CLEWISTON — South Central Florida Express (SCFE), a leading Class III rail service provider in central Florida, and U.S. Sugar, a South Florida-based sugarcane and vegetable farming and processing business, recently announced the promotion of Bob Lawson to Vice President of South Central Florida Express and General Manager of U.S. Sugar Railroad Operations.

U.S. Sugar’s railroad operations have been a cornerstone of the company’s history and overall success, and Lawson’s affinity for agriculture and trains made him a perfect fit.

“The efficient and reliable transportation of sugarcane to our mill is crucial to our operations, and Bob has played an integral role in that process for many years,” said U.S. Sugar President & CEO Ken McDuffie. “Under Bob’s leadership, I am confident our railroad operations will continue to thrive and contribute to the overall success of our company.”

Lawson earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Food, and Resource Economics and a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics, both from the University of Florida. In 1996, he began his career with U.S. Sugar as a Harvest Foreman at Boy and South Shore Farms.

Lawson has held many leadership roles, including Team Leader and Juice Operations Facility Leader at Southern Gardens Citrus Processing, Area 3 Manager in the Agriculture Department, and General Manager of Harvest Operations. Since 2011, Lawson has served as General Manager of Harvest and Railroad Operations, and in June 2022, he was named the General Manager of Railroad Operations.

Lawson was first drawn to agriculture growing up in Chiefland, where he worked on his uncle’s vegetable farm. He and his wife, Carlisa, raised their three children, Bryce, Carlie, and Luke, in Clewiston.