A Record Setting Year for Watco's Mechanical Services Team
SEPTEMBER 2022 — When most people are winding down for the day, Conductor and Engineer Matthew Davis is just starting a night shift at the Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad (DREI).
Among other duties, Davis inspects and switches railcars that primarily move grain-related commodities including soybeans and corn. Unofficially, he serves as a mentor and friend to his teammates on the DREI.
Davis joined the DREI in 2019 after working 10 years for a Class I railroad. It didn’t take him long to adjust to Watco’s culture: value our customers, value our people, and safely improve every day.
General Manager Nicholas Guinn said, “Besides being a book of knowledge on all things railroad, he works hard and always has a smile on his face. His positivity is contagious.”
Senior Trainmaster Matthew Nicol agrees. He said, “He’s been a star team member since day one. He never cuts corners and is the first to volunteer for extra shifts.”
When he’s not at the DREI, Davis volunteers as a firefighter and EMT in his hometown of Oakland, Illinois. Serving the community is a family tradition that started with his dad, and one he’s continued ever since he turned 18 years old.
“Matt is everything you want in a team member,” Nicol said. “He likes to be part of the action whether it’s at work or helping others in the community.”