Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
Railway Age is celebrating eight years of recognizing women who not only excel at leadership but also serve the community and drive industry change, paving the way for the next generation. This year, 25 railroaders earned the magazine’s Women in Rail award.
Established in 2017, the annual award is presented to railway industry women in the United States, Canada and/or Mexico for their outstanding leadership, vision, innovation, community service involvement, and accomplishments. In an industry typically dominated by men, their professionalism and hard work set an example for many in the freight, passenger, government and supply sectors.
“All of us at Railway Age congratulate this distinguished group of women,” Railway Age Publisher Jonathan Chalon reported on behalf of the judging committee, which included Railroad Financial Corporation Senior Advisor Barbara Wilson, Commuter Rail Coalition CEO KellyAnne Gallagher, and the Railway Age staff. “We are proud to honor these trailblazers who have a track record of breaking down barriers and helping to create industry opportunities for women.” In addition to the 25 honorees, seven women were selected for honorable mention in 2024. All will be featured in Railway Age’s November 2024 issue.
And the honorees are (in alphabetical order):
- Sanchita Banerjee-Jimenez, Deputy Director, Operations and Customer Experience, Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH)
- Kristin Bevil, General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer, Pinsly Railroad Company
- Carol Boehm, Vice President, Client Account Manager, Amtrak, FHWA, FRA, AECOM
- Christina Booth-Jackson, Vice President of Information Technology, R. J. Corman Railroad Group
- Henrika Buchanan, National Practice Consultant, Vice President, Transit and Rail Market Sector, HNTB
- Shornda Cadore, Procurement Director Americas, Alstom
- Tara Carpenter, Director of Revenue Accounting, Watco
- Ari Ferrand-Rodgers, Director, Organizational Development, New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (Railway Age Women in Rail 2023 Honorable Mention)
- Laura Fuentes, Project Manager for Tlaxcala and Sahagun, The Greenbrier Companies
- Amanda Hongisto, Director Design Engineering, CSX
- Katie Hower, Vice President, Network Strategy, Service Design and Innovation, BNSF Railway
- Tiffani L. Jenkins, Senior Vice President, Communications and Signaling, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) (Railway Age Honoree, 25 Under 40 Program for 2022)
- Sharon Khan-Kellman, Director–Occupational Safety Projects, MTA Long Island Rail Road
- Ashley King, Assistant Vice President Trucking & Rail Integrated Solutions, Norfolk Southern
- Andrea Niethold, Head of U.S. Public and Government Affairs, Government and Regulatory Affairs, CN
- Karen Philbrick, Executive Director, Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI), San Jose State University
- Lauren Roberts, Regional Vice President of Finance, Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services, Inc.
- Angela Schwarz, Senior Vice President, National Transit & Rail Systems Leader, WSP
- Jennifer Shea, Corporate Vice President, Global Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) and Regulator, Wabtec Corporation
- Tina Sheaves, Vice President Operations East, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC)
- Jocelyn Short, Chief of Staff to the President and CEO (Operations), Metrolinx
- Maria Graciela Trillanes Gallardo, Chief Commercial Officer, HGmotive Inc.
- Connie Vail, Vice President of Rail Services, Cathcart Rail / BIP Railroad
- Wendy Whalen, Vice President Supply Chain, Union Pacific
- Tracie Winbigler, EVP, Chief Financial Officer, Amtrak
Honorable Mention:
- Kirsten Bowen, National Director–Rail and Transit, Michael Baker International
- Erika Bruhnke, Chief Sales and Growth Officer, RailPros (Selected by Railway Age readers in 2023 as an Influential Leader)
- Solange de Blois, Assistant Director Mechanical Technology, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC)
- Gina Drinkwater, Shop Superintendent, Metra (Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation)
- Vicki Dudley, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, TTX Company
- Felicia Mosenfelder, Terminal Superintendent Operations, BNSF Railway
- Fay Pittman, Chief Engineer, Metrolinx
Railway Age Announces Women in Rail Honorees for 2024 – Railway Age