Union Pacific Recognizes Varnell with Excellence Award

This year, 46 honorees were recognized for rising to meet – and lead through – a period of historic change, advancing Union Pacific’s Safety, Service and Operational Excellence strategy and laying the foundation to build America’s first transcontinental railroad“We delivered best-ever safety, service and financial results while working to transform our industry,” said CEO Jim Vena to the audience of 170-plus honorees, guests and executive hosts. “This success was driven by the excellence of our people, and I could not be prouder of tonight’s recipients.”Vena created the awards to celebrate the teams who pursue the possible and achieve it. The nine award categories are tied to the pillars of Union Pacific’s Safety, Service and Operational Excellence strategy: Safety, Service, People, Asset Utilization, Cost Leadership, Growth, and the best-performing Transportation, Mechanical and Engineering teams. This year’s winners included a tie for the Spirit of Union Pacific Award.A cross-departmental committee selected award recipients from nearly 260 employee submissions and used performance-based metrics to identify the best-performing Operating teams. With the winning groups ranging in size from 9 to 1,600 employees, leaders selected representatives to attend the in-person recognition event and accept a trophy created from a slice of authentic Union Pacific rail.Winning teams will hold local celebration events to acknowledge all employees who contributed to their award win, displaying the trophy and thanking them with a special CEO Excellence Awards coin and pin. “We’re here as a group to win and be the best,” Vena said. “There is nothing we can’t do together, especially when we have the support of the loved ones who are with us today.”J.C. Kenefick Safety Award: John Varnell, locomotive engineer, Transportation“John’s teammates know him as someone who listens fi...