People News: Hotstart, Frauscher Sensor Technology, HDR

Left to right: Casey Hall, Product Strategist/Market Manager, Hotstart; Andrzej Bartnik, Chief Technology Officer, Frauscher Sensor Technology; Laura Grams, Transit Planning Practice Leader, HDR.

Hotstart has elevated Casey Hall to Product Strategist/Market Manager. Also, Andrzej Bartnik is taking over as Chief Technology Officer at Frauscher Sensor Technology. And HDR has promoted Laura Grams to Transit Planning Practice Leader.

Casey Hall joined Hotstart, a designer and manufacturer of thermal management systems, in 2015. As Railroad Market Manager, he worked with railroads, installers and OEMs to reduce locomotive idling, fuel consumption and emissions across the U.S. and Canada. As part of Hall’s new role developing product strategies for all markets, he will move from the Hotstart Railroad Office in Merrillville, Ind., to company headquarters in Spokane, Wash., where he will work more closely with Hotstart’s sales, engineering and manufacturing teams. He will continue to lead the Railroad division. Mike Mustradi serves as Railroad Market Manager.

“Casey has done a great job in the rail market and now is in position to make a bigger impact,” Hotstart CEO Terry Judge said. “We are excited to have him in Spokane working closer with us. He has a lot of positive energy and loves working with people. Our business, employees and customers will benefit from his initiatives.”

Andrzej Bartnik has served Frauscher Sensor Technology, an axle counting and wheel detection system provider, since 2019 as Managing Director of Frauscher Poland. He will continue in that position and also serve as Chief Technology Officer of the global company. 

Prior to joining Frauscher, Bartnik held several strategic roles at Bombardier, including Product Owner, Chief Specialist, and Onboard and Wayside Equipment Department Line Manager.

“Given his extensive experience in this sector, Andrzej will focus on the development of our portfolio strategy, together with our experts, presenting Frauscher as the leading solutions provider across the rail industry,” Frauscher CEO Michael Thiel said.

Based in Houston, Tex., Laura Grams will work closely with transportation planning and transit leadership “to expand and diversify HDR’s transit planning offerings,” the company said. “She will build on her experience and knowledge of the firm’s services to elevate the practice and develop staff involved with policy, systems planning, corridor planning and development, funding, and operations and safety. Her work will span all transit modes, from paratransit and intercity passenger rail to bus rapid transit, commuter rail and more. Grams will help clients future-proof their investments while taking advantage of emerging transportation trends such as automated, connected, electric and shared vehicles, micro-transit, micro-mobility and Big Data.” 

With 17 years of experience, 13 of them with HDR, Grams has expertise in project management as well as transit service planning, including route structure, scheduling, ridership analysis and transit operations. “She also brings a high-level understanding of transportation development plans and regionally coordinated transportation plans,” HDR noted.”Her expertise and experience enables her to maximize the impact of HDR’s complementary, full project life cycle services.”

“I look forward to helping our clients deliver their critical mobility projects on time while being mindful of budgets,” said Grams.

“The transit industry is undergoing many changes from emerging trends, electrification of fleets and ridership recovery,” said HDR Global Transportation Planning Director Santanu Roy. “Leveraging HDR’s leadership in the transit space, Laura will be instrumental in guiding diverse teams and clients toward custom solutions that enhance transit corridors with smart and sustainable features.”