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2/3/2025
Today, Progressive Railroading announces the names of 50 honorees for the magazine's inaugural program recognizing Women of Influence in Rail.
Progressive Railroading launched Women of Influence in Rail to help bridge the persistent gender gap in both craft and management roles within the rail industry. Despite ongoing efforts, women continue to be significantly underrepresented in railroading: In 2024, they made up just 8.9% of the U.S. rail transportation workforce — the lowest percentage across all transportation sectors, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In November 2024, we invited railroads and rail sector businesses to identify the most influential women in their organizations and share how they are making a meaningful impact. We wanted to know not just who these women are, but how they deploy their influence to drive positive change within their companies. Employers were asked to nominate outstanding women based on one of five key categories: leadership, innovation, mentorship, technology or sustainability.
From those nominations, Progressive Railroading compiled the following list of 50 Women of Influence in Rail for 2025. Along with their names and employers, we've included the category for which they were nominated. In March, the magazine and ProgressiveRailroading.com will feature descriptions of the 50 honorees' influence from the perspective of their companies.
Additionally, Progressive Railroading will honor the 50 Women of Influence during a virtual celebration on March 20.
In the meantime, please read the names of these special women, then join us in wishing them a hearty congratulations for their successful influence on their companies and railroading.
— Julie Sneider, Senior Editor
• Maryam Agahi, National Steel Car, leadership
• Adriene Bailey, Oliver Wyman, leadership
• Jennifer Bailey, Norfolk Southern Railway, leadership
• Tracy Barclay-Ward, Backtrack Railway Services Ltd., leadership
• Tina Beckberger, AITX, leadership
• Riley Birmingham, HDR Inc., leadership
• Christina Bottomley, CSX, innovation
• Kirsten Bowen, Michael Baker International, mentorship
• Amy Brown, Trinity Industries Inc., innovation
• Ritu Chawla, Wi-Tronix, innovation
• Jacinda Clemenzi, ENSCO Inc., leadership
• Grace Cobbinah, Cedar AI, technology
• Shelly Colucci, L.B. Foster, innovation
• Carrie Crozier, CSX, leadership
• Felismina De Oliveira, Norfolk Southern Railway, sustainability
• Loretta Ebbighausen, MTA Long Island Rail Road, leadership
• Carla Ewing, Watco, mentorship
• Amanda Fagan, Ventura County Transportation Commission, sustainability
• Amber Farley, TNW Corp., leadership
• Caitlin Grant, RailWorks, leadership
• Lori Garrison, Siemens Mobility, leadership
• Trish Haver, North Carolina Railroad Co., leadership
• Akilah Henry, Toyota Motor North America Rail Operations, leadership
• Kris Hoellen, B&O Railroad Museum, leadership
• Cherita Hunter Jones, Norfolk Southern Railway, mentorship
• Elisabeth Klawunn, Delaware River Port Authority/PATCO, mentorship
• Elisabeth Leija, Trans-Global Solutions Inc., leadership
• Leslie-Anne Lewis, CN, leadership
• Debbi Lowry, L.B. Foster, mentorship
• Michele Malski, SPRING, leadership
• Claudia Mandurino, Hitachi Rail, innovation
• Lisa Matta, Wi-Tronix, technology
• Sarah McBrayer, L.B. Foster, leadership
• Laura McNichol, Watco, leadership
• Jayashree Menon, Hitachi Rail, technology
• Devina Miller, Norfolk Southern Railway, innovation
• Bridget Monahan, Traylor Bros. Inc., mentorship
• Jackie Morales, Icomera North America, leadership
• Mariah Morales, Amtrak, mentorship
• Connie Nordhues-Bieber, Railspire, technology
• Monica Poyner, American Truck & Rail Audits Inc., leadership
• Beth Pratt, Port Authority Transit Corp. (PATCO), leadership
• Patricia Quinn, Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, leadership
• Maria Saratsiotis, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, leadership
• Sapna Shah, MTA Metro-North Railroad, technology
• Marcia Shapiro, Marine Tiger Technologies, leadership
• Adriana Smith, The Greenbrier Cos., sustainability
• Maureen Taylor, MTA Metro-North Railroad, leadership
• Kate Wen, Traylor Bros. Inc., technology
• Mindy White, RailPros, mentorship