Media contact: Sonja Hall, community relations specialist, (253) 502-8223

Tacoma Rail Superintendent Paula Henry has announced that she will leave the City of Tacoma to serve as a senior executive at large for a private railroad company. Henry’s last day at Tacoma Rail will be March 31.

Henry has been Tacoma Rail’s superintendent since 2005, but has served a 23-year career with the City of Tacoma, with 10 of those years at Rail.

“This is a huge career move for me and a very personal decision,” said Henry. “In the rail industry, executive positions just don’t become available often. For me, it’s pretty much now or never.”

Henry is one of few female leaders in the rail industry.

“Paula has done extraordinary work for Tacoma Rail during her tenure with the City of Tacoma. We have been privileged to have had her as a part of our management team,” said Gaines. “She is a very high-energy executive and I am confident she will excel in her new position.”

Highlights of Henry’s career at Tacoma Rail include:

• Increasing Tacoma Rail’s revenues from $7 million to $21 million
• Implementing environmentally friendly locomotive fleet enhancements
• Writing and securing $30 million of state and federal grants for rail line improvements

Gaines will appoint Tacoma Rail Assistant Superintendent Alan Hardy as interim superintendent upon Henry’s departure. Hardy has worked at Tacoma Rail for nearly four years and has 34 years of experience in the rail industry as both a manager and road master.

“I look forward to leading Tacoma Rail because of the solid foundation that Paula has built,” said Hardy. “I will do what I can to make the transition in leadership seamless for the utility and its customers.”

Henry will relocate out of state to begin her new position.

For more information about Tacoma Rail visit www.tacomarail.com.

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About Tacoma Rail
Tacoma Rail is one of three operating divisions of Tacoma Public Utilities. It is municipally owned, but the Tacoma Public Utility Board serves as its governance. The City Council appoints the five non-salaried members. Tacoma Rail pays 8 percent of its gross earnings to the City of Tacoma's General Fund and 1.5 percent to the state of Washington.