U. S. Steel Names Managing Director-Transportation, President-Transtar
05/14/2009 - United States Steel announces the appointment of Thomas Kelly as Managing Director - Transportation and President of Transtar, the company's transportation subsidiary.
United States Steel Corp. announced the appointment of Thomas Kelly as Managing Director—Transportation and President of Transtar, Inc., the company's transportation subsidiary. Kelly succeeds John C. Pranaitis, who elected to retire after 39 years of service with the company. The change was effective May 1.
"John's knowledge of the transportation industry and his commitment to the companies he served during his 39-year career has played an important role in U. S. Steel's efforts to efficiently and effectively service our customers," said Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer John H. Goodish.
In his new position as Managing Director—Transportation, Kelly, 53, will be responsible for various aspects of transportation and logistics at U. S. Steel’s North American facilities. He will also oversee operations at the railroad and barge companies that comprise Transtar, Inc. He will report to Vice President—Supply Chain & Customer Service John C. Price.
"The steelmaking process depends on the timely, cost-effective transportation of raw materials and finished products to and from our facilities every day," Goodish explained. "Tom's diverse operations background and leadership experiences will help us ensure that our transportation services remain responsive to both internal and external customer needs."
Kelly began his career at U. S. Steel in 1978 as a laborer at Gary Works. He was promoted through a number of supervisory positions in steel production, ironmaking and casting at Gary Works and Fairfield Works in Fairfield, Ala., before advancing to Division Manager—Steel Production and Casting at Gary Works in 1996. Over the next six years, he progressed through similar roles in iron production and at the plant's hot strip mill.
Kelly was named Vice President and Managing Director at U. S. Steel Kosice (2002), and was later named President and General Director of the newly formed U. S. Steel Serbia (2003) when U. S. Steel completed its purchase of Serbian steelmaker Sartid a.d. Kelly later returned to Gary Works as Plant Manager—Primary Operations (2005), later advancing to Plant Manager of U.S. Steel’s Midwest Plant (September 2006). He assumed his most recent position, General Manager—Blast Furnace Engineering & Technology, in March 2008.
Pranaitis, 63, began his career in 1969 as a procedure technician in data processing at the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad Co. During his 39+ years in the transportation and logistics services fields, Pranaitis advanced through increasingly responsible positions at several transportation companies under U. S. Steel's ownership, including Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad Co.; Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Co.; Union Railroad Co.; Pittsburgh & Conneaut Dock Co.; and Duluth, Mesabi and Iron Range Railway Co.
Pranaitis was appointed Assistant Vice President—Marketing for Transtar (1995), later returning to the Duluth, Mesabi and Iron Range Railway Co. to serve as General Manager (1997). He was later named Vice President—Marketing for Transtar (1999), the Vice President—Midwestern Operations (2001) after Transtar became a wholly owned U. S. Steel subsidiary. In 2003, Pranaitis was named President of Transtar and one year later added the duties associated with Managing Director—Transportation for U. S. Steel to his area of responsibility.
Pranaitis graduated from Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., with a bachelor's degree in economics in 1967. He also attended the graduate business program at American University in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Steel’s Transtar, Inc. subsidiary comprises the following railroad and barge companies: Birmingham Southern Railroad Co.; Delray Connecting Railroad Co.; Fairfield Southern Co.; Gary Railway Co.; The Lake Terminal Railroad Co.; McKeesport Connecting Railroad Co.; Mobile River Terminal; Texas & Northern Railway Co.; Union Railroad Co.; and Warrior & Gulf Navigation LLC.
