High Speed Rail

March 16, 2010  7:00pm  FREE

The first Strand Lecture Series program for the 2010 season will be presented by Dennis Hodges from the Indiana High Speed Rail Association.   Rail fans are everywhere.    This topic is very important to Shelby County since our the rail line from Indianapolis to Cincinnati that dissects Shelby County is a federally designated High Speed Rail Line.

Our Lecturer:  Dennis Hodges

Born and raised in Gary, Indiana, W. Dennis Hodges lived in Chicago, Illinois for 20 years, and Paris, France for five years. He received a degree in English and history from Valparaiso University in 1975, and combined together, his education and residency set the stage for his professional life. From a myriad of experiences, Dennis has practiced the profession of organizing corporate events for, in particular, foreign diplomats visiting the Midwest.

His assignments have come from among the various foreign consulates, the International Press Association and the United States Information Agency. Some of the more notable assignments have been being a host to the president of Macedonia and the Transportation Ministry from the People’s Republic of China, business news editors from 16 international news organizations and leaders of the French Senate and the British Parliament.

For his commitment to improve Sino – American relations, the People’s Republic of China recognized Dennis, in 1994, with a first-ever citation given to a United States citizen.

During his travels, Dennis has ridden the high-speed passenger rail systems of Europe and found them to be an enormous convenience to the traveler. For this reason, he organized, in 1992, the Indiana High Speed Rail Association, which has since served as a formidable advocacy to bring Indiana and the Midwest into a national discussion over high-speed rail and other ground transportation issues. Dennis has since coined the term “synergistic transportation” and advocates for the funding and implementation of the Midwest Regional Passenger Rail System, a nine-state, 3,000-mile 21st century passenger rail system criss-crossing Indiana and the Midwest.

Being a consultant to the former Washington-based High Speed Ground Transportation Association, Dennis has organized an expansive and formidable network of equipment manufacturers, consulting firms, foreign trade offices, and labor and business groups; e.g., chambers of commerce, all committed to bringing about high speed rail to Indiana and the Midwestern United States.  He is now a member of the High Speed Rail & Commuter Train Committee of the American Passenger Transportation Association.

With an early interest in foreign relations, Dennis enjoyed, in 1980, discussions with then Paris mayor Jacques Chirac, who later became the president of France, and with the United States Ambassador to France, Arthur Hartman. In the late 1990’s, Dennis formed a friendship with China’s Ambassador Li Zhaoxing, and who went on to become China’s influential Foreign Affairs Minister. As a result of these associations, Dennis is routinely invited to meet with foreign diplomats and trade counselors.

For recreation, Dennis enjoys architectural and landscape photography, travel, and reading historical accounts. Working with the Bakery House in Gary, Indiana, he teaches basic skills to “street people.” He also a community activist, chairs the Board of Communication Services at his Trinity Lutheran Church & School, mentors students and guest lecturers in communication skills at Valparaiso University. Dennis lives in Merrillville, Indiana.