The C&TS management and Commission are not just working well together, they are now
welded together. What was once a triad consisting of the Commission, the operating contractor, and the Friends, is now a dyad. The Commission provides the governance and hires a CEO who manages the railroad. The Friends of the C&TS represents the auxiliary arm and has more flexibility to solicit donations from private foundations - something that would be difficult for a governmental entity to do.
This restructuring, along with hiring a very capable/experienced CEO, has made all the difference. I think for the first time, all the business interests are pretty much aligned compared to the conflicts we had in the "good old days." Like any organization, problems will occur, but there is now a more rational and professional
structure in which to resolve them. None of this in any way impugns capable/managers in previous times that toiled hard under often adverse conditions. Rather, the current management team now has a more corporate-like environment to function in.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/21/2020 04:26PM by Brian Shoup.