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Powerbrace Corporation, a subsidiary of Miner Enterprises, announced that General Manager John Swezey has been promoted to company president, effective immediately. Having led Powerbrace as General Manager since 2011, John brings deep familiarity with the company, as well as decades of railcar industry experience, to his new role.

"Under John's leadership, Powerbrace has expanded its customer base and added new capabilities at their RPD gate and brake beam manufacturing facility, all while maintaining its stellar reputation for quality and innovation," said Ric Biehl, President and General Manager of Miner Enterprises. "This promotion ensures that the company will benefit further from John's strategic vision and industry insight."

"Miner's Powerbrace subsidiary is a premier brand name in the railcar component industry, and I am thrilled to take on this new role," said John Swezey. "I look forward to building on the success we have already achieved, and to working closely with Ric and his staff at W.H. Miner to develop strategic initiatives for all of the organization's products."

Prior to his promotion to President, John Swezey served as General Manager of Powerbrace, with responsibility for the company's operations in Kenosha, Wisconsin, as well as its manufacturing facility in Saltillo, Mexico. A graduate of the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology at Northern Illinois University, John began his career as an engineer with Chamberlain GARD, later holding executive positions with railcar leasing companies GATX and CIT Rail.

An industry leader for more than 120 years, Miner Enterprises designs and manufactures a wide range of railcar components, including side bearings, outlet gates, draft gears, and brake beams. The company's Powerbrace subsidiary recently implemented an advanced powder coating line in its Mexico facility, in addition to earning Certified Welding Fabricator accreditation and ISO 9001:2008 certification.