Rick Webb, Chief Executive Officer

Rick Webb
Chief Executive Officer
315 W. 3rd Street
Pittsburg, KS 66762
Phone: 620-231-2230
Fax: 620-231-0812
rwebb@watcocompanies.com

Rick Webb was named chief executive officer of Watco Companies in 1998, prior to that he held the position of vice president.  He helped his father, Dick Webb, establish Watco and grow it into a multi-state, multi-million dollar company.  Webb’s primary responsibility has been the growth and strategic direction of Watco Companies.  He was responsible for reorganizing the Company in 1998 into a service driven structure and helped direct and build the cross-functional leadership team that is now running the Company.  Webb  has performed various functions in the years helping to build the company, including operations, purchasing, marketing, accounting and financial management

He was appointed to the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) Rail Shipper Transportation Council (RSTAC) in 2003, and currently serves as its chairman. He was appointed to the National Industrial Transportation League (NIT-League) Board of Directors in 2005; is a member of the Business Advisory Council of Northwestern University, Chicago, Il; and is a member of the BNSF Railway Shortline Caucus.

Webb earned a bachelor’s degree  in physics from Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas.

Terry Towner, President & Chief Operating Officer

Terry Towner
President &
Chief Operating Officer

315 W. 3rd Street
Pittsburg, KS 66762
Phone: 620-231-2230
Fax: 620-231-0812
ttowner@watcocompanies.com

Terry Towner holds the position of president and chief operating officer of Watco Companies. Towner’s long-term relationship with Watco dates back to the purchase of Watco’s first railcar repair shop in Coffeyville in 1987.  Since that time he has been involved in numerous project milestones including analysis and advice on numerous acquisitions and all major financing projects. He oversees all operations of the transportation, mechanical and transloading/intermodal divisions.

Towner’s work history includes a 13-year career in banking, serving as president of a company, Pitsco, that develops and markets educational products and serving as a financial and strategic consultant with Grant Thornton, advising clients in a broad range of industries including manufacturing, consumer products, electronics, software development, staffing and professional placement, and certain financial services. He also owned Joplin.com, the largest independent ISP in Southwest Missouri until its sale in 2003.


He earned his bachelor's degree in economics from Pittsburg State University in 1981, and a master's in business administration. from Pittsburg State University in 1993.

Gary Lundy Executive Vice  President Support Services



Gary Lundy
Executive Vice President -
Support Services
315 W. 3rd Street
Pittsburg, KS 66762
Phone: 620-231-2230
Fax: 620-231-0812
glundy@watcocompanies.com

Gary Lundy is executive vice president of support services.  He oversees Watco’s support services departments including purchasing, safety, and property management.

He began his career at Watco upon the creation of the South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad in 1991.  During this same year, Lundy was responsible for starting Watco’s first Warehouse operation in Pittsburg, Kansas.  In 1992, Gary then took over as manager for the SKOL Railroad’s Pittsburg operations.  In 1993, Gary’s responsibilities grew to include the management of all real estate and government contracts within Watco.  Gary started the IT initiative at Watco in 1998, developing the technology infrastructure with the objective of aligning the Company’s business strategies with its IT strategies.  

Lundy has a bachelor’s degree in education from Pittsburg State University, with 15 years experience in education.

Ed McKechnie, Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer



Ed McKechnie
Executive Vice President -
Chief Commercial Officer
315 W. 3rd Street
Pittsburg, KS 66762
Phone: 620-231-2230
Fax: 620-231-0812
emckechnie@watcocompanies.com

Ed McKechnie  is executive vice president and Chief Commercial Officer for Watco Companies. He joined the Watco team in May of 2000 and with the Company’s tremendous growth, Ed now leads Watco’s strategic development and marketing teams with a focus on growing the business and finding new opportunities in the transportation industry.

McKechnie was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 1991 and was re-elected 4 more times, serving a total of 10 years.  He served on numerous committees including transportation, appropriations and the joint committee on Legislative Post Audit, the investigative arm of the Legislature.  McKechnie also served on the personal staff for Governor John Carlin and U.S. Congressman Dan Glickman in Washington, D.C. 

McKechnie was elected by his rail colleagues to chair the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association’s (ASLRRA) Legislative Policy Committee in 2003. In that position he led the legislative effort that passed the short line tax credit providing $3,500 in annual tax credits for each mile of track Watco maintains. He also serves on the ASLRRA Executive Committee. In 2007 McKechnie was appointed to the nine-member Kansas Bio Science Authority, which will direct more than $500 million in research and development grants during the next 10 years. 

Ed earned a bachelor's degree from Pittsburg State University in 1986.

Rick Baden, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Rick Baden
Executive Vice President
Chief Financial Officer
315 W. Third Street
Pittsburg, KS 66762
Phone: 620-231-2230
Fax: 620-231-2568
rbaden@watcocompanies.com

Rick Baden joined the Watco team in December of 2004 as executive vice president and chief financial officer.  In this position he is responsible for directing and managing company accounting functions, financial strategy, budgeting and forecasting.  He also directs all investment and funding for the company's capital structure and ensures the safeguarding of company assets and internal control structure.

Baden served as president and chief financial officer of Pitt Plastics, a $100 million plastics manufacturer. His seventeen years of experience in general management, accounting management, project management, and auditing span from the manufacturing, distribution, and the technology industries.  

Baden is a member of the American Shortline and Regional Railroad Association’s (ASLRRA) Finance and Administration Committee, and a member of the Pittsburg Economic Development Advisory Committee.

A Certified Public Accountant, Baden graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1990.

Craig Richey, Executive Vice President & General Counsel



Craig Richey
Executive Vice President
General Counsel

315 W. 3rd Street
Pittsburg, KS 66762
Phone: 620-231-2230
Fax: 620-231-0812
crichey@watcocompanies.com

Craig Richey joined the Watco team in 2003 and serves as executive vice president and general counsel. His relationship with Watco began in 1990 while in private practice with Wilbert and Towner Law Offices in Pittsburg, Kansas and since then Craig has been actively involved in all Watco acquisitions.

Richey  had practiced law for 13 years with Wilbert and Towner and was a managing partner the last seven years of his practice at the firm. 

He is a member of the National Association of Railroad Trail Counsel’s Shortline Advisory Council and the American Shortline and Regional Railroad Association’s General Counsel Committee. 


Richey earned his bachelor’s degree with double major in management and accounting from Mid-America Nazarene College and his J.D. from the University of Kansas.


 

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                               Watco Companies, Inc. * 315 W. 3rd Street * Pittsburg, KS 66762 * Phone: 620-231-2230 * Fax: 620-231-0812