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Rail as a lever you can pull, not a line item you absorb.
Most leadership teams only see what rail costs them. Fewer see what better rail operations return: faster equipment turns, less dwell, and a lower total cost of ownership. The Prairie Line runs the operation, measures it, and stands behind the numbers, so rail shows up in your results, not just your expenses.
We take the operation off your plate and onto our shoulders. We integrate at every level of your operation, meet your shift supervisors twice a day, and reach every loadout at the start of each shift to plan it together. We set clear KPIs from day one and measure ourselves against them to keep the highest standard long after the contract is signed.
Beyond the leadership team, The Prairie Line draws on relationships across the Class I railroads, the FRA, the STB, public authorities, unions, and trade groups. When a question needs the right expert, we know who to call.
Aaron Broyles, President
Aaron Broyles is the President and Co-Founder of The Prairie Line. A third-generation railroader, he has launched two railroads, including The Prairie Line, and businesses across several industries, from software development to consulting, in the commercial and public sectors, including work with the Department of Defense.
An author and former radio host, Aaron has appeared on international radio and television programs and speaks on leadership and entrepreneurship for corporations and conferences.
He serves on several corporate and non-profit boards and is a graduate of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where he sits on the School of Business board.
At The Prairie Line, Aaron has assembled a talented team of leaders and grown the business through a focus on strong leadership, high customer service, and an incredible culture.
Wade Hoffmann
Director of Business Development
Wade Hoffmann brings more than twenty-five years of railroad industry experience to his role as Director of Business Development at The Prairie Line.
He began his career with Union Pacific Railroad and went on to hold leadership roles with Hulcher Professional Services, Colo Railroad Builders, and TNW Corporation, with
experience spanning Class I railroads, short lines, industrial customers, and rail-service companies.
Wade joined The Prairie Line in 2026, where he leads business development and customer retention. He earned a BBA in Finance from Sam Houston State University.
Jennifer Whiteman, CFO
Jennifer Whiteman brings twenty-six years of railroad industry financial leadership to her role as Chief Financial Officer at The Prairie Line. She built her career at RailAmerica, rising through financial reporting, internal controls, and corporate and railroad accounting to Assistant Vice President and Assistant Controller.
She then served as Chief Financial Officer at Patriot Rail, where she oversaw the full financial operation: reporting, payroll, railroad and car accounting, revenue accounting, fixed assets, internal controls, budgeting, and financial planning and analysis.
At The Prairie Line, Jennifer oversees all financial transactions and reporting, bringing that discipline to a company built to stay privately held, debt-free, and well-capitalized. Outside of work, she supports local and national animal rescues and serves on her HOA board and committees.
Ethan Minich
Chief Mechanical Officer
Ethan Minich has spent nearly eleven years in the rail industry, working his way up from switchman to mechanic to operations manager before becoming Chief Mechanical Officer at The Prairie Line.
He leads the company's entire mechanical team and is responsible for every locomotive and piece of equipment the company runs, from maintenance and planning to the buying and selling of the fleet itself, the owned and
maintained power behind the company's 100 percent locomotive uptime.
What stands out most about Ethan is how much he enjoys the work and the people he does it with and for, and he never stops learning about his craft and the industry. Outside of work, he spends his time with his family and learning how to fix just about anything.
Alex Demoff, Asst. VP Operations
Alex Demoff serves as Assistant Vice President of Operations for The Prairie Line, bringing more than ten years of hands-on railroad operations experience to the role. He oversees daily operations, safety, and customer service across the organization, drawing on a practical, field-built understanding of what safe and effective rail operations require.
That perspective shapes how his teams run every site: proactively, safely, and with the customer's operation treated as their own.
Alex is committed to supporting The Prairie Line's continued growth while holding the standard customers count on, with safety, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction at the center of the work.
Todd Furlow, VP Operations
Todd Furlow has spent more than thirty years in the rail industry, with experience spanning a Class I railroad, regional and short-line operations, and industrial switching.
He began his career at Norfolk Southern as a
conductor and locomotive engineer, then rose through the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis from conductor to General Superintendent, responsible for transportation, mechanical, and engineering.
He has since managed industrial rail operations for major agriculture, steel, and food-ingredient producers and served as safety director for multiple railroads. As Vice President of Operations, Todd is responsible for operations at every Prairie Line location, bringing a career-long passion for safety excellence and customer relationships to the work.
Bill Broyles, Executive VP
Bill Broyles brings more than forty years of rail industry experience to The Prairie Line, including leadership roles with Illinois Terminal and Norfolk Southern, where his reputation for safety and service led to the
presidency of the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis.
Under his leadership, TRRA grew revenue
steadily while maintaining a low operating ratio and earned multiple Gold Harriman Awards for safety. Bill co-founded FTRL Railway and The Prairie Line with Aaron Broyles.
Mike Arnolds, Vice President
Mike Arnolds serves as Vice President of The Prairie Line, bringing more than twenty years of global transportation experience across land, sea, and air.
A former Navy pilot, American Airlines commercial pilot, and U.S. Customs drug-interdiction pilot, he went on to serve as a civilian leader at the United States Transportation Command, where he led cost-savings programs recognized across the Department of Defense. Rail-focused at The Prairie Line for the past year and a half, Mike carries a range of strategic duties along with hands-on leadership of the St. Louis railcar repair and track departments.
Outside of work, he swims, bikes, and runs, with multiple Ironman finishes and ultra distances behind him, drawn to anything that challenges the body enough to challenge the mind.
David Castle, Asst. VP Operations
David Castle brings a twenty-year railroad operations and project management career to his role as Assistant Vice President of Operations at The Prairie Line.
He launched his career at CSX as a conductor and advanced through progressively responsible management roles in safety and transportation, building a foundation in operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and team leadership.
Most recently, he served as a project manager for Class I system initiatives, leading project plans, budgets, and schedules while
holding the work to strict safety and technical standards. David brings that same strategic, results-driven approach to The Prairie Line, aligning people, process, and performance to deliver safe, efficient, and reliable service at every site.
Martha Stoffel, Controller
Martha Stoffel brings more than twenty years of transportation and logistics experience to her role as Controller at The Prairie Line.
She began her career in third-party logistics, holding leadership roles across human resources, accounts payable and receivable, and supply chain contract management. A graduate of Murray State University, Martha went on to serve as a federal investigator for the Department of Defense, where she was recognized by the Secretary of Defense as the Department of Defense Outstanding Employee with a Disability.
At The Prairie Line, she pairs fiscal stewardship with a genuine investment in the company's people, and she carries that same commitment into civic life as a current City Council member and past school board member.
Head of Marketing,
Executive Assistant to the President
Abigail Van Dyke is the Head of Marketing at The Prairie Line, where she also serves as Executive Assistant to the President. For anyone reaching out about marketing, media, or the brand, she is the first call.
Abigail began her career as a civilian Public Affairs Specialist for the U.S. Air Force, serving Air Mobility Command and the 375th Air Mobility Wing at Scott Air Force Base before becoming Community Engagement Chief for the 355th Wing at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. She holds a bachelor's degree in Public Relations from Mississippi College and a master's degree in Human Relations and Business from Amberton University.
Since joining The Prairie Line in 2024, Abigail has led marketing while keeping much of the company running behind the scenes, from the vehicle fleet to the technology her teammates rely on. Outside of work, she enjoys walking historical neighborhoods with her husband, hunting down the best matcha, and reading or painting in the evenings.