The Women in Rail 2025 Conference, presented by Railway Age and RT&S, will feature a dynamic panel of industry mentors, who will help you build your “leadership toolkit.” They will provide winning strategies and hard-earned lessons learned on how to communicate effectively, put together a productive team, make the move from field to management, handle crises, and more.
Their session—“Commanding the Track: Your Leadership Toolkit”—is one of many scheduled for the third-annual in-person Women in Rail Conference, taking place in Chicagoland on Oct. 15-16. It will also include a celebratory luncheon for the Railway Age 2024 Women in Rail and RT&S 2025 Women in Railroad Engineering award honorees, and the chance to network with a wide-reaching group of like-minded professionals. All this will take place at a new, larger venue: the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg. Plus, don’t miss a special tour of Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s (CPKC) Bensenville Yard.
Meet the “Commanding the Track: Your Leadership Toolkit” Panel
Join us Oct. 15 to be part of a conversation with:
- Karen Claussen, a 29-year railroad industry veteran, who will offer top tips on becoming an effective leader. She is Vice Chair of Gulf & Ohio Railways, a family of short lines, and Senior Vice President of Knoxville Locomotive Works, which manufactures both low- and high-horsepower locomotives that are EPA Tier 4 Certified and CARB Verified. Claussen is also deeply involved in several corporate philanthropic endeavors.
- Cassandra Mullee, Vice President Network Operations at CN, who will impart strategies for fast-tracking your career. Appointed to her current role in May 2024, she is based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and responsible for enhancing network efficiency, ensuring fluid terminal operation, and supporting service commitments to drive volume growth.
Mullee has more than 16 years of railroad experience, and previously served Norfolk Southern in field and network operations. She advanced into more senior roles, eventually becoming General Manager, Network Operations and earning one of Railway Age’s “Fast Tracker” Under 40 awards in 2022. She holds a Bachelor of Science in international business from the College of Charleston and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
“At its core, successful leadership in rail—or any industry—is built on a commitment to continuous learning, preparation, knowledge sharing, and consistent performance. When you focus on delivering value, showing up with confidence, and staying dedicated to your growth, recognition follows—not because of who you are, but because of the impact you make.”—Cassandra Mullee, CN
- Kari Gonzales, President and CEO of MxV Rail, who will address the team building techniques that can help you and your business run productively and efficiently. Gonzales was appointed to lead MxV Rail in a unanimous Board decision in September 2021. She was at the helm while the company built new infrastructure, transformed its services, and moved operations in 2022. And she leads the team with the advantage of 20 years’ service and experience in the rail industry.
Gonzales is a mechanical engineer by training, holds an MBA, and was recognized by Railway Age in 2023 as a Women in Rail Award honoree. She was the inaugural candidate for MxV Rail’s Railroad Exchange Program, spending a year at BNSF as a visiting professional.
“I believe leadership isn’t about waiting for permission—it’s about stepping into your power with purpose. During the Women in Rail Conference, I look forward to sharing the tools, mindset, and strategies that have helped me lead with clarity, courage, and conviction—because the track to transformation starts with each of us.”—Kari Gonzales, MxV Rail
- Henrika Buchanan, SVP and National Practice Consultant for HNTB’s Transit & Rail Market Sector, and a 2024 Railway Age Women in Rail Award honoree, who will help you develop the skills needed to best manage crises. A strategic, results-oriented rail industry leader with more than 25 years of experience in public transportation funding programs, Buchanan has led intercity passenger rail projects, major capital project oversight, transit safety regulations, federal transportation policy, regulatory compliance and change management. She also serves as HNTB’s client service leader for Amtrak, where she is committed to driving success and fostering a strong, strategic partnership tailored to Amtrak’s distinct needs and objectives as a national client.
Before joining HNTB in 2021, Buchanan was a senior executive at the Federal Transit Administration for more than a decade. Her professional accomplishments with the FTA include leading the agency’s recovery efforts for the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Sandy. In 2019, Buchanan was awarded the Presidential Rank award, the highest honor bestowed by the President of the United States upon senior executives, recognizing her efforts to manage a $9 billion support package for areas affected by Hurricane Sandy. Buchanan is an active member of WTS International, the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials and the American Public Transportation Association. She also dedicates time to advocating for her alma mater, Alabama A&M University.
Another panelist to be announced.
“I’m honored to join the Railway Age/RT&S Women in Rail Conference panel to share insights from my time at the FTA, where I had the privilege of leading emergency preparedness, response, and recovery efforts during some of our nation’s most extreme weather and economic events. These experiences have shown me how vital it is to not only learn from the past but to innovate and prepare for the future. By building resilient systems and mobilizing early, we can protect communities and save lives.”—Henrika Buchanan, HNTB
About Railway Age / RT&S Women in Rail 2025
The “Commanding the Track: Your Leadership Toolkit” panelists will be joined at the 2025 Women in Rail Conference by a diverse group of railroaders with a shared commitment to our industry’s future. Among them: Annie Adams, Chief Human Resources Officer, Norfolk Southern; Jennifer Hamann, EVP & Chief Financial Officer, Union Pacific; Sarah Watterson, President, Brightline West; Herman E. Crosson, Chief Safety & Compliance Officer, Anacostia Rail Holdings; Jenni Benton, SVP Commercial, Patriot Rail; Vianey De la Mora, Director General, Mexican Railway Association (AMF); Jim Derwinski, CEO/Executive Director, Metra; Paul Hubler, Chief Strategy Officer, Metrolink; Cherise Myers, Director-Workforce Development, American Public Transportation Association (APTA); and many more.
Speakers will offer their candid thoughts on topics ranging from marketing yourself to ESG and new technologies.
“Leadership isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you build. In the ‘Commanding the Track: Your Leadership Toolkit’ session, I’ll share the practical tools, learned lessons, and everyday habits that have helped me, and can help you, lead with impact. Because the right toolkit doesn’t just elevate your leadership; it empowers your entire journey. It’s a true privilege to be part of this conference. Throughout my journey in rail, I’ve been honored to receive recognition through several industry awards, but the real reward has been learning, growing, and now sharing the leadership tools that helped me get here. I’m excited to pass those insights on to help others command their own path with confidence.”
—Kari Gonzales, MxV Rail
Supporting Organizations
Industry support for the 2025 Women in Rail Conference is already strong, including sponsorship from: AITX, GATX, TrinityRail, CN, CPKC, RailPros, R. J. Corman, API, Genesee & Wyoming, The Greenbrier Companies, UTLX, Progress Rail, Patriot Rail, The National Association of Railway Business Women, and The League of Railway Women.
Learn More
To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, contact Jonathan Chalon at jchalon@sbpub.com or (212) 620-7224.
Don’t Forget
Through Oct. 2, Railway Age is accepting nominations for its 2025 Women in Rail Awards program, which will honor 25 trailblazers for their achievements in our November issue and at the 2026 Railway Age / RT&S Women in Rail Conference. These outstanding railroaders will be selected based on their leadership, vision, innovation, and accomplishments. This award celebrates female leaders in rail and pioneers with a track record of breaking down barriers and helping to create industry opportunities for women. Entries will be judged by Barbara Wilson, Senior Advisor at Railroad Financial Corporation, and Catherine Rinaldi, Executive Vice President of Gateway Development Commission, with input from the Railway Age staff. Both Wilson and Rinaldi will participate at the 2025 Railway Age / RT&S Women in Rail Conference.
