Established in 2016, our annual awards are presented to top North American railroaders under the age of 40 for making an impact in their respective fields or within their companies in the United States, Canada and Mexico. They represent freight and passenger railroads, as well as the supply and consultant/contractor and government communities. Candidates, who were required to be under age 40 as of Jan. 1, 2025, were judged on criteria that included industry experience and education, leadership skills, industry contributions, and community service involvement. “As in previous years, the quality of submissions highlights the capabilities of younger people across the breadth of the rail industry,” said former Michigan State Center for Railway & Education Nick Little, program judge. “It also showcases the diversity of work and skills necessary for the rail industry to function. I shall watch with interest to see how many of this year’s awardees become tomorrow’s leaders.”
“As in previous years, the quality of submissions highlights the capabilities of younger people across the breadth of the rail industry,” said former Michigan State Center for Railway & Education Nick Little, who was program judge. “It also showcases the diversity of work and skills necessary for the rail industry to function. I shall watch with interest to see how many of this year’s awardees become tomorrow’s leaders.”
While in high school in Britain, Little started his career with clerical and operating internships at Plymouth on British Rail’s Western Region in the early 1970s. He won a scholarship program with the British Railways Board that gave him a supply management degree plus training in all aspects of BR’s organization. Little then spent 15 years with BR in many locations, including Derby and London. In 1995, he came to MSU, initially for one year on loan to work on a research program, but stayed to follow his passion of helping to develop future generations of railway industry expert managers and leaders. He took charge of MSU’s Railway Management Certificate Program at the Broad College of Business in 2013 and retired in 2024.
CHAD BOUTET, AVP Engineering, Grants, Genesee & Wyoming
A 15-year railroad veteran, Boutet has teamed with federal, state, and local governments on more than 100 infrastructure projects that boost safety and upgrade operations for short lines and regionals across the Northeast and Midwest. He was instrumental in the recent round of the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program with five projects receiving awards. Additionally, Boutet has worked to improve Amtrak’s Vermonter route on the New England Central to update highway/rail grade crossings and signal systems. Looked upon as a subject matter expert, he is often asked to participate at industry events sponsored by such groups as the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Boutet is a registered Professional Engineer in Massachusetts, as well as Roadway Worker and GCOR (General Code of Operating Rules) certified. His goals are to continue working to improve safety for railroad employees, the public, and customers, and to establish and maintain solid working relationships with infrastructure partners at all levels.
BERT BRAY, VP–Commercial, Freight Car Services, Progress Rail, A Caterpillar Company
Bray takes a “learn by doing” approach and is committed to career development. Coming from a non-railroad background, he trained on Progress Rail’s shop floor to gain product experience, and during the course of six years has led three separate business units. When one facility had a labor shortage, Bray volunteered to work with the team, becoming a certified welder and assisting in production for a month. From 2021-23, he oversaw the locomotive brokerage business, placing dozens of locomotives that larger customers parked with short lines. In the future, Bray would like to take on cross-functional projects and junior team-member mentoring. He is licensed to practice law by the Alabama State Bar, and holds a graduate certificate in conflict mediation, management and negotiation from the University of Alabama. Bray has given back to his community by serving as President of the Marshall County, Alabama Bar Association, member of the Board and Executive Committee of the United Way of Marshall County, and Board member of the Albertville City Schools Foundation.
WILLIAM BROCK JR., Trainmaster, Louisville & Indiana Railroad, Anacostia Rail Holdings
Brock joined Louisville & Indiana Railroad (LIRC) as a trainman in 2016, following service in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he earned the Navy Achievement Medal twice, USMC Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal and National Defense Service Medal. Promoted to terminal manager in 2023, he was integral to the successful startup of rail operations at a customer’s new $600 million production facility. Brock’s focus on safety, efficiency and customer service allowed the facility to load more than 3,000 railcars in the first six months of its launch even while the customer worked through commissioning issues. His commitment was noticed, and he was elevated to trainmaster in 2024, responsible for all operations at this new facility, plus the southern half of LIRC’s main line. Adept at adopting new technology, Brock established remote control locomotive operations at the LIRC customer’s new production facility and supported Anacostia’s implementation of CedarAI’s ARMS Transportation Management System. Outside of work, Brock participates in LIRC’s service projects with the Kentucky-Indiana Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America and is an Operation Lifesaver Authorized Volunteer.
SARA CRABB, Manager Bulk, CN
Crabb began her career at CN 10 years ago at age 20. Starting as a rail traffic controller, she transitioned into management as a chief dispatcher in the Western Canada Operations Center and later became a supply chain manager for the Bulk Logistics team. As part of Bulk Logistics, Crabb quickly realized that the knowledge she was gaining would benefit her colleagues in dispatch, so she began providing them with insights to enable more effective business decision-making; she also provided opportunities for her new team to shadow the dispatchers. By fostering a culture of collaboration, Crabb ensures that employees are always ready to tackle challenges and delivering results that meet both customer and organizational objectives. The company and customers have recognized her efforts. In 2022, Crabb and her team earned a CN People Award for Excellence when they broke the record for the most grain unit trains of shipped to the U.S. Gulf. And a U.K.-based company that ships coal and iron ore with CN in the U.S. not only praised Crabb as one of the best railroad operations professionals it works with, but also her contributions to its logistics performance. Coming from a long line of family members who have worked for CN, Crabb gives back by participating in the Canadian railroad’s Christmas Train event at Walker Yard, and has connected with students to promote rail industry careers.
JONITA DELANEY, VP Technical Systems Integration Authority, Metrolinx
Over her 16-year passenger and freight rail career, Delaney has held leadership roles in asset life cycle management, engineering, maintenance and capital project implementation, and mentored 14 graduate engineers to become railway engineers. Among her Metrolinx successes: As VP Signals & Communication, Delaney oversaw a 21% reduction in safety risk at agency-owned level crossings, and as Director Signals & Communication, she transformed the way asset performance was managed and root-cause analyses of failures were conducted, and improved asset availability by 45% in just nine months. Earlier in her career as Deputy Chief Engineer and later Chief Engineer Signals & Telecommunications at Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, Delaney led a team that resignaled 60-plus control locations, as well as the development of a user requirement specification for a level crossing protection system. In her current, newly created role at Metrolinx in Canada, she coordinates railway level systems integration across all programs, projects, and maintenance activities to ensure rail systems are safe, operable, maintainable, reliable and performing at every transition phase.
ELIAS DERKE, Director, Project Engineering & Systems Integration, Wabtec Corporation
Whether it’s late nights with colleagues to complete a technical description or proposal estimate on time, or weekend production support to deploy new PTC (Positive Train Control) software or to fix a system outage, Derke is there, dedicated to leading his team of engineers with a collaborative approach. At Wabtec, he has designed, tested, and led teams to implement full turnkey PTC systems for MRS Brazil, CN, Caltrain, SFRTA, TRE, BRC, SunRail, Metro-North, Rio Metro, Brightline, NICTD, CBG Guinea, and AML Liberia; led an engineering team to automate all system integration lab testing, resulting in a 384% coverage increase with a 75% increase in efficiency when compared with manual testing; was responsible for the Xorail-Wabtec PTC hosted back-office service (WabtecCloud), supporting 14 short lines and five turnkey PTC customers’ production environments; and contributed to defining CSX standards for PTC programming, communications, and data management. Derke earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering, with a minor in mathematics, from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Va. He also is an MCC Configuring ITCM and a FrankinCovey Leadership Training graduate.
KENDALL FOLEY-HENDERSON, Assistant Director Intermodal Innovation, BNSF Railway
Leaders who can bridge the gap between traditional operations and innovative solutions are invaluable. Kendall Foley-Henderson, with 16-plus years of rail experience—from engineering to transportation—stands out as one of them. Among the projects she has participated in: leading the development of a maximum speed rules application for train crews, enhancing both safety and efficiency; helping to implement a paperless campaign during the pandemic that not only streamlined operations but also ensured employee safety; and working with the intermodal group to test and implement two new Terminal Operating Systems, one of which, for conventional facilities, was the first of its kind to be used by a railroad and by the intermodal industry. An advocate for the advancement of women and the next generation of leaders, Foley-Henderson is on the Board of BNSF’s Women’s Network and Chair of Women in Operations, which offers women in corporate roles shadowing experience in the field. BNSF named her Employee of the Year in 2020, 2021 and 2022, and recognized her achievement with awards for eight projects, including mentoring.
LAURA FOTIOU, Sustainability & Climate Resilience Manager, Amtrak
As the only full-time employee dedicated to overseeing the strategic development and implementation of the “Net Zero by 2045” program, Fotiou is leading significant change at Amtrak. The program includes decarbonization strategies for vehicles, rolling stock, stationary assets like offices, facilities, and the supply chain. With more than 10 years’ experience at Amtrak, Fotiou understands the intercity passenger railroad’s complex business needs and service plans. In the past year, she has successfully integrated net-zero considerations into key strategic areas, such as Amtrak’s 2040 Fleet Plan. Additionally, she oversaw the transition to renewable diesel in Amtrak’s California operations. Working with internal teams and three California Joint Powers Authorities, she led the decision process on how to phase in fueling locations and assessed the fueling mechanism at each. She coordinated procurement and provided support for data analysis. This work has paved the way for renewable diesel in Amtrak equipment. Fotiou is also part of the railroad’s Incident Response Team; she drops all personal and professional commitments to help customers and staff.
REED JANOUSEK, Assistant VP–Intermodal Sales, Union Pacific
A University of Nebraska Lincoln graduate, Janousek began his UP career in 2011 as a member of the freight railroad’s audit staff. Since then, he has developed skillsets in finance, operations and marketing and sales. In his current role, Janousek leads engagement and strategy for all domestic, international, parcel/LTL and beneficial cargo owner (BCO) customers. His focus is on intermodal growth, driven by converting over-the-road truck shipments to rail. This growth is supported by strategic investments in intermodal terminals across the UP network, including Los Angeles, Kansas City, Phoenix and the Twin Cities. In collaboration with his peers, Janousek designs new service offerings. His achievements include work on the new Phoenix Intermodal Terminal, which has generated incremental volume for UP, and improving communications among stakeholders and facilitating problem resolution by assigning sales employees to BCOs. Janousek continues to develop his expertise as a railroader and industry expert tailoring solutions for customers, which he shares as a presenter at Intermodal Association of North America events.
PATRICK JOHNSON, Chief Financial Officer, Pinsly Railroad Company
When Johnson joined Pinsly in 2022, accounting and finance was mostly outsourced and included only one full-time employee. The freight rail company also lacked a real estate department. As the new Chief Financial Officer, Johnson met the challenge, building a team of five full-time employees and developing a real estate division that has become an additional source of revenue for Pinsly. He also implemented ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and other technologies to boost efficiency. In addition to being responsible for successfully managing finances as they relate to several Federal Railroad Administration CRISI grant awards, Johnson has been instrumental in the acquisition and integration of five short lines in the past three years, providing analysis and guidance. Most recently, he served a key role in negotiations with Columbia County, Fla., where Pinsly established a railroad to operate at the North Florida Mega Industrial Park. Prior to joining Pinsly, Johnson worked at R.J. Corman and TerraPact, where he was involved in numerous M&A transactions, identifying targets, developing models and integrating new companies post-acquisition.
KIMIA KHATAMI, Director of Transload Strategy and Operations, Canadian Pacific Kansas City
After starting her career in marketing and sales at Union Pacific in 2014, Khatami was recruited by Anacostia Rail Holdings, moving up the ranks to serve as Director of Customer Service for Pacific Harbor Line and Corporate Senior Director of Business Development across six short lines. In 2017, her work to ensure PHL compliance with port regulations was recognized when she was nominated for AAR’s Environmental Excellence Award. In 2018, she became President of the Harbor Association of Industry and Commerce—the youngest leader in the organization’s history. Now at CPKC, Khatami leads a team responsible for sourcing opportunities that encourage partner investment and delivering projects that improve network fluidity and grow linehaul traffic. She is also responsible for identifying and implementing standardized operating practices across all CPKC sites. “Kimia has quickly become one of the industry’s most respected executives because of her intelligence, work ethic and commitment to excellence,” her nominator said. “Her work on industry changing legislation, efficiency, and technology is changing the way shippers and receivers view the railroad industry.”
GABRIEL J. LOPEZ-BERNAL, President, Icomera
Lopez-Bernal brings a key understanding of communications technology and network security to the rail industry as President of the North American region at Icomera, which provides wireless connectivity for transportation. Prior to his 2022 promotion to this role, he served for two years as the company’s Regional Vice President of Sales & Marketing and four years as Sales Director of Road and Transit Markets. In 2019, Lopez-Bernal secured Icomera’s largest North American technology contract with Metrolinx in Canada, totaling 1,475 end-to-end Wi-Fi installations across GO Transit’s fleet of 943 railcars and 532 buses. He spearheaded the idea of opening new revenue streams for GO Transit, allowing the offset of operational expenditures through corporate sponsorship, ads and free media content from selected partners. Under Lopez-Bernal’s leadership, Icomera successfully completed a critical Starlink data collection initiative for VIA Rail Canada. Previously, Lopez-Bernal collectively spent a decade as a consultant with TranSystems, U.S. Department of Transportation’s John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center and Corradino Group.
PATRICK MAGEE, Vice President of Transformation, AITX
When SMBC Rail Services was acquired by American Industrial Transport (AITX) in 2023, Patrick Magee was appointed to lead key aspects of the integration. He approached the challenge by focusing on alignment and communication and his success in unifying teams, systems, and processes led to the creation of the Vice President of Transformation role—a position designed to redefine AITX’s approach to the market. In this capacity, Magee has transformed AITX into more than a railcar lessor; he has integrated the company’s leasing and repair services into a cohesive, data-driven offering that provides customers with visibility, efficiency and innovative solutions. At AITX, he is a passionate advocate for initiatives that support underprivileged communities, particularly in the Chicago area. Magee’s drive for continuous improvement also led him to enroll in the prestigious Helios Strategic Management Program, a renowned Canadian leadership initiative that equips participants with advanced frameworks for strategic innovation and cross-disciplinary leadership.
CAROLINA MEDINA MURGA, SIG & Configuration & Change Engineer, Alstom Mexico
Medina Murga’s career in the railway industry began eight years ago with the Line 3 project of the Guadalajara Urban Electric Train System. Since then, her career has been significantly shaped by the Tren Maya project. She started as the coordinator for electrification, managing 60.3 kilometers (37.5 miles) of electrified double-track rail for section five, which spans from Playa del Carmen to Tulum. Today, Medina Murga is an integral part of the entire line with Alstom, overseeing the rolling stock and the infrastructure that keeps it running. Medina Murga has also been a highly active ambassador in the Alstom Corporate Social Responsibility area, promoting various activities among employees and encouraging their participation. She is also recognized as a natural leader and is currently participating in the AWE (Alstom Women of Excellence) mentoring program, with Maite Ramos, Managing Director of Alstom México, as her mentor.
JACKSON MITZ, Project Manager, Modern Railway Systems
As Project Manager at Modern Railway Systems (MRS), one of Mitz’s assignments included helping the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District build a new double-track project in Northwest Indiana. Mitz was instrumental in training everyone about the project’s environmental protocols through thorough planning of heavy equipment ingress and egress routes to limit or eliminate harm to existing flora. As Deputy Project Manager for the SW/MRS Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project, Mitz was responsible for 13 traction power substations and 450 OCS poles. To manage that work, he had to have extensive knowledge of power system components. Additionally, Mitz has broad knowledge and experience in the communications side of MRS’s transit systems work. He was a test engineer for communications projects at Sound Transit, and he was the senior test/communications engineer for the CATS BLE extension in North Carolina. Currently, Mitz is based in Charlotte, N.C. and attends board and other community meetings to make his presence and thoughts known regarding the need to grow transit opportunities in the area.
IDA MOLLOY POSNER, Vice President–Strategic Planning, Railroad Development Corporation
In her role as VP-Strategic Planning, Molloy Posner, a fourth-generation railroader, leads strategic planning and other initiatives in freight and passenger rail and associated support companies worldwide. She supports RDC’s portfolio of businesses in the U.S., Europe and Latin America and serves as a Director of the Iowa Interstate Railroad, RDC-Deutschland (Germany) and RégioRail (France). In 2022, Molloy Posner led RDC’s investment as an early member of RailPulse™. She now serves on its board and supports several pilot projects utilizing telematics data to help railroads and shippers optimize fleet performance, visibility and safety to keep supply chains moving. She is also a Strategic Advisor to the Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh, which works to advance long-term structural solutions to social, economic and environmental challenges in the areas of Human Rights, the Environment, Education, Jewish Life and Civil Society. And in 2023, she founded Hawthorne Food Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in food and agriculture startups that reduce food waste and promote human, environmental and financial health.
BRIAN MORGAN, Senior Military Talent Advisor, CSX Transportation
As CSX’s Military Recruiter, Morgan has implemented innovative systems that streamline the identification and prioritization of veteran candidates in the hiring process. Since Morgan joined CSX, his initiatives have garnered national recognition. CSX was ranked No. 2 on the “Military-Friendly Top Veteran Employers in 2025” list and secured a spot at No. 25 on the “Best for Vets” rankings. Most notably, CSX was recognized as the No. 1 transportation company for veteran hiring. Beyond system improvements, Morgan actively represents CSX at military recruiting events nationwide. In 2024 alone, he attended more than 40 events, including military base visits, conferences and veteran-focused job fairs. Morgan exemplifies a deep commitment to giving back to the veteran community, both inside and outside his role at CSX. In his free time, he actively reaches out to veterans on LinkedIn, offering to review and improve their resumes. Morgan’s willingness to help veterans navigate the job market, whether they intend to apply at CSX or elsewhere, showcases his unwavering dedication to empowering the military community.
ACACIA REBER, Director of Business Development & Marketing, ENSCO, Inc.
Through years of dedication across various sectors and roles, Reber has established connections with key leaders and influencers, making her a trusted and respected figure whose expertise is sought after. She has taken the lead on projects that bridge technical innovation and strategic branding, including her current work at ENSCO, where she played a critical role in elevating the company’s profile following its contract with the Transportation Technology Center (TTC). Her leadership in launching and organizing the annual TTC Conference has turned the event into an industry highlight, attracting attendees from across the transportation sector. Reber is also committed to giving back to her community through regular volunteer efforts and advisory roles. She actively participates in cancer walks, raising awareness and support for cancer research and serves on a local high school’s technical occupational advisory committee. Reber’s goals include expanding ENSCO’s influence as the operator of TTC, addressing critical safety and technological challenges across all transportation modes.
ROBERTO REYES, Technical Director, CSX Transportation
Reyes has made significant contributions to the railroad industry by driving innovation and enhancing operational efficiency through the use of cutting-edge technology. Among his most significant accomplishments is the development of the T&E Portal, a revolutionary platform designed to consolidate multiple applications into a single, user-friendly interface. Another standout achievement under Reyes’s leadership is the implementation of a new Safety Bulletins system, which has transformed how field employees’ access and manage essential safety documents. In 2022, Reyes was recognized as the CSX Business Resource Group (BRG) Leader of the Year for his leadership in re-establishing the Class I’s CSX’s Hispanic/Latinx (HOLA) BRG. Serving as a driving force behind the group, Reyes has spearheaded a variety of impactful initiatives aimed at empowering the Hispanic community and fostering a culture of inclusion. Looking to the future, Reyes envisions spearheading transformative projects that drive measurable business results while shaping the future of the industry.
LUV SEHGAL, Senior Rail Designer, Arup
Sehgal is a senior engineer at Arup with more than eight years of experience in railway infrastructure, rail decarbonization and design excellence for passenger and freight. Most recently, Sehgal served as Deputy Project Manager Rail Systems on the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension. Concurrently, he also led the Track Division for the Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, where Arup was the designer. In 2021, Sehgal was appointed as manager of Arup’s America’s Rail Skills Network. In this role, he focused on the mentorship of rail engineering staff in all of Arup’s Americas/Canada/South Americas offices, including delegating leadership positions, performance growth, monitoring and implementing design reviews, and pairing younger staff with more experienced professionals. Additionally, Sehgal was awarded the Civil and Environmental Alumni Association (CEEAA) Young Alumni Achievement Award for 2024 by the University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign. He has also played a pivotal role as a founding member of Arup’s ASPIRE ERG, representing Asians, American Indians and Pacific Islanders, which since expanded its influence on almost every regional office.
BRENT SHIELDS, SVP of Environmental, Health & Safety, Watco
Shields, who started at Watco in 2017 as an Environmental Manager for terminals and ports, railroads, and railcar-locomotive repair locations in seven southern states, was recently promoted to the company’s lead role in safety, encompassing additional rail responsibility. He now oversees all aspects of safety and environmental for 93 railroads, railcar repair, switching and industrial rail operations, and more than 75 transload and marine terminals and ports in the U.S. and Canada. Shields also developed the health and safety program for Watco’s material handling and storage terminals. Additionally, Shields initiated and pursued implementation of Watco’s Path Forward program, which involves establishing, executing and tracking the completion of team goals in a uniform manner throughout the company. Before instituting the program, Watco’s locations had varying methods for seeing and tracking compliance. Now, everyone in operations and safety is able to see and adhere to the requirements of regulatory agencies, as well as Watco’s expectations around best practices.
BEN SKEENS, Director of Railcar Maintenance & Compliance, R.J. Corman Railroad Company
Since joining R.J. Corman three years ago, Skeens has been instrumental in building a strong Mechanical Car Team. Transitioning from a Class I railroad environment, where issues are typically on a much larger scale, Skeens had to quickly adapt his management style to align with his team’s unique demands and day-to-day tasks. Through this process, he has shown remarkable growth and now excels in managing his employees at a high level. One of Skeens’ notable achievements is the implementation of a preventative maintenance plan for R. J. Corman’s rolling stock fleet. This initiative not only improved the reliability and efficiency of the fleet but also ensured longer service times for railcars, contributing to the company’s overall operational success. Additionally, Skeens played a key role in helping secure CRISI grant funding for R.J. Corman’s Kentucky Freight Rail Improvement Program, which, in addition to mutable infrastructure and customer improvements, includes replacing 75 specialty railcars for customer needs.
JOSH SMITH, Senior Manager, Strategic Pricing & Production Planning, The Greenbrier Companies
Smith is responsible for developing pricing and production strategies to optimize sales and profit margins on all new railcar opportunities in North America. He reviews customer RFQs and analyzes manufacturing costs and marketing information provided by internal departments. Smith was part of the team that spearheaded Greenbrier’s involvement in the railcar rebody market. He saw the opportunity, performed a cost analysis, and indentified which of the company’s facilities were equipped for rebody work. Since Sustainable Conversions began at Greenbrier, more than 70,000 U.S. tons of material have been reused, reclaimed or recycled instead of scrapped. Smith also analyzed all aspects of the new railcar order process after Greenbrier’s largest manufacturing acquisition to date. He works to ensure that all facilities, old and new, operate under the same level of quality and consistency. Smith’s long-term goal is to become an executive-level leader. Most recently, he started the University of Oregon’s Executive MBA program to continue building his business acumen and sharpening his skills an as employee and a leader.
SCOTT ST. CLAIR, Assistant Vice President Operations, Norfolk Southern
St. Clair joined NS as a Management Trainee in 2010 and worked his way up from Terminal Trainmaster to Lead Trainmaster before becoming Manager of Strategic Planning. He then held multiple terminal-based leadership positions. Prior to his most recent appointment as AVP Operations, he served as Senior Director of the Network Operations Center. He has worked throughout NS’s 22-state network and has made significant contributions in every role he has held to advance safety and productivity. During his tenure as Superintendent of the Chicago Transportation Coordination Office, he was instrumental in initiatives such as CREATE, a multi-billion-dollar project focused on improving rail and freight efficiency in the greater Chicago area. Currently, St. Clair is committed to mentoring the next generation of railroaders. His goals also include gaining comprehensive industry knowledge. Having worked across five departments in 14 years, he is dedicated to understanding the micro-level workings of the rail industry to address customer concerns effectively, while also grasping macro-level regulatory and market trends to manage broader shifts within the industry.
SPENCER UPCHURCH, AVP Intermodal Operations, Florida East Coast Railway
Since beginning at Florida East Coast Railway, Upchurch has overseen intermodal operations for the railroad. He is responsible for simplifying operations and implenting a new vendor at the railroad’s ramps. After being out of the industry for five years while starting a food truck, Upchurch was able to jump back into it in a part of the industry he had not previously worked in: intermodal. Being resourceful, he was able to hit the ground running and excel in his new role, where he was quickly promoted to AVP with expanded roles. Upchurch is also an excellent communicator, team builder and visionary. He is able to effectively listen to problems, work with the team to develop potential solutions and put the solutions in place. Since moving back to St. Augustine in 2017, Upchurch has been involved with St. Augustine Youth Services, a non-profit that provides coaching, counseling and care in family-style therapeutic group homes and outpatient community services. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Advertising and a Master of science in Entrepreneurship from the University of Florida, and also holds a Conductor Certification.
(All Honoree Photographs Courtesy of the Respective Organizations)
For more on the Railway Age “Fast Trackers” 25 Under 40 program, read:
- 25 Under 40 2024: Part 1 of 4
- 25 Under 40 2024: Part 2 of 4
- 25 Under 40 2024: Part 3 of 4
- 25 Under 40 2024: Part 4 of 4
- Railway Age’s 2023 “Fast Trackers” 25 Under 40 Honorees
- Railway Age’s 2022 “Fast Trackers” 20 Under 40 Honorees
- Railway Age’s 2021 “Fast Trackers” 20 Under 40 Honorees
- Railway Age’s 2020 “Fast Trackers” 10 Under 40 Honorees
- Railway Age’s 2019 “Fast Trackers” 10 Under 40 Honorees
- Railway Age’s 2018 “Fast Trackers” 10 Under 40 Honorees
- Railway Age’s 2017 “Fast Trackers” 10 Under 40 Honorees
