The Belt Railway Company of Chicago

Christopher Steinway

General Counsel, Secretary & Director Human Resources

Christopher Steinway leads the BRC’s Legal, Corporate, Risk Management and Human Resources functions. He aids the company in achieving its strategic goals by providing relevant, accurate and practical advice to his colleagues. 

Steinway joined the BRC immediately after completing law school in 2009 as Manager Labor Relations & Human Resources, gaining fundamental knowledge of railroad labor relations and human resources in the process. A 2012 promotion gave Steinway greater autonomy over those functions. He was promoted again in 2016 when he became General Attorney. His focus broadened to include various subjects, including legal, corporate and regulatory matters, as well as government affairs. 

While he counts marrying his wife and raising his two daughters as his greatest achievement, he was proud to be promoted to General Counsel in January 2020.

Steinway majored in both history and Spanish while earning a bachelor’s at Purdue University before earning his Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago in 2008.

Away from work, Steinway races sailboats, having crewed six Chicago Yacht Club Races to Mackinac, as well as one Bayview Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, and many other smaller regattas and distance races since he began practicing the sport in 2006.

Brian Dilger

Chief Financial Officer

Brian Dilger oversees finance at the BRC. Focused on continuous improvement for all accounting processes, he’s a valued partner to the railroad’s business departments.

A Certified Public Accountant with over 24 years of experience, Dilger has demonstrated his expertise in accounting, analysis and financial reporting and planning with firms such as CNA Insurance, GATX Corporation, GE Capital and CIT Group. He’s cultivated professional relationships across the globe thanks to his varied work experience. 

Dilger was an Academic All-American football player while earning an accounting degree at University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois. He’s married and has three children.

Terry Hartwig

Superintendent Safety

As Terminal Superintendent, Terry Hartwig works to ensure that safety, service and value permeate everything Transportation does so it adds value to the lives of BRC employees and customers, as well as members of the communities across the railroad serves. Inspired to be a positive force in people’s lives, he is focused on providing employees with the tools they need to succeed, including professional development. 

After taking his present role at age 34 in 2019, Hartwig helped lead Transportation to a 721-day reportable injury-free record and was named an honorable mention by Railway Age Magazine in its annual list of “Fast Trackers Under 40.”

Hartwig has worked his entire career at the BRC, starting as a Conductor in October 2011. He also served as a Trainmaster, Manager of Terminal Operations and Assistant Superintendent of Transportation. 

Hartwig holds a sociology degree from Western Illinois University and added a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Columbia Southern University amid full-time duties at the BRC. He also earned a certificate in railway management from Michigan State University. 

Hartwig is married with two children. In addition to quality time with his family, he enjoys coaching baseball and playing golf.

Adam Brock

Chief Mechanical and Engineering Officer

As Superintendent of Mechanical, Adam Brock leads Mechanical and provides oversight for locomotive servicing and shop operations as well as freight car inspections and repair. Additionally, Brock is responsible for strategic long-term planning to advance the BRC’s key performance indicators. 

Brock came to the BRC in September 2020 from Union Pacific where he was a senior manager of terminal operations for the railroad’s Chicago Service Unit. He attended the University of Missouri, where he double majored in agriculture systems management and mechanical engineering.

Brock then began his railroad career with Union Pacific as an operations management trainee (OMT) at the DeSoto Car Shop in 2012. Later, he held various roles in Union Pacific’s Mechanical department, including Mechanical director for the Chicago, Sunset, and Los Angeles service units.

Along with his vast experience in rail operations from around the country, Brock brings a wealth of knowledge in continuous improvement and LEAN principles that have proven results within the industry.

Outside of work, Adam enjoys traveling, outdoor activities, and spending time with his wife and two children.

Michael Martinez

Director Business Development/Car Operations

In overseeing development and enhancements to the BRC’s train management system (TMS), Michael Martinez has helped modernize the railroad’s cyberinfrastructure by cultivating and guiding a team of railroad technology professionals.

He began his career at the BRC in 1995 as a Car Operations Clerk. After working as a Switchman, Hump Conductor, Yardmaster, Dispatcher and Trainmaster, he became a Manager of Train Operations in 2007. Three years later, he was promoted to Director of Agency and Customer Service. He assumed the Director of Business Technology Solutions role before taking on his present duties.

Robert (Bob) Whitlock

Director of Information Technology

Robert Whitlock manages Information Technology (IT) for BRC, which includes overseeing positive train control (PTC), cybersecurity, Belt Apps and the company’s network.

With professional roots in mainframe computer programming, Whitlock worked for Wabtec from 2010 to 2016, ascending to the role of director of system engineering and earning the nickname “the PTC whisperer.” During his tenure with Wabtec, he helped to install the first PTC system in the world in Brazil for MRS Logística. He worked more than five years with Canadian National as manager of train control systems and senior manager-critical systems operations before joining BRC.

Whitlock has loved trains since childhood; his father was a yardmaster for the Rock Island Railroad for 33 years.

Away from work, Whitlock enjoys time with his wife and three children, as well as fly fishing.

Jordan Busson

Terminal Superintendent

He began his railroad career as a conductor with CSX in 2014. Busson continued his career with what is now the CPKC Railroad as a trainmaster before starting with BRC in 2018 in the same capacity. He’d then work as terminal manager and assistant superintendent of transportation before assuming his current role in 2023.

Busson holds a bachelor’s in communication from The Ohio State University and served in the Ohio Army National Guard for six years as a member of the airborne infantry.

He enjoys the outdoors, travel, hunting and golfing.