Railway Age / RT&S Women in Rail 2024

Registration, conference sessions, and breaks take place in the Lincoln Ballroom of the Union League Club, 6th floor 

Our conference moderators include:
Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor, Railway Age
Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor, Railway Age
Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor, RT&S

November 4

5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Registration & Badge Pick-up Sponsored by R. J. Corman
5th floor, Parlor

November 5 

8:00 a.m.
Registration & Badge Pick-up Sponsored by R. J. Corman
Continental Breakfast Sponsored by Canadian Pacific Railway Company (CPKC)
6th floor, Lincoln Ballroom

9:00 a.m.
Welcome!

9:05 a.m.
Opening Session with Beth Whited, President, Union Pacific  
Learn more about the first female president in the history of Union Pacific and join the conversation about industry diversity and inclusion in this opening session with Beth Whited, who for the past 35 years has led multiple functions across the Class I railroad—spanning Strategy, Marketing and Sales, Sustainability, Finance, Investor Relations and Workforce Resources—and was a founding member of UP’s LEAD (Lead, Educate, Achieve, Develop) women’s initiative. Whited is also a 2021 Railway Age Women in Rail Honoree.  

Moderators: Railway Age and RT&S Editors 

Opening Session Sponsored by TrinityRail 

9:35 a.m.
Allyship and Industry Inclusivity  
Allyship and inclusivity aren’t just buzz words. They not only translate directly into the recognition of an individual’s or project’s contribution to the organization or community at large, but also mean fostering an environment of support. Our panelists will reveal how their companies strive to uphold a culture of respect, sensitivity and acknowledgement. 

• John Orr, Executive Vice President & Chief Operations Officer, Norfolk Southern
• Dewayne Swindall, Vice President of Transportation, Norfolk Southern (recently President and Chief Executive Officer of Indiana Rail Road)
• Ronnie Hakim, Senior Vice President, National Transit and Rail Market Sector Leader, HNTB Corp. (Railway Age Women in Rail, 2020)  

Moderator:  Barbara W. Wilson, Senior Advisor, Railroad Financial Corporation (Railway Age Women in Rail Awards Judge)

10:05 a.m.
Coffee Break Sponsored by Union Pacific

10:20 a.m.
Mentorship  
Mentorship has been a vital element of many successful careers. Whether peer-to-peer and organically developed, or assigned as part of a dedicated program, the mentor-mentee relationship fosters skillset expansion, exposure to new industry sectors, and a greater understanding of the big picture. For this session, we’ll bring together mentorship advocates to highlight the advantages of this connection and ways to develop it throughout your professional journey. 

• India L. Birdsong Terry, General Manager & Chief Executive Officer, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
• Joseph Giulietti, Vice President and Director of Rail Transit Services, Americas, TYLin

Moderator & Panelist: KellyAnne Gallagher, Chief Executive Officer, Commuter Rail Coalition (Railway Age Women in Rail Awards Judge) 

10:50 a.m.
Innovation Spotlight Presented by AITX
Tina Beckberger Chief Commercial Officer, AITX
Erica Ray, Vice President of Commercial Leasing, East Canada, AITX

11:05 a.m.
Advancing Your Career  
Today’s professional journey is about more than doing a job well. AI-based candidate selection, social media prevalence, and revised work/life balance expectations are just a few of the elements to take into consideration as you advance your career. Whether you want to move forward in your current position or make a larger leap, our panelists will have advice. They’ll cover asking for a raise, building your skills portfolio, leveraging in-person and online networks, supporting employee mental health and so much more.  

• Dyamond Scales, Director of Talent Acquisition, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)  
• Amanda Miller, Vice President, Human Resources, Manufacturing and Leasing Groups, Trinity Industries
  
• Josie Curtis, Vice President, People Services, R. J. Corman Railroad Group (Railway Age Women in Rail, 2023)  
• Michelle Mullen, Vice President, Total Rewards, CSX  
• Monique Ferguson Stewart, Senior Advisor, Office of Regional Services, Federal Transit Administration

Moderator: Angela Schwarz, Senior Vice President Transit and Rail Systems, WSP 

11:50 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Awards Luncheon in Presidents Hall Sponsored by Canadian National
During this special networking luncheon, we’ll recognize the outstanding professionals chosen for both Railway Age’s 2023 Women in Rail Awards and RT&S’ 2024 Women in Railroad Engineering Awards.
2nd floor, Presidents Hall

1:30 p.m.
Our Industry: Freight and Passenger Railroad Legislative, Regulatory Update  
In this dynamic industry, legislative and regulatory changes are always on the horizon. What will upcoming changes look like, and how will they shape the industry moving forward? Experts explain during this fire-side chat.  

• Karen J. Hedlund, Vice Chair, U.S. Surface Transportation Board   
• Melissa Connolly, Assistant Vice President of Government Affairs, AAR   
• Ward McCarragher, Vice President Government Affairs and Advocacy, APTA   

Moderator: Thomas Prendergast, Executive Vice President, New York Metro Executive, AECOM 

2:15 p.m.
GATX Employee Experience: History and Culture
Innovation Spotlight Presented by GATX
Katie Hadenfeldt, Senior Vice President & Executive Director – Sales, GATX
Wes Lujan, Vice President, Government and Industry Affairs, GATX
Sue Marines, Vice President, Global Talent, GATX

2:30 p.m.
Passenger and Freight Rail Technology and Innovation  
Technology is always in flux, but this panel will keep you in the know when it comes to the latest innovations pushing our industry forward. Participants will explore AI and machine learning benefits, safety improvements through telematics, various advancements in alternative power sources, and much more.  

• Jean Savage, President and Chief Executive Officer, Trinity Industries    
• Matthew Dick, Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, ENSCO, Inc.   
• Michelle Bouchard, Executive Director, Caltrain (Railway Age Women in Rail, 2018)  
• Michael Miller, Chief Executive Officer, Genesee & Wyoming  
• Kyle Mulligan, Assistant Vice President of Operations Technology, CPKC   

Moderator: Patty Long, President, Railway Supply Institute 

3:30 p.m.
Energy Break Sponsored by Patriot Rail

3:45 p.m.
Change Management: Tips and Lessons-Learned  
Unlock the secrets of thriving in times of industry and corporate upheaval with Lynn Kelley and Sonia Bot. Dive into their captivating career stories and learn how top-level changes ripple down to every employee, partner, and customer. Kelley’s leadership in operational excellence and continuous improvement, along with Bot’s distinguished expertise in disruptive innovation and high-stakes transformations, offer a powerhouse of strategies to navigate and conquer industry and organizational shifts. Don’t miss this chance to learn from two globally seasoned trailblazers who have established unparalleled track records in turning change into opportunity.  

• Sonia Bot, Chief Executive, The BOT Consulting Group Inc. (Railway Age Women in Rail, 2020)  
• D. Lynn Kelley, Ph.D. (former Senior Vice President Supply Chain and Continuous Improvement, Union Pacific)   

Moderator: Carolina Worrell, Railway Age  

4:15 p.m.
Innovation Spotlight Presented by The Greenbrier Companies 

4:16 p.m.
Closing Session with Brandy D. Christian, Chief Executive Officer, Patriot Rail Company
Join Railway Age and RT&S Editors in conversation with Brandy Christian, who recently joined Patriot Rail as CEO. She will not only discuss her previous seven years leading the Port of New Orleans and New Orleans Public Belt Railroad, but also what is on the horizon now she is at the throttle of the Jacksonville, Fla.-based short line holding company.

Moderators: Railway Age and RT&S Editors  

4:45 p.m.
Networking Reception Sponsored by RailWorks Corporation
2nd floor, Presidents Hall

6:00 p.m.
Conference Day Ends 

November 6 

8:00 a.m.
Registration & Badge Pick-up Sponsored by R. J. Corman
Continental Breakfast Sponsored by UTLX
6th floor, Lincoln Ballroom

9:00 a.m.
Welcome Back for Day Two!   

9:05 a.m.
Opening Session with Hon. Jennifer Homendy, Chair, National Transportation Safety Board  
Confirmed earlier this year both to a second term on the NTSB and as its chairperson, Homendy is a career civil servant with a reputation for transparency and steadfast adherence to just-the-facts conclusions. Join Railway Age and RT&S Editors in conversation with Hon. Homendy who will not only shine a light on today’s safety landscape but also on her career journey. 

Moderators: Railway Age and RT&S Editors  

9:30 a.m.
Safety and Security  
From gender diversity and its impact on safety culture to public safety and railroad emergency preparedness, response, and recovery planning, this session will explore critical safety and security topics across passenger and freight railroading in the U.S. and Canada.  

• Julia Leone, PhD, Manager of Research and Organizational Development, Short Line Safety Institute  
• Mary Carlson Bis, Assistant Vice President, Response & Resilience, Emergency Management Division, Safety & Security Department, Amtrak (Railway Age Women in Rail, 2022) 
• Rebecca Robinson, Officer, Training and Development – Transportation, Safety, Canadian National 
  

Moderator: Sarah Yurasko, Senior Vice President, Law & General Counsel, ASLRRA; Chair, League of Railway Women   

10:15 a.m.
Innovation Spotlight Presented by API Global Solutions

10:30 a.m.
Coffee Break  Sponsored by Edna A. Rice Executive Recruiters, Inc.

10:45 a.m.
Women in the Field  
Learn how women today—including Railway Age and RT&S Women in Rail and Women in Railroad Engineering award honorees—are leading the way in the field, from communications and signaling to engineering and operating the locomotives that carry passengers as well as freight to their final destinations.  

• Paula Taylor, Manager, Transportation-Rail, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), (Former Assistant Supervisor of Locomotive Engineers, Metra) (Railway Age Women in Rail, 2023)  
• Nao Nishio, Manager of Engineering Technology, Brightline (RT&S Women in Railroad Engineering, 2023)  
• LaShelle Pearson, Business Development Manager RCSC, CN (former Officer Signals and Communications Projects at CN; Railway Age Women in Rail, 2023)  
• Additional panelist to be announced.    

Moderator: Evelyn Hawkins, President & Chief Executive Officer, IKJ Enterprises (Railway Age Women in Rail, 2022)    

11:30 a.m.
Research Review with Jacqueline L. Patterson, Co-founder & Vice President of Zephyr UAS, Inc. 
In this not-to-be-missed session, the latest research on the underrepresentation of women of color in railroad engineering will be presented by Jacqueline L. Patterson, Co-founder and Vice President of Zephyr UAS, Inc., and doctoral candidate in the Organizational Change and Leadership Program at the University of Southern California. Patterson is a Railway Age Women in Rail 2022 and an RT&S Women in Engineering 2023 honoree. 

Moderator: Jennifer McLawhorn, RT&S

11:50 a.m.
Closing Conversation: Chicago Perspectives 
Join the editors of Railway Age and RT&S in a discussion on passenger and freight railroading in Chicago and the power of partnerships.  

• Janice R. Thomas, Deputy Executive Director, External Affairs/Chief of Staff, Metra
• Sara Johnson, General Manager, Chicago Division, BNSF (Railway Age Women in Rail, 2020)  

Moderator: Marybeth Luczak, Railway Age

12:20 p.m.
Conference Sessions End

1:35 p.m.
Participants Gather for Tour of Metra’s 47th/49th Street Facilities, Sponsored by Wi-Tronix
2nd floor, Presidents Hall

Participation in this tour requires advance registration; there is a waitlist.

Attendees will walk approximately 1 block to the LaSalle Metra station and will be returned to that station at the end of the tour.

PPE will be provided. Make sure to wear closed-toe shoes without a heel. All participants are required to sign a waiver. 

1:50 p.m.
Participants Depart ULC

2:00 p.m.
Train Departs LaSalle

Metra’s 47th/49th Street facilities house the agency’s in-house railcar and locomotive rehab programs. As part of the tour, guests will visit the agency’s modern classroom space. They will also see the workshop and welding training areas for Metra’s Mechanical Department apprentice programs. The facility’s loading dock, storage area and railcar wheel truck rebuild area—upgraded in 2020—helped Metra increase the output of its rehabilitation program to 60 railcars per year.   

The tour will feature a stop at the 47th Street Diesel Shop. Locomotives used on the Rock Island Line are maintained at this location. The shop also houses Metra’s MP36 locomotive rehabilitation program. The loading dock area was reconfigured to add an enclosed crane, and the materials storage area was replaced with a new 17,500-square-foot facility.    

Enjoy learning about the forward-thinking Metra efforts to improve efficiency and service while maintaining a safe and enjoyable environment for its employees. 

4:30 p.m.
Tour Ends