Palmetto Railways appoints Tarek “T” Ravenel as president and chief executive officer
August 24, 2026
Palmetto Railways, an enterprise agency of the state of South Carolina and a division of the S.C. Department of Commerce, today announced the appointment of Tarek “T” Ravenel as president and chief executive officer, effective Sept. 8, 2026. Ravenel’s proven track record in transportation and infrastructure leadership will steer the organization into its next phase of growth, investment and economic impact across South Carolina.
Ravenel brings more than two decades of leadership experience spanning freight rail, logistics, construction, economic development, infrastructure delivery and business operations. Throughout his career, he has successfully managed complex transportation initiatives, multimillion-dollar capital programs, public-private partnerships and stakeholder relationships that have strengthened supply chains and supported economic growth through the Southeast.
Most recently, he served as East Region Freight Rail Market Sector leader for HDR, where he led strategic rail initiatives for Class I railroads, short-line railroads, ports, transit agencies, industrial clients and public-sector transportation organizations throughout the eastern United States. His work included program management, capital project development, railroad operations coordination, environmental planning and stakeholder engagement for major rail infrastructure investments.
Prior to HDR, Ravenel spent nearly a decade with Palmetto Railways as the director of special projects and project manager while also serving on the organization’s senior leadership team. In those roles, he directed Palmetto Railways’ capital improvement program and oversaw planning, design, environmental review, permitting, procurement, property acquisition and construction activities for some of South Carolina’s most transformative freight transportation projects.
“Palmetto Railways has played a vital role in South Carolina’s economic development for generations, and I am honored to lead this outstanding organization,” said Ravenel. “Having spent much of my career helping develop and deliver projects that strengthen our state’s transportation network, I am excited to work alongside our employees, customers, South Carolina Ports, SC DOT and other partners and stakeholders as we continue investing in the infrastructure, relationships and innovation that drive economic opportunity across South Carolina.”
In addition to his rail experience, Ravenel has built a diverse leadership background across transportation, construction, logistics and business operations. As operations manager for Atlantic Coast Materials, he led the importation and distribution of construction aggregates through the ports of Charleston and Savannah, managing logistics, sales, customer relationships, terminal operations and business development activities.
A Charleston native, Ravenel earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the College of Charleston and has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to community service through non-profit advocacy. He previously served on the board of directors of Florence Crittenton Programs of South Carolina, where he held leadership roles as treasurer and vice president, and on the board of directors of Pay It Forward.
