Rising Stars 2025: Trevor Gillen

Trevor Gillen, 34
Director, economic planning
TTX Co.

Nominator quote: “[Trevor] has the unique ability to deliver complex and sophisticated economic content in a way that is understandable and relatable. The recognition is evident in the economic keynote presentations he has already made at major conferences held by the Association of American Railroads (AAR), the Pacific Northwest Association of Rail Shippers (PNWARS), and at FTR Transportation Intelligence.” — Frank Adcock, TTX Co.

Education: Undergraduate degree in economics and political science, University of Rhode Island; master’s degree in economics, DePaul University.

Job responsibilities: Help TTX navigate economic trends and understand the impact on freight activity; provide forecasting to drive TTX’s business plan in service of Class I railroad ownership.

Describe your career path.
Toward the end of completing my master’s in economics, I started working as an intern at the U.S. Treasury Department, doing forensic economic analysis on financial crime cases. After the internship and graduation, I was offered an economist role at AECOM, an infrastructure consulting firm, working in their sports and entertainment division. Following AECOM, I worked as an economist in the steel industry at ArcelorMittal USA, before their U.S.-based assets were purchased by Cleveland Cliffs. Next, I was approached by TTX to join their ranks.

What sparked your interest in the rail industry?
As an industrial economist, I have always enjoyed working across a variety of industries. In rail, you must be familiar with market trends across automotive, real estate, energy, consumer markets, manufacturing and global trade, which makes for an evolving and exciting workflow.

What was your very first job and what did you learn from it?
My first job was working at Subway. I learned how to make the perfect sandwich (even topping distribution is key) and how to wrap it up. I also learned the beauty of an assembly line and how to work well with people who have different backgrounds.

What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
I am a drummer! I love to drum, and I am trying to teach my 2-year-old how to drum.

What’s one of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned so far in your career?
Don’t take things personally and always try to find what your organization might be missing or lacking, then aim to fill those gaps.

How do you stay motivated and resilient when things get tough at work, in the rail industry or in life?
I always try to stay grounded in reality and remain rational so that we keep our eyes fixed on the end goal and figure out the best way to get there with the resources we have, no matter how many roadblocks we face.

If you could share a meal with anyone in the world today, who would it be and why?
George Lucas, creator of Star Wars. I could talk to him about the vast universe of Star Wars and where he found the inspiration to create such a brilliant story with such rich detail.

In your view, what is the rail industry’s greatest challenge today?
After reflecting on public statements [from] the railroads, I’d say that carload and intermodal volume growth are key challenges that we all should be focused on.