2026 Event Information

56th Annual Event

May 26 - 29, 2026

Tampa, Florida

On Track for Change: Transportation, Energy, and Infrastructure in a Shifting World

General Attendee Cost: $1,200
Non-Industry Guest Cost: $600

RICA is excited to hold our 56th Annual Event in Tampa, FL, at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street!

The JW Marriott Tampa Water Street - MAIN HOTEL

Please book your hotel now! The JW Marriott Tampa Water Street is the primary hotel hosting the event. It tends to fill up quickly, and once it does, any remaining reservations will be handled by the Tampa Marriott Water Street. Both hotels are connected by a skybridge for easy access to the Annual Event.

JW Marriott Tampa Water Street (Main Hotel)

Address | 510 Water Street, Tampa, FL 33602

Phone Number | 813-221-4950

Room Rate | $279

Tampa Marriott Water Street (Overflow Hotel)

Address | 505 Water Street, Tampa, FL 33602

Phone Number | 813-221-4900

Room Rate | $239

Pricing and Registration

Book Hotel Room

⚠️ Hotel Booking Scam Alert

RICA has been informed of unauthorized third-party companies contacting attendees about hotel reservations.

These callers are NOT affiliated with RICA.

Please book lodging only through the official conference hotel links provided on this website or in official RICA communications.

If you receive suspicious calls or emails regarding conference lodging, do not provide personal or payment information.

For Sponsor and booth exhibitor information, click here.

Agenda

Tuesday, May 26
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Rail 201 Presentation
Fort Brooks Conference Room
1:00 PM-2:30 PM
Moderators:

Greg McComas, Senior Manager, Dimensional Clearances, BNSF Railway
Michael Hamilton, Clearance Manager, CSX

Open Top 201 Presentation
Fort Brooks Conference Room
2:30 PM-4:00 PM
Moderators:

Scott Van Gosen, Sr. Manager LARS – Open Top Loads, BNSF Railway
Chris King, Rail Clearance Manager, Logisticus Group

Panelists: TBD

AREMA Meeting
Fort Brooks Conference Room
4:00 PM-6:00 PM

Post-AREMA Dinner
TBD
6:00 PM-9:00 PM

Wednesday, May 27
––––––
Jim Ormsby Golf Tournament
The Eagles Golf Club

6:45 AM-3:00 PM

Golfers meet in the lobby of the hotel at 6:15 AM. Transportation is provided via buses departing at 06:45 AM. Buses return to hotel at 3:00 PM.

Non-Golfers Tour
Port of Tampa
9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Tour attendees meet in the hotel lobby at 9:00 AM. Bus transportation will be provided; buses depart at 9:15 AM.

1st and 2nd Timers Event
Gasparilla Room
4:30 PM-5:30 PM

Opening Reception
Ybor Ballroom
5:30 PM-7:30 PM

Thursday, May 28

––––––

Exhibition Breakfast
HB Plant Ballroom
8:00 AM-9:00 AM

Opening Ceremony
Ybor Ballroom
9:00 AM-9:30 AM

Hotel Safety Briefing, Opening Remarks, Color Guard, Antitrust Statement
Bill Walker – Lifetime Achievement Award – TBD

Keynote Speaker 1
9:30 AM-10:15 AM

Beth Ann Branch, President/Ceo Of The Port Of New Orleans, CEO Of NOPB

Keynote Speaker 2
10:20 AM-10:45 AM

Dr. Walter Kemmsies, Managing Partner, The Kemmsies Group
Derek Cutler, Principal, EBP Group

Break
10:45 AM-10:55 AM

BRIDGE 101
11:00 AM-11:25 AM

Wayne Duffett

Exhibition Lunch
HP Plant Ballroom
11:30 AM-12:55 PM

Port Panel
Ybor Ballroom
1:00 PM-1:45 PM

Nutrian Project Highlight
1:50 PM-2:30 PM

Greg McComas, Senior Manager, Dimensional Clearances, BNSF Railway
Kelli Collins, Sr. Vice President, SRT Transportation Solutions

Energy Industry Outlook
2:30 PM-3:15 PM

Wesley McCorkle, Siemens Energy

Break
3:15 PM-3:30 PM

Rail Clearance Panel
3:30 PM-4:30 PM

1st Day Wrap-Up
4:30 PM-5:00 PM

Kasgro & TTX Evening Event
Yacht StarShip
6:30 PM-9:30 PM

Arrival Time Dock: Tampa Convention Center, 6:30 PM

Friday, May 29

––––––
Exhibition Breakfast
HP Plant Ballroom
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Call to Order
Ybor Ballroom
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM

RICA Shippers Council
9:15 AM-9:45 AM

Theo Vallas, VP Power Generation & Rail Logistics, Luminary Logistics Solutions
Becky Dunn, Clearance Manager, BNSF Logistics

Power Market Innovations Panel
9:45 AM-10:15 AM

Break
10:15 AM-10:30 AM

Railcar Equipment Panel
10:30 AM-11:15 AM

Jessica Karcz, AVP, General Equipment & Asset Mgmt, TTX
Jeff Ketterman, General Manager, Kasgro Railcar Mgt- Kasgro Rail Corp

Railroad Siding Panel
11:15 AM-12:00 PM

Lunch
HP Plant Ballroom
12:00 PM-12:55 PM