GBW Railcar Services, a joint venture of Greenbrier and Watco Companies, has announced that it will open an office in Overland Park. The company, which delivers freight car repair services and monitors certification and maintenance requirements, will add 20 to 30 jobs in the next year.
“Overland Park was identified as a place where people we want to attract to our company like to work. That made it an obvious choice,” said Cheryl Balkenhol, chief financial officer of GBW Railcar Services. “We already have 22 team members in our beautiful new offices, though some of these team members had already worked in the area for Watco Companies LLC, one of our parent companies.”
GBW is the largest independent railcar repair network in the nation. With more than 2,100 employees, GBW plans to expand to other tank car services and repairs.
“GBW Railcar Services’ decision to locate business operations in Overland Park highlights Kansas’ thriving logistics industry and excellent infrastructure,” said Kansas Commerce Secretary Pat George. “The company will create good jobs in our state and contribute to the continued growth of this sector.”
“Continued investment in infrastructure, especially rail car, is necessary for this region’s economic prosperity,” said Overland Park Mayor Carl Gerlach. “Overland Park is an excellent location for GBW, whose expertise and growth will fit in perfectly with the city’s nationally recognized business environment.”