Paul Heffernan
Summary
I feel with my extensive and unique background with CP Rail, and my role at SAIT as an Instructor for the Railway Conductor Program. I have the ability to not only instruct the rules required for the position, but to provide real life experiences focused on the topic which generates an understanding rather than just reading comprehension.
Overview
44
44
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Instructor
SAIT Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Calgary, AB
09.2015 - 08.2022
- Instructed the Rules portion of the Railway Conductor Program.
- Instructed Business of Railway of the Railway Conductor Program.
- Instructed Railway Safety of the Railway Conductor Program.
- Responsible for introducing students to the safety and regulatory portions of the Railway Conductor Program.
- Attended RAC (Railway Association of Canada) meetings in Ottawa, Ont.
- Attended Industrial Rail Conference in East Edmonton, Ab.
- Redesigned portion of the Rules Curriculum for the Railway Conductor Program.
Management Engineer
CP Rail
Calgary, AB
06.2011 - 09.2015
- Responsible to run empty and loaded coal trains in and around the Sparwood, BC. area during rail strike.
- Responsible to be in position to run trains when union personnel are unavailable to do so.
Management Conductor
CP Rail
Calgary, AB
09.2010 - 06.2011
- Responsible to be A-Card qualified and to ensure recertification every 3 years.
- Responsible to be A-Card qualified in all methods of control including OCS (Occupancy Control System), and CTC (Centralized Traffic Control).
- Responsible to be in position to run trains when union staff are not available to do so.
Operations Manager (OM)
CP Rail
Calgary, AB
06.2004 - 09.2010
- Responsible to manage train crews at both the home and at the away from home terminals (AFHT).
- Ensure train crews are rested and prepared for duty at the AFHT.
- Participate in multiple daily Operations Conference calls to coordinate different corridors of travel.
- Directly manage RTC's (Rail Traffic Coordinators).
- Responsible for the reporting of all minor and major rail incidents including the handling of dangerous goods.
- Responsible for the reporting of rail incidents involving trespassers, vehicles, and fatalities.
Train Yard Coordinator (TYC)
CP Rail
Calgary, AB
01.2003 - 06.2004
- Participate in daily conference calls with the NMC (Network Management Center).
- Navigate both Inward and Outward trains departures and arrivals.
- Make a plan or job briefing with other management positions (towers) in operations.
- Coordinate with other trades such as the Car Dept and the Maintenance of Way employees.
Class Yard Coordinator (CYC)
CP Rail
Calgary, AB
06.2002 - 01.2003
- Responsible for the safe and correct marshalling of 48 different Classification tracks in a busy rail yard.
- Directly supervise multiple train yard crews.
- Safely ensure the clearing of rail hump tracks to ensure incoming trains arrivals.
- Communicate directly with another rail tower in a busy rail yard to ensure a job briefing is completed.
Pulldown Tower Coordinator (PDC)
CP Rail
Calgary, AB
06.2000 - 06.2002
- Quickly learned new skills and applied them to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity.
- Responsible to direct traffic in a fast moving rail yard
- Produce switchlists for train crews to switch out safely and correctly cuts of railcars based on destination.
- Responsible to schedule a 24hr team desk with 5 staff members.
- Responsible to keep my A-Card qualifications updated every 3 years.
- Proficient radio skills required to communicate directly with multiple train crews at the same time.
- Ability to multi task in a fast paced Safety Critical position.
Intermodal Operations Coordinator (IOC)
CP Rail
Calgary, AB
06.1999 - 09.2000
- Responsible for the coordination of incoming and outgoing trains into the Intermodal facility.
- Responsible for removing SBU's and replacing them further up in the train.
- Responsible to make cuts, spot, and secure railcars for loading and unloading.
- Communicate via radio directly with train crews for yarding instructions to ensure safe movement through the intermodal yard.
- Worked flexible hours; night, weekend, and holiday shifts.
- Proved successful working within tight deadlines and fast-paced atmosphere.
- Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships.
Intermodal Train Coordinator (ITC)
CP Rail
Calgary, AB
06.1996 - 05.1999
- Quickly learned new skills and applied them to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity.
- Carried out day-day-day duties accurately and efficiently.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Worked flexible hours; night, weekend, and holiday shifts.
- Responsible for the correct loading of railcars with Intermodal containers.
- Responsible for Block loading according to destinations.
Chief Clerk
CP Rail
Calgary, AB
09.1995 - 06.1996
- Provided quality clerical support through data entry, document management, email correspondence and overseeing operation of office clerical staff.
- Interacted with customers by phone, email or in-person to provide information.
General Clerk Inward and Outward
CP Rail
Calgary, AB
06.1987 - 09.1995
- Responsible for running paperwork for train crews going outward and arriving trains as well.
Checker and Crew Bus Driver
CP Rail
Calgary, AB
04.1987 - 09.1995
- Responsible to physically check that the railcars in a particular track are in the correct order and Marshalled correctly.
- Responsible for the safe transportation of Train crews and personnel in and around a busy rail yard.
Education
High School Diploma -
St. Francis High School
Calgary, AB06.1985
Skills
In my most recent role as the Rules Instructor the last 7 years of Instructing this course It has proven to be successful by SAIT student feedback and the recent 92% job placement rate in the industry
Throughout my seven years of being an Instructor with the Conductor program at SAIT I have:
Utilized extra time with my students so that they are proficient in learning the content of this program This has included providing them with my phone number to answer questions they may have pertaining to their studies Providing them with feedback on exams and then ensuring that they gain the knowledge not just marks My relationship with my students is evident in the fact that years later they call or text me to talk about their accomplishments, to ask me for guidance in their careers or situations that occur at work, and to update about their careers in the railway
I attend info sessions to speak with both students and parents who are interested in the program
Each year our student population consists of students arriving with diverse back grounds, cultures, needs, and identities ( Autism spectrum, … Learners, transgender, females, males, LBGTQ, multiple diverse cultural backgrounds) It has always been important to me to create a safe learning environment for all the students When issues have arose, students have felt comfortable and safe enough with me as an instructor to bring challenges forward I have gone out of my way to help all the students understand and respect the diversity of each other so that they are able they all able to gain awareness of themselves and others, resolve differences, respect differences, learn what is and how to create a learning and working environment among diversity The hope is that they will carry these learnings which will benefit them in their relationships withing their future careers
I keep up to date with the yearly changes that occur within the rail industry, particularly regarding rules, safety and employment opportunities by ensuring that I speak several times throughout the year and within each semester with professional conductors at all the railways whom are our biggest student employers This allows me to pass current and relevant information to our students so that they are industry ready for employment
Certification
- Certification acquired from a week long Adult Learning Course in Toronto, Ont.
- A-Card Certified multiple times in my 28 year career.
- Attended Rail Traffic Control School and qualified as a RTC.
- Attended 2 different Instructional workshops offered by SAIT.
- Attended and qualified to teach Rail Car Mover and Rail Car Safety and Securement for SAIT.
Timeline
Instructor
SAIT Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
09.2015 - 08.2022
Management Engineer
CP Rail
06.2011 - 09.2015
Management Conductor
CP Rail
09.2010 - 06.2011
Operations Manager (OM)
CP Rail
06.2004 - 09.2010
Train Yard Coordinator (TYC)
CP Rail
01.2003 - 06.2004
Class Yard Coordinator (CYC)
CP Rail
06.2002 - 01.2003
Pulldown Tower Coordinator (PDC)
CP Rail
06.2000 - 06.2002
Intermodal Operations Coordinator (IOC)
CP Rail
06.1999 - 09.2000
Intermodal Train Coordinator (ITC)
CP Rail
06.1996 - 05.1999
Chief Clerk
CP Rail
09.1995 - 06.1996
General Clerk Inward and Outward
CP Rail
06.1987 - 09.1995
Checker and Crew Bus Driver
CP Rail
04.1987 - 09.1995
High School Diploma -
St. Francis High School
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