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Dr. Bob Andrews has spent a lifetime transforming his personal passions into successful business and philanthropic pursuits. During his career, Bob has fought refinery and chemical plant fires, chased fugitives with his K-9 partner, investigated train wrecks, designed complex fire protection systems, restored vintage Pennsylvania Railroad Pullman cars, and kept our first responders safe. Bob is a passionate life-long learner and a highly regarded international lecturer having presented in the United States, Jamaica, France, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Poland, and Germany.

Bob’s formal education includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park (Dec 1980) and a Master of Science degree in Executive Fire Service Leadership from Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, AZ (Dec 2002). He earned a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree from Temple University’s Fox School of Business and Management, Philadelphia, PA, in May 2022.

Additionally, Bob is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program (2002) and a graduate of Michigan State University’s Railway Management Program (Feb 2009). In 2023, Bob was appointed to a three-year term as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Fire Protection Engineering in the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Bob has been a licensed Professional Engineer (fire protection branch specialty) in Texas for 38 years. He has been a Licensed Texas Peace Officer for 32 years and holds both Master Peace Officer and Instructor certifications. He is an internationally recognized police dog trainer and is currently commissioned as a Reserve Deputy Fire Marshal with the Bexar County (TX) Fire Marshal’s Office (non-paid peace officer). He is a proud Philadelphia native, and is equally proud to be an adopted Texan.

Bob is a Member (owner) of the Catalpa Falls Group, and also serves as its Managing Partner and Chief Engineer.

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Dr. John Gale, Vice President - Aviation for American Express leads AmEx's international flight department from three aviation bases in the New York City area. Most recently, John served as Director of Aviation for Nike in Portland, Oregon.

John has held numerous senior leadership roles in Fortune 100 companies as well as the military, notably as a Director and Senior Director of Aviation, Global Operations, Maintenance and Logistics. Originally from upstate New York, John has lived all over the United States and has spent a significant amount of time in various places around the globe primarily in Asia and the Middle East.

John is an International Captain, an FAA designated flight instructor and a former United States Marine Corps Officer with over 8,000 hours of total flight time, having earned type ratings in 9 different aircraft. John is an active member of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), former New Jersey Aviation Association board member, and recently served as an officer of the Pacific Northwest Business Aviation Association’s board of directors.

John’s formal education includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Finance from LeMoyne College, Syracuse, NY (May 1988), a Master of Business Administration degree from Boston University, Boston, MA (Sept 1996), and a Master of Science degree in Strategic Planning and Public Relations from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. (May 2015). John earned a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree from Temple University’s Fox School of Business and Management, Philadelphia, PA, in May 2022.

Additionally, John has earned a professional certification in Business Leadership and Change Management from Cornell University, completed the Aviation Safety Officer curriculum at the United States Naval Post Graduate School, and is a National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Certified Aviation Manager (CAM).

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A veteran of the railroad business, George Payne and his wife Marcia have owned the Catalpa Falls longer than the Pennsylvania Railroad did. Train enthusiasts both, George and Marcia have preserved and cared for the Catalpa Falls since 1972. Now as a partner of The Catalpa Falls Group, George’s extensive train knowledge serves as an essential element in helping the firm deliver authentic experiences to travelers.