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ARM Founders and Board of Directors |
In the early 1980's five local "railfans" noticed that there was no official or organized attempt to preserve and protect the artifacts relating to Arizona's railroad history. By 1983, the five railfans founded and incorporated the Arizona Railway Museum as a non-profit (501-C-3) organization dedicated to the preservation of Arizona's railroading history.
| Founders |
| (listed alphabetically) |
| Bob Alkire |
| R.J. "Bart" Barton |
| Tim Honetschlager |
| Ron Schofield |
| Mike Warden |
The Arizona Railway Museum is governed by a six* member Board of Directors (plus the five* lifetime Founders). The term of office for each Director is two years with half of the seats being elected each year (a staggered board). Each year, the Directors nominate and approve candidates for the positions of President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary. Approved candidates that are not elected Directors, have no voting rights during motions presented to the board. Other titles are assigned as necessary.
* Note: In 2004 one Founder relinquished their seat on the Board of Directors, allowing the addition of one elected Director for a total of seven elected Directors (plus four lifetime Founders).
| 2023 Board of Directors | |
| Larry Benedict | President / Secretary |
| RJ "Bart" Barton | Vice President of Operations (Founder) |
| Steve Whisel | Vice President of Administration |
| Craig Shields* | Treasurer |
| Pete Cook** | Director / Editor "Chandler Branch" |
| Dianne Roberson* | Director |
| Pete Russo* | Director |
| Andy Szabo | Director |
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* Elected on 1/29/2023 at the Annual Membership Meeting. |
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| ** Filling the remainder of term for Rob Smalley. | |
| 2022 Board of Directors | |
| Larry Benedict* | President / Secretary |
| RJ "Bart" Barton | Vice President of Operations (Founder) |
| Steve Whisel* | Vice President of Administration |
| Craig Shields | Treasurer |
| Andy Szabo* | Director / Editor "Chandler Branch" |
| Dianne Roberson | Director |
| Rob Smalley* | Director |
| Pete Russo* | Director |
| John Meise* | Director at Large** |
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* Elected on 1/30/2022 at the Annual Membership Meeting. |
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** Participates in museum board meetings but a non-voting position. |
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| 2021 Board of Directors | |
| Larry Benedict | President |
| RJ "Bart" Barton | Vice President of Operations (Founder) |
| Steve Whisel | Vice President of Administration |
| Craig Shields* | Treasurer |
| OPEN* | Secretary |
| Andy Szabo | Director / Editor "Chandler Branch" |
| Dianne Roberson* | Director |
| Rob Smalley** | Director |
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* Elected on 1/31/2021 at the Annual Membership Meeting. One position unfilled. |
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** Rob Smalley appointed 8/14/21 by ARM Board to fill remaining term of Al Wenger (deceased). |
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| 2020 Board of Directors | |
| Larry Benedict* | President |
| Tom Klobas | Director |
| RJ "Bart" Barton | Vice President of Operations (Founder) |
| Steve Whisel* | Vice President of Administration |
| Craig Shields | Treasurer |
| Andy Szabo* | Secretary / Director / Editor "Chandler Branch" |
| Dianne Roberson | Director |
| Al Wenger* | Director |
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* Elected on 1/26/2020 at the Annual Membership Meeting. |
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| 2019 Board of Directors | |
| Larry Benedict | President |
| Tom Klobas* | Director |
| RJ "Bart" Barton | Vice President of Operations (Founder) |
| Steve Whisel | Vice President of Administration |
| Craig Shields* | Treasurer |
| Andy Szabo | Secretary / Director / Editor "Chandler Branch" |
| Stan Garner | Director |
| Dianne Roberson* | Director |
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* Elected on 1/27/2019 at the Annual Membership Meeting. |
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| 2018 Board of Directors | |
| Larry Benedict* | President |
| Tom Klobas | Director |
| RJ "Bart" Barton | Vice President of Operations (Founder) |
| Steve Whisel* | Vice President of Administration |
| Craig Shields | Treasurer |
| Andy Szabo* | Secretary / Director / Editor "Chandler Branch" |
| Stan Garner* | Director |
| Jim Byrne | Director |
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* Elected on 1/28/2018 at the Annual Membership Meeting. |
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| 2017 Board of Directors | |
| Larry Benedict | President |
| RJ "Bart" Barton | Vice President of Operations (Founder) |
| Steve Whisel | Vice President of Administration |
| Craig Shields* | Treasurer |
| Andy Szabo | Director / Editor "Chandler Branch" |
| Stan Garner | Director |
| Tom Klobas* | Director |
| Jim Byrne* | Director |
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* Elected on 1/29/2017 at the Annual Membership Meeting. |
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| 2016 Board of Directors | |
| Tom Klobas | President (non-voting) |
| Larry Benedict* | Director (Assistant to President) |
| RJ "Bart" Barton | Vice President of Operations (Founder) |
| Steve Whisel* | Vice President of Administration |
| Craig Shields | Treasurer |
| Karen Chmiel | Executive Secretary / Gift Shop Co-Manager |
| Andy Szabo* | Director / Editor "Chandler Branch" |
| Stan Garner* | Director |
| Fred Stout | Director |
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* Elected on 1/31/2016 at the Annual Membership Meeting. |
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| 2015 Board of Directors | |
| Larry Benedict | President |
| RJ "Bart" Barton | Vice President of Operations |
| Steve Whisel | Vice President of Administration |
| Craig Shields | Treasurer |
| Karen Chmiel | Executive Secretary / Gift Shop Co-Manager |
| Mark Redmond - Andy Szabo* | Director / Editor "Chandler Branch" |
| Stan Garner | Director |
| Fred Stout | Director |
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* Mark Redmond died unexpectedly on 10/10/15. Andy Szabo was selected/approved by the ARM Board to fulfill the remainder of Mark's term which ends in January 2016. |
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| 2014 Board of Directors | |
| Larry Benedict | President |
| RJ "Bart" Barton | Vice President of Operations |
| Steve Whisel | Vice President of Administration |
| Craig Shields* | Treasurer |
| Karen Chmiel | Executive Secretary / Gift Shop Co-Manager |
| Andrew "Andy" Szabo | Director / Standard Gauge Motive Power Superintendent |
| Mark Redmond | Director / Editor "Chandler Branch" |
| Russ Lassuy | Director |
| Stan Garner | Director |
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* Appointed by Board (non-voting) |
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| 2013 Board of Directors | |
| Larry Benedict | President |
| RJ "Bart" Barton | Vice President of Operations |
| Tom Klobas | Vice President of Communications |
| Russ Lassuy | Vice President of Physical Plant / Executive Secretary |
| Karen Chmiel | Treasurer |
| Andrew "Andy" Szabo | Director / Standard Gauge Motive Power Superintendent |
| Mark Redmond | Director / Editor "Chandler Branch" |
| Steve Whisel | Director / Curator |
| 2012 Board of Directors | |
| Larry Benedict | President |
| RJ "Bart" Barton (Founder) | Chief Operating Officer |
| Tom Klobas | Vice President of Administration |
| Craig Shields | Treasurer |
| Andrew "Andy" Szabo | Executive Secretary & Locomotive Foreman |
| Karen Chmiel | Director / Gift Shop Manager |
| Mark Redmond | Director / Editor "Chandler Branch" |
| Steve Whisel | Director / Curator |
| 2011 Board of Directors | |
| RJ "Bart" Barton (Founder) | President and Chief Operating Officer |
| Tom Klobas | Vice President of Administration |
| Michael "Mike" Margrave | Vice President of Legal Affairs |
| Craig Shields | Treasurer |
| Andrew "Andy" Szabo | Executive Secretary & Locomotive Foreman |
| George Barker | Director |
| Mark Redmond | Director |
| Karen Chmiel | Director |
| 2010 Board of Directors | |
| Tom Klobas | President |
| RJ "Bart" Barton (Founder) | Vice President of Operations |
| Michael "Mike" Margrave | Vice President of Legal Affairs |
| Craig Shields | Treasurer |
| Andrew "Andy" Szabo | Executive Secretary & Locomotive Foreman |
| George Barker | Director |
| Ken Dickinson | Director |
| Mark Redmond | Director |
| 2009 Board of Directors | |
| Tom Klobas | President |
| RJ "Bart" Barton (Founder) | Vice President of Operations |
| Michael "Mike" Margrave | Vice President of Legal Affairs |
| Craig Shields | Treasurer |
| Hal Whitehead | Executive Secretary |
| Andrew "Andy" Szabo | Locomotive Foreman |
| George Barker | Director |
| Ken Dickinson | Director |
| 2008 Board of Directors | |
| Tom Klobas | President |
| RJ "Bart" Barton (Founder) | Vice President of Operations |
| Michael "Mike" Margrave | Vice President of Legal Affairs |
| Craig Shields | Treasurer |
| Bruce Stadwiser | Executive Secretary |
| Andrew "Andy" Szabo | Locomotive Foreman |
| George Barker | Director |
| Ken Dickinson | Director |
| 2007 Board of Directors | |
| Tom Klobas | President |
| RJ "Bart" Barton (Founder) | Vice President of Operations |
| Michael "Mike" Margrave | Vice President of Legal Affairs |
| Andrew "Andy" Szabo | Chief Mechanical Officer |
| Craig Shields | Treasurer |
| Bruce Stadwiser | Executive Secretary |
| Russell "Russ" Lassuy | Director |
| Ken Dickinson | Director |
| 2006 Board of Directors | |
| Tom Klobas | President |
| RJ "Bart" Barton (Founder) | Vice President of Operations |
| Michael "Mike" Margrave | Vice President of Legal Affairs |
| Craig Shields | Treasurer |
| Bruce Stadwiser | Executive Secretary |
| Andrew "Andy" Szabo | Director |
| Russell "Russ" Lassuy | Director |
| Hal Whitehead | Director |
| 2005 Board of Directors | |
| Michael "Mike" Margrave | President |
| Tom Klobas | Vice President of Administration |
| RJ "Bart" Barton (Founder) | Vice President of Operations |
| Harold "Hal" Whitehead | Executive Secretary |
| Craig Shields | Treasurer |
| Russell "Russ" Lassuy | Director |
| Bruce Stadwiser | Director |
| Andrew "Andy" Szabo | Director |
| 2004 Board of Directors | |
| R.J. "Bart" Barton (Founder) | President |
| Mike Margrave | Vice-President - Legal |
| Dennis Warren | Vice President - Financial |
| Craig Shields | Treasurer |
| Hal Whitehead | Secretary |
| Tom Klobas | Director |
| Russ Lassuy | Director |
| Bruce Stadwiser | Director |
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Note: One Founder has relinquished their seat on the Board of Directors, allowing the addition of one Director. |
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| 2003 Board of Directors | |
| R.J. "Bart" Barton (Founder) | President |
| Mike Margrave | Vice-President - Legal |
| Dennis Warren | Vice President - Financial |
| Craig Shields | Treasurer |
| George Holt | Secretary |
| Hal Whitehead | Facility Manager |
| Sydney Holt | Director |
| 2002 Board of Directors | |
| R.J. "Bart" Barton | President |
| Mike Margrave | Vice-President - Legal |
| Dennis Warren | Vice President - Financial |
| Sydney Holt | Treasurer |
| George Holt | Secretary |
| Hal Whitehead | Facility Manager |
| Steve Whisel | Director |
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