Senior

Staff

Home
NOPB Info
Board and Staff
Staff

Board and Staff

Brandy D. Christian

CEO

brandy.christian@railnola.com 504.528.3201

Read Bio

Brandy D. Christian

CEO

brandy.christian@railnola.com

Brandy D. Christian serves as the CEO of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Corp., the short-line connecting railroad and subsidiary of the Port that manages $30 million in revenues and 180 employees.

Christian also serves as President and CEO of the Port of New Orleans, a public agency that manages revenues exceeding $65 million, nearly 300 employees and $200 million in capital projects. In this role, Christian oversees all cargo, cruise and industrial real estate operations.

Christian serves on the Green Marine Board of Directors, Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council, Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank Trade and Transportation Advisory Council, Louisiana Board of International Commerce, the World Trade Center of New Orleans Board of Directors, the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors and as the Cruise Committee Chair for the American Association of Port Authorities.

Before joining Port NOLA, Christian served 14 years with the Port of San Diego as vice president of strategy and business development.

M.D. "Mike" Stolzman

General Manager

mike.stolzman@railnola.com 504.896.7410

Read Bio

M.D. "Mike" Stolzman

General Manager

mike.stolzman@railnola.com

M.D. (Mike) Stolzman is the General Manager of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad. He began May 2019 and directs daily operations of the New Orleans Public Belt, including railroad strategy, safety strategy and process improvement initiatives.

Stolzman brings extensive short line and Class I rail experience. He served as President of the Pacific Harbor Line (Anacostia Rail Holdings), and has managed several short line and switching operations as an executive with Anacostia Rail Holdings including Louisville and Indiana Railroad and Gulf Coast Switching Company. His Class I experience includes multiple management positions with Union Pacific Railroad and CANAC, a subsidiary of Canadian National Railway. As a U.S. Army veteran serving as a combat arms officer, Stolzman has strong leadership skills accompanied with determination to rise to any challenge.

He holds a Master of Science in quantitative analysis from U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, a Bachelor of Science in zoology from Texas State University and is a graduate of the Defense Language Institute with a fluency in German.

Bobby Franklin

Vice President, Transportation

bobby.franklin@railnola.com 504.896.7412

Read Bio

Bobby Franklin

Vice President, Transportation

bobby.franklin@railnola.com

Bobby Franklin is the New Orleans Public Belt’s Vice President, Transportation. As CTO, Franklin champions the safety program while ensuring the highest service standards for Class 1 and local customers. Franklin joined NOPB in 2017 as Superintendent. Before joining NOPB, Franklin was the Superintendent of CSX’s Boyles Yard in Birmingham, Alabama. He also served CSX as Terminal Manager in Montgomery, Alabama and performed other supervisory roles across the CSX system. He began his rail career in 2002, as Yardmaster in Pensacola, Florida. Franklin holds an Associate’s Degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and is a graduate of the University of Maryland’s Business Leadership School.

Carl Kocur

Vice President, Engineering

carl.kocur@railnola.com 504.896.7423

Read Bio

Carl Kocur

Vice President, Engineering

carl.kocur@railnola.com

Carl Kocur is the New Orleans Public Belt’s Vice President, Engineering. Kocur joined NOPB’s management team in November, 2014, coming from Palmetto Railways where he served as Director of Engineering and Maintenance. Kocur began his railroad career over 15 years ago as trackman and has also held the positions of equipment operator, regulator operator, tamper operator, track inspector and Roadmaster. He continued to expand his knowledge through several years spent working for a rail contractor building industry track in the Midwest. Prior to his career in the railroad industry, he worked as a safety instructor teaching OSHA courses. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Butler University.