RTA TRANSITION 25 YEARS THAT REVOLUTIONIZED AN INDUSTRY Editor’s Note: The below was developed more than 25 years working to ensure from an interview with RTA Executive the industry remains safe, efficient and, RTA Executive Director Jim Gauntt Director Jim Gauntt in November 2019 in a word, the “best” it can be. With a by Nisus Corp.’s Jim Gorman and Ken career spanning more than 40 years, he consideration that it might be in the best Laughlin. Additional comments were amassed a remarkable record of success, interests of RTA and its members. Gauntt collected from Crossties interviews. including publishing RTA’s Crossties reflected on the difficult choice to step magazine, conducting training sessions on away from and organization and industry When Railway Tie Association (RTA) tie grading, and hosting the RTA Annual he loves. “When you find there are fewer Executive Director James C. Gauntt Symposium and Technical Conference. years in front of you than behind, you announced his plans for retirement, railroad Gauntt is also the published author of ultimately realize you should give greatest and manufacturing industry colleagues were numerous articles, papers and publications consideration to your family and spend as saddened. on the subject of wood tie research and much of that time with them as you can. American Short Line and Regional treated wood tie performance, and is a The RTA Executive Committee helping Association President Chuck Baker tweeted frequent speaker on wood preserving and me lay the groundwork for a successful an immediate reaction to learning that a tie industry subjects. transition was absolutely essential in my search for Gauntt’s replacement had begun. Retirement was something Gauntt only decision.” “The Railway Tie Association is looking for considered for a short period of time. He Gauntt’s transition will play out over somebody great to replace the irreplaceable had begun to suspect his ability to shoulder the next 15 months. He said he firmly Jim Gauntt upon his retirement next year,” the travel demands of the job might begin believes the succession process in place he said. “Blessedly, he will hang around for to ebb as time went on. Gauntt underwent will serve the membership well and that the some mentoring.” multiple spine surgeries from 2015- association will benefit with someone at the As executive director of the Railway 2019. Yet, the decision to retire earlier helm who will bring new energy and ideas Tie Association since 1995, Gauntt spent than anticipated was made easier by the to the association. Gauntt will continue to Gauntt presents Representative Mac Collins (as Sen. Charles Grassley looks Gauntt is pictured with RTA President Kenny on) with a Broad Axe for his service to the Dailey, right, presenting Jeff Parrett a service railroad Industry during one of his many award during the 2016 RTA Symposium. Railroad Day on the Hill visits. 18 CROSSTIES • MARCH/APRIL 2020 RTA TRANSITION serve as a resource to Mr. Ashley Goodin, For the new executive director, continuing who will take on the role of co-executive to prepare for the acceptance of new director on May 1. (See announcement technologies will be a motivating force; on page 25). there will always be something else coming, always some new technology “disrupting” Important Issues the industry. For The Future Of RTA Even though the focus on the incredible RTA objectives include increasing the value of RTA’s face-to-face events where growth of its volunteer base participating the merging of knowledge and networking in key areas and expanding upon the will always occur, Gauntt said, “The investment it takes to achieve more than industry also needs to embrace online 90 percent member engagement. Gauntt also learning in a greater way. Reaching the said RTA should focus on increasing short sawmiller with virtual learning will become line railroad membership and encouraging increasingly important.” He also said members to be transparent about automation will play a role in the future. Publicity photo for Gauntt's appearance processes and products. He said increased “The more members can automate, the in “South Pacific” in 1994. communication within the community more positions can become information of industry players will not only lead to technology-style jobs that will appeal to our better industry performance but will also industry’s next generation of workers.” foster greater tolerance and understanding when there are significant differing points A Look Back of views. Gauntt was born in Birmingham, Ala. His Ken Laughlin, wood preservation vice father, Paul Gauntt, born in Langdale, Ala., president at Nisus Corp. and longtime was an Auburn University engineering friend of Gauntt, observed that when he first graduate who later found his calling by served on the RTA Executive Committee, attending Candler School of Theology at there were no railroaders. Thanks to the Emory University on his path to ordination work of Gauntt and the committee members, as a Methodist minister. His mother, that changed. Janet (Whetstone) Seaman, was from Laughlin also noted that the procurement Alexander City, Ala., and graduated from session of the RTA Annual Symposium is the University of Montevallo en route to now one of the most popular sessions at the becoming an educator and business leader. symposium; people love it, he said. Gauntt developed a professional presence Gauntt said he sees the value of updating in the music world that began with his events, just like the RTA Executive solo work at Indian Springs School in Committee evolved, as essential to vibrancy Birmingham. That led to performances within any organization and said he enjoys throughout Europe and on the stage of the crafting engaging, must-attend sessions. Lincoln Center before the age of 17. His Gauntt and his wife, Susan. For example, because of the procurement work in theater also had depth, as he was a session’s success, RTA went from having regular, with lead and supporting roles, in now reside in Jacksonville, Fla., and Dallas, no sawmill industry leaders attending Birmingham’s Children’s Theatre, Actors Texas, respectively. conferences to dozens attending today. Theater, and multiple shows for the city’s After college, Gauntt was awarded a Gauntt said the next evolution in events and Jewish Community Center. scholarship to the Cumberland School leadership will be part of the fun and among In college, Gauntt collaborated in script of Law at Samford University but declined the first of many challenges for the new and music writing to produce the winning to continue studies there after his first association leader. musical of the 1976 Annual College Night semester. “I learned what I did not Another challenge for RTA’s new competition at the University of Montevallo, want to pursue rather quickly, so even executive director will be learning about where he also operated audio production though I could have continued, I decided on the changes over the last 20 years in wood services for the university’s Music another path.” preservation technology and preparing Department. That path led him to the wood treatment members for the next wave of innovation. Just prior to his 20th birthday, Gauntt industry in 1979. That’s when Osmose “It is a demanding hill to climb, but I know graduated, Cum Laude, with a bachelor of Wood Preserving Company of America from my experience with Ashley to date science degree in biology and chemistry. He (OWPCA), as it was known at the time, that our selection for executive director and his wife, Susan, were married in 1985 offered him a job. Over the next seven is definitely up to the task,” Gauntt said. and raised Marshall and Kristin Gauntt, who years, Gauntt rose to the position of director CROSSTIES • MARCH/APRIL 2020 19 RTA TRANSITION of codes and product acceptance and made a name for himself in the industry. His work there laid the groundwork for future efforts in associations as he became OWPCA’s primary liaison with several wood product and code groups. Gauntt’s primary tasks for Osmose involved fire-retardants that had been reengineered into the LHC brand—a low-hygroscopic formulation. Gauntt was given the task of marketing this new product to code bodies and architects and then selling the change to plants across the country. He had become an expert on the technical side of fire-retardant formulations, and, as the industry’s fire- retardant liabilities mounted over the years, Gauntt’s expertise was vital to the company. In 1986, prior to joining RTA, Gauntt Steve Thomas, then host of the PBS show, This Old House, learns from Gauntt joined an Osmose licensee, which also about Randall Brothers’ special place in Atlanta's craftmanship history. had a distinct century-long heritage. Randall Brothers Inc. (RBI), a family Gauntt recalled one of the last big change from such a secure position at RBI business established in 1885, was also an changes he played a role in at RBI. “RBI to a new employer seemed unfair to his architectural millwork and multi-channel was almost invisible to the population family. He later confided to his wife that he building materials distribution business. boom occurring in Atlanta. Every native wished the family situation had coalesced Gauntt had known the company primarily as Atlantan knew about us, but we had earlier so he had not felt compelled to turn an Osmose customer since it also operated missed connecting with the influx of new down the original RTA offer. Later, Susan a treating plant at the upscale commercial residents.” encouraged him to reach out to RTA to see and residential site now known as Atlantic That’s when Gauntt reached out to Steve if the position was still open.