, as in, we need a national dialogue on gun control, police reform, or voter rights, I wonder, where exactly would we have that dialogue? In the newspapers, on social media, in our courts? These venues are ill-suited for substantive national dialogues.” ... Michael Sussman

The Continental Action Plans for Sustainable Industry (CAPSI) is the strategic thinking community, a part of OTNA, that designs Industry Action Plans and IntelliConference Series.

Industrial sectors operate as fragmented silos, each pursuing narrow, sometimes conflicting goals. As a result, industrial development unfolds as a series of isolated projects rather than integrated systems. Given the challenges posed by climate change, we must redesign our industrial systems and supply chains for efficiency and sustainability.

Addressing these challenges demands unprecedented collaboration among all stakeholders within a framework that fosters trust and actionable plans. Therefore, CAPSI brings together diverse representatives from industrial sectors to facilitate whole systems planning for profitable and sustainable outcomes. We achieve this through topic-focused IntelliConferences®.

As a society, we aren’t lacking intelligence for solving problems. What we have lacked is a communication framework and platform for building solutions without being derailed by excessive competition and mistrust among vested interests. Over thirty years as trusted advisors working with thousands of partners from industry, government, academia, and communities, OnTrackNorthAmerica developed IntelliSynthesis®, a powerful tool for mobilizing stakeholder intelligence and goodwill. Despite prevailing beliefs, addressing all elements of a system makes it easier to build consensus and develop action plans. New solutions appear that would have otherwise remained concealed. The more aspects of a system we identify, measure, and consider, the more we turn its interactions into positive synergies.

Consider how transportation has typically been planned, or more accurately, not planned. Supply chains have evolved as a chaotic response to shippers’ and developers' indiscriminate land transactions, regardless of the transportation inefficiencies those choices impose. Supply chain shortcomings that became public during COVID-19 were met with a massive public investment in infrastructure. Unfortunately, this precious capital is allotted for individual competing projects while serious system inefficiencies remain. Consequently, we continue to stimulate more highway-centric supply chain activity and underutilize railroads’ energy, space, and capital efficiencies for moving heavy weight over land.

Stakeholders operate in a competitive and, in some cases, monopolistic mode, neither of which allows for the collaboration needed for supply chain efficiency. To create sustainable, multimodal industrial systems, we must shift toward integrated planning of supply chains, land use, and transportation.

"Yes, a profound shift is necessary. Time is of the essence. We live in a critical moment of potential environmental collapse alongside the need to expand economic vitality to more people. Thankfully, we have the tools to produce action plans for success. Redesigning industrial systems will deliver both environmental and economic sustainability. Join us in CAPSI for a brighter future!” ... Michael Sussman