This year’s honorees were selected from freight and passenger railroads; government entities; and the supplier, contractor and consultant communities. They were required to be under 40 as of Jan. 1, 2025.
“Our tenth-annual awards program honorees not only represent the strength and growth of our industry, but also the ‘best of the best,’” Railway Age Publisher Jonathan Chalon said. “Railway Age will feature their accomplishments in the February 2025 issue.”
“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.”
Honorees (in alphabetical order):
- Chad Boutet, AVP Engineering, Grants, Genesee & Wyoming
- Bert Bray, Vice President – Commercial, Freight Car Services, Progress Rail, A Caterpillar Company
- William Brock, Jr., Trainmaster, The Louisville & Indiana Railroad
- Sara Crabb, Manager Bulk, CN
- Jonita Delaney, Vice President Technical Systems Integration Authority, Metrolinx
- Elias Derke, Director, Project Engineering & Systems Integration, Wabtec
- Kendall Foley-Henderson, Assistant Director Intermodal Innovation, BNSF Railway
- Laura Fotiou, Sustainability & Climate Resilience Manager, Amtrak
- Reed Janousek, Assistant Vice President – Intermodal Sales, Union Pacific Railroad
- Patrick Johnson, Chief Financial Officer, Pinsly Railroad Company
- Kimia Khatami, Director of Transload Strategy and Operations, CPKC
- Gabriel J. Lopez-Bernal, President, Icomera
- Patrick Magee, Vice President of Transformation, American Industrial Transport (AITX)
- Carolina Medina Murga, SIG & Configuration & Change Engineer, Alstom Mexico
- Jackson Mitz, Project Manager, Modern Railway Systems
- Ida Molloy Posner, Vice President – Strategic Planning, Railroad Development Corporation
- Brian Morgan, Senior Military Talent Advisor, CSX Transportation
- Acacia Reber, Director of Business Development & Marketing, ENSCO, Inc.
- Roberto Reyes, Technical Director, CSX Transportation
- Luv Sehgal, Senior Rail Designer, Arup
- Brent Shields, SVP of Environmental, Health & Safety, Watco
- Ben Skeens, Director Railcar Maintenance & Compliance, R.J. Corman Railroad Company
- Josh Smith, Senior Manager, Strategic Pricing & Production Planning, The Greenbrier Companies
- Scott St. Clair, Assistant Vice President Operations, Norfolk Southern
- Spencer Upchurch, AVP Intermodal Operations, Florida East Coast Railway
Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order):
- Josh Amsler, Deputy Market Sector Lead, AECOM
- Otylia Babiak, Senior Manager, Commercial Strategy and Contract Management, Amtrak
- Jordan Davis, Senior Manager of Business Development and Training, RailPros
- Kyle Johnson, Senior Manager, Risk and Insurance (Canada, U.S. & Mexico), CPKC
- Kendel Ortiz, Deputy Director, Maintenance of Way Training, MTA Metro-North Railroad
- Alex R. Saar, Director of Corridor Services, CSX Transportation
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Railway Age’s 2020 “Fast Trackers” 10 Under 40 Honorees
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Railway Age’s 2018 “Fast Trackers” 10 Under 40 Honorees
Railway Age’s 2017 “Fast Trackers” 10 Under 40 Honorees
