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Tag: SWARS

  • SWARS Conference 2023

    SWARS Conference 2023

    SWARS Conference 2023

    A Recap of the Exciting SWARS Conference 2023

    swars conference 2023 golf tournament
    A view from the golf course.

    The SWARS Conference 2023 brought excitement to Coronado, Calif., in September, and it was an event to remember. The beautiful weather added an extra layer of magic to the occasion.

    SWARS Conference 2023 Golf Tournament

    The event included a golf tournament that was held on September 27 with an 8 a.m. tee-off time (shotgun start) at Steel Canyon Golf Club. There was a nice turnout of 145 golfers who enjoyed the spectacular vistas of the lovely San Diego area.

    The competition featured various hole contests, including “closest to the pin,” “longest drive,” “straightest drive,” “longest putt,” and even a thrilling “$10,000 hole-in-one” contest.

    All proceeds from this event went to the George J. Elking Jr. Scholarship Fund.

    Also on Sept. 27, SWARS treated attendees to a delightful wine-tasting event. It was a perfect opportunity for participants to savor some exquisite wines, socialize and enhance their overall experience of the conference.

    Conference highlights

    2023 conference

    The SWARS Conference 2023 was held at the beautiful Loews Coronado Bay Resort on September 28, and TGB Group was proud to take part as one of 35 exhibitors.

    The conference was an all-day affair, running from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

    Highlights included:

    • Captivating keynote speeches
    • An STB (Surface Transportation Board) update
    • Panel discussions
    • Prestigious awards
    • Invaluable networking opportunities

    The event boasted an impressive turnout, with nearly 700 registered attendees!

    SWARS (Southwestern Association of Rail Shippers) truly delivered a fantastic experience with its SWARS Conference 2023. The event combined golf and insightful conference sessions for all its participants.

    Learn more about the 2023 event >>

    Learn more about SWARS >>

    Don’t miss the SWARS 2024 Annual Meeting

    The SWARS 2024 Annual Meeting is scheduled for March 5-6 in Galveston, Texas. Get ready for an unforgettable experience with:

    • Inspiring keynote speakers
    • Engaging workshops and sessions
    • Networking opportunities
    • Cutting-edge industry insights
    • Fun and relaxation in Galveston

    Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to connect, learn, and grow in the beautiful surroundings of Galveston, Texas. Mark your calendars now and stay tuned for more updates. SWARS 2024 will be an event to remember.

    The TGB Team

  • Here’s a recap of the 2023 SWARS Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas

    Here’s a recap of the 2023 SWARS Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas

    TGB Group was excited to be a conference sponsor and be part of the activities

    SWARS 2023 Annual Meeting

    The SWARS 2023 Annual Meeting held March 29-30, 2023, took place at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk Hotel this year.  There was a great selection of speakers, and TGB Group helped to sponsor the Food, Wine & Mezcal Tasting Event.

    A highlight of these meetings is the networking opportunity for rail industry professionals.  It’s helpful and fun to mingle with and really get to know people who are usually the face of an email.

    Fundraising at the SWARS 2023 Annual Meeting

    SWARS 2023 annual meeting
    TGB Group’s Mike Murphy (r.) and colleagues at the SWARS 2023 Annual Meeting.

    At the Southwest Association of Rail Shippers Annual Meeting this year, funds raised during the various events went to benefit the George J. Elking Scholarship Fund.

    The George J. Elking Jr. Scholarship Award was created to help individuals throughout the SWARS region achieve their educational and career goals.  SWARS would love it if the recipients ended up with careers in the logistics and transportation fields, but the association is excited to help deserving individuals regardless of their chosen career paths.

    Scholarship funding is provided for the school year beginning in the first fall semester that follows the notification of the award.

    SWARS events throughout the year

    The SWARS 2023 Annual Meeting was just one of many events the association sponsors each year.  The objective of the meetings and other events is to bring an open forum to professionals in the railroad, shipping and related industries.  It gives them the perfect opportunity to gather and discuss news and ideas that are important in their fields.

    Topics that we and other SWARS members and attendees discuss include service, car supply, scheduling, operating practices, technology and everything else that impacts our professional lives.

    Major conference events are held twice a year, in the spring and fall, at locations within SWARS’ territory.

    Learn more about the Southwest Association of Rail Shippers

    SWARS is open to everyone involved in rail transportation, including rail shippers and receivers, railroads, vendors, third parties, regulators and others.

    We’re looking forward to the next SWARS event – the 2023 Semi-Annual Meeting in San Diego!

    The TGB Team

  • 2021 SWARS Fall Golf Event: We had Fun for a Good Cause

    Brookfield Country Club

    2021 SWARS Fall Golf Event: We had Fun for a Good Cause

    TGB participated as a Beverage Cart Sponsor

    Once again, the SWARS Fall Golf Event & Scholarship Fundraiser was a great time to play some golf, win some prizes, re-connect with rail industry associates and most of all support the George Elking, Jr. Scholarship Fund.

    The tournament was held Sept. 29, 2021 at the Brookhaven County Club in Farmers Branch, Texas.  We love Brookhaven, which is made up of three awesome courses: the Master’s Course, the Championship Course and the President’s Course.

    The golf event is held annually, with proceeds from event fees going to benefit the Elking Scholarship Fund.  Well-known in the rail industry, George Elking, Jr. was president of the Southwest Association of Rail Shippers (SWARS) in 1995.  He went on to serve as president of the North American Association of Rail Shippers in 1998.

    We’re regulars at the SWARS Fall Golf Event

    swars fall golf event
    Our booth at the SWARS fall golf event

    This was the fifth consecutive year TGB Group has officially participated in the golf event.  Some of our employees have been attending special SWARS golfing events for more than 15 years.

    This year, we sponsored a beverage cart as a way to help raise needed funds for the scholarship.  But you can ask any of our team that attended, the enjoyment far outweighed the small participation and sponsorship fees.

    Friendly competition

    While none of us are “expert” golfers, we loved the competition that included contests for the longest drive, the straightest drive, the closest approach shot, the longest putt and the $10,000 hole-in-one challenge – which none of us won.

    For those of you who work in the rail industry, consider looking into attending a future SWARS Fall Golf Event.  You’ll have a great time and be helping out a good cause.

    Check out the Southwest Association of Rail Shippers website and learn about annual and semi-annual meetings, industry news and more.

    The TGB Team

  • SWARS Golfing Fundraiser in March in San Antonio

    SWARS Golfing Fundraiser in March in San Antonio

    We’ve been part of this exciting event for 15 years

    Once again, members of the TGB Group team were excited to participate in the SWARS golfing fundraiser and tournament held March 10 at the J.W. Marriott Resort in San Antonio, Texas.

    The tournament took place on two separate TPC courses: the Oaks and the Canyons.  One of the great things about golf in general and the SWARS golfing fundraiser in particular is the beauty of the courses and the enjoyment and peace you feel when you’re out there – no matter how well you can play.

    On the Oaks course, it was individual play by each golfer; on the Canyons course, it was a 4-person scramble.  Several different holes on the Canyons course had various competitions such as the longest drive, straightest drive, closest approach, longest putt, etc.

    TGB Group was proud to sponsor hole #1 on the Canyons course, which was the straightest-drive contest.

    Golfing fundraiser proceeds

    While we’re all out there having fun, we keep in mind that the proceeds from each SWARS golfing fundraiser go to benefit an important cause.  The last few events have benefitted the George Elking Jr. Scholarship Fund.

    George Elking Jr. was SWARS president in 1995.  In 1998, he served as president of the North American Association of Rail Shippers in 1998.

    Everyone at TGB Group believes strongly in education, and we’re always ready to support events that give educational opportunities to deserving people.  We’ve been involved with the SWARS golfing fundraiser for 15 years and started sponsoring holes in the tournament in 2016.

    In all, about 200 golfers from rail-industry companies take part in the SWARS golfing events.  There’s a feeling of unity and brotherhood as we go out there and make every attempt to hit the golf ball in the direction we want it to go.  We’re just a fun bunch of professionals – at railroad services, not golf.

    Learn more about the Southwest Association of Rail Shippers (SWARS).

    The TGB Team

  • TGB Group Sponsors Golf Fundraiser Event

    TGB Group Sponsors Golf Fundraiser Event

    Nearly 200 Rail Industry Golfers Participated

    For the fifth consecutive year, TGB Groups has helped to sponsor the annual golf fundraiser held by the Southwest Association of Rail Shippers (SWARS). This year’s event happened at the Trails of The Woodlands club in The Woodlands, Texas.

    The October 2, 2020 golf fundraiser event was attended by 196 golfers from companies associated with the rail industry.

    TGB group sponsored the 7th hole on the Oaks Course, one of two courses at the Trails of The Woodlands. For this hole, the winner would be the golfer who could hit the longest drive. That honor went to Mark Dearing, owner of Vertex Builders.

    Other incentives at the SWARS golf fundraiser included the longest putt, the closest approach shot and a $10,000 hole-in-one challenge.

    Golf fundraiser benefits a scholarship fund

    As in years past, the golfing event raised money for the George Elking, Jr. Scholarship Fund.

    Elking is known within the rail industry, having served as SWARS president in 1995 and then as president of the North American Association of Rail Shippers in 1998.

    TGB Group is always excited to play in the golf fundraiser event and help support the Elking scholarship. Our employs have participated for the past 15 years, and we’ve been a proud hole sponsor since 2016.

    The large turnout of nearly 200 golfers shows the unity of many companies within the rail industry. We’re like a brotherhood – and sisterhood – who have built multiple industry connections and always enjoy getting reacquainted with the folks who make railroads run.

    SWARS meetings

    The golfing event fundraisers are held twice a year, always in conjunction with official SWARS meetings. We encourage individuals and companies in the rail industry to be part of the meetings, where critical information is discussed and to get involved in the golf fundraiser as a player or sponsor, where a good time is always guaranteed.

    Here’s a recap of our last SWARS golfing event.