Josie Curtis is joining Patriot Rail Company as Vice President of People Strategy. She will provide leadership across talent acquisition and development, employee relations, compliance, compensation and benefits, performance management, and the total employee experience, according to the company that operates 31 short lines and four excursion railroads, and provides rail-related services.
She will also serve as an advisor to executive leadership, ensuring that HR policies and programs strengthen workforce effectiveness, enhance employee engagement, and support the company’s long‑term growth and organizational resilience, Patriot Rail said in its Jan. 22 announcement.
A 2023 Railway Age Women in Rail honoree, who has served as a Railway Age/RT&S Women in Rail Conference speaker, Curtis has nearly two decades of industry experience. She has held key human resources leadership roles at R.J. Corman, with a focus on enterprise-wide HR strategy, compliance, and safety.
“In prior roles, Curtis oversaw HR operations for more than 1,400 employees across 23 states and supported more than a dozen subsidiaries in a highly regulated, safety‑sensitive environment,” Patriot Rail reported. “Her experience includes implementing company-wide HRIS platforms, designing scalable HR workflows, directing compliance and risk‑mitigation efforts, and partnering cross‑functionally to align people strategy with business performance while enhancing the employee experience.”
“We are delighted to welcome Josie to our team as our Vice President of People Strategy,” Patriot Rail Company CEO Brandy Christian said. “She brings industry and organizational development experience to drive our core strategy—the Patriot Way—a culture of collaboration and innovation. Our people make the difference, and investing in our people strategy ensures employees grow together with us as a company and as a team.”
“Her strategic approach and commitment to building strong, engaged teams will be instrumental as we continue strengthening our people and culture,” added Brad Gordon, Chief Legal Officer of Patriot Rail Company.
