NARSTCO & NCTD Announce Leadership Promotions: Key Roles Filled

NARSTCO and NCTD announce key leadership promotions, including Kristin Ward as NARSTCO’s GM. These moves ensure operational continuity for vital railway suppliers.

January 26, 2026 9:39 pm

🛑 Key Takeaways:

NARSTCO and NCTD announced key leadership promotions, filling senior operational and planning roles.
The appointments bring extensive internal experience, with NARSTCO’s new GM, Kristin Ward, having 17 years at the company and 30+ years in the industry.
These moves signal a focus on internal succession to ensure operational continuity for a key supplier and a major transit operator.

MIDLOTHIAN, TX – Steel tie manufacturer NARSTCO promoted three executives to senior roles on January 19, 2026, naming Kristin Ward as general manager. In a separate move, San Diego’s North County Transit District (NCTD) has elevated Ioni Tcholakova to director of service planning.

Company	Appointee	New Role	Key Experience / Tenure
NARSTCO	Kristin Ward	General Manager	30+ years executive leadership; 17 years at NARSTCO
NARSTCO	Craig Smethie	VP of Operations	20+ years manufacturing leadership; 6 years at NARSTCO
NARSTCO	Zachary Matheney	Customer Service Manager	Joined 2019 as QC Inspector; Promoted to Project Coordinator 2020
NCTD	Ioni Tcholakova	Director of Service Planning	Joined 2021; previously Manager of Service Planning

Leadership Profiles & Responsibilities

At NARSTCO, Ward’s promotion to GM follows her role as director of customer service. Her 17-year tenure provides deep company-specific knowledge. Craig Smethie moves from director of operations to vice president, leveraging over two decades of manufacturing experience. Zachary Matheney’s promotion to customer service manager marks a rapid advancement since joining as a quality control inspector in 2019.

At NCTD, Ioni Tcholakova will now lead service planning. Since joining in 2021, she has managed major service changes, GIS analyses, and stakeholder engagement for NCTD+ micro-transit services. NCTD CEO Shawn Donaghy cited her leadership in shaping key service improvements.

Market Impact Analysis

NARSTCO’s appointments signal a strategy of promoting from within to maintain operational stability. Elevating long-tenured leaders like Ward and Smethie ensures continuity for the manufacturer of steel ties, turnouts, and e-clips. This approach minimizes disruption and retains critical institutional knowledge.

NCTD’s promotion of Tcholakova highlights the agency’s focus on data-driven transit planning. Her rapid career progression underscores the value placed on analytical skills to manage complex route changes and innovative services. The move strengthens NCTD’s internal planning capabilities as it implements new initiatives.