Miner Announces John Swezey as President and General Manager
GENEVA, IL, USA – Railcar component manufacturer Miner Enterprises, Inc. has announced the appointment of John Swezey as its President and General Manager, effective November 1, 2023. Currently head of Miner subsidiary Powerbrace Corporation, Swezey will take over duties from Ric Biehl, who is retiring after 47+ years with Miner.
"Leaders like Ric Biehl are difficult to come by, and equally hard to replace," said Swezey. "Under Ric's leadership, Miner has grown its global presence and reputation for providing innovative, engineering-driven solutions for many of the toughest challenges in railcar performance."
Since 2011, Swezey has served as general manager and then president and general manager of Powerbrace. The Kenosha, WI-based corporation is North America's leading manufacturer of lockrods, compression latches, swing door securement products, hinges and hardware for railroad rolling stock and highway trailers. In addition, Powerbrace designs, manufactures and fabricates Miner-branded outlets gates, brake beams and other railcar components through its Rail Products Division facility in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. Its Miner Grating Systems unit in Dallas, TX, produces premium industrial grating systems and specialty running boards for all types of railcars.
"Under John Swezey's leadership, I'm confident Miner will continue to deepen our collaborative relationships within the railroad industry," Biehl remarked. "His engineering expertise and command of manufacturing technologies, inventory optimization and data-driven distribution systems will benefit Miner and its customers in countless ways. I couldn't be leaving the leadership team in better hands."
With more than 127 years of experience in railcar equipment design and manufacturing, Miner Enterprises is one of the industry's top suppliers of draft gears, brake beams, gates, constant contact side bearings, and other high-performance components. The company's products are currently used across North America and by international railroads worldwide.