NARP Staff Expands To Accelerate Advocacy, Raise Profile

For Immediate Release (#15-13) Contact: Benet J. Wilson

June 12, 2015 202-408-8362, ext. 3203

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Bruce B. Becker, a long-time National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) member and board of directors member, has accepted a full-time role on the association’s professional staff, where he will lead event planning, logistics and special projects.

Becker, a native of Utica, N.Y., who now resides in the Buffalo area, will resign his NARP volunteer responsibilities to accept this new position. He will report to President & CEO Jim Mathews.

Events are a critical part of NARP's emerging strategy. The association intends to transform its events from sessions to conduct association business into larger meetings with robust and interesting programs to attract civic leaders, transportation experts and the general public. NARP wants to bring like-minded parties together across all political viewpoints to help advance the national conversation about rail service into a larger, forward-looking intermodal vision NARP is calling “A Connected America.”

This is the third significant hire the organization has made since September, when Mathews joined the team after a 26-year career at Aviation Week & Space Technology as Executive Editor. In March, the association also hired Benét Wilson, a pro with more than two decades of transportation communications, PR and digital media experience, to lead the communications function.

"As NARP approaches its 50th birthday in 2017, the Association has accomplished a lot, but we must do more and do it better for the future," Mathews said. "Grassroots excitement is growing for the seamless and intermodal possibilities of A Connected America. That means NARP today has a unique opportunity to rally behind local citizens and their elected political leaders to advocate for a broader vision of transportation, mobility and economic growth. Bringing Bruce Becker aboard will help us move forward faster, with his talents and experience helping us amplify the voices of our members in every community."

About the National Association of Railroad Passengers

NARP is the only national organization speaking for the users of passenger trains and rail transit. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger rail in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by more than 28,000 individual members nationwide.

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