Rising Stars 2026: Luis Vazquez 

Luis Vazquez, 39 
Real estate analyst 
CSX 

Nominator’s quote: “Since joining CSX in 2017, Luis has emerged as a standout leader and recognized subject matter expert in railroad real estate, contract negotiation and the strategic use of technology to drive business results. ... His ability to balance near-term financial returns with disciplined risk management reflects a forward-thinking approach that exemplifies our company's guiding principles.” — Kia Warren, CSX 

Education: Bachelor's degree in political science/pre-law, University of Central Florida; pursued an MBA at Jacksonville University. 
 
Job responsibilities: Real estate sales and leasing — being a steward to the railroad by protecting and maximizing the potential of our railroad property and assets while supporting the growth of our business through cross-functional collaboration with operations, industrial development, and sales and marketing teams. I also focus my attention on addressing encroachments on our railroad property and property interests via agreements or removals. 
 
Describe your career path. 
I began my career with CSX in 2017 forecasting real estate sales for our real estate department. I transitioned in 2018 to a real estate sales role, where I ingrained myself in negotiating land agreements for railroad properties; it involved collaboration with our operations, engineering and legal departments. For me, the role provided crucial awareness in understanding railroad operations as a whole and fostered an open environment to come up with creative solutions to complex situations. I then asked for real estate leasing to be included as part of my role. Now I can further incorporate creative solutions, options and strategy into my negotiations, leading to impactful initiatives that have driven growth in our department. 
 
What was your first job and what did you learn from it? 
My first job was working for my father in his pharmacy and supermarket in Puerto Rico. From an early age, I vividly experienced the value of genuine human interaction, and how it can further a business both from a branding and financial standpoint. That job single-handedly gave me the tools to correctly converse, understand and negotiate a mutually beneficial outcome. I think the human connection is an immensely valuable asset that is being overshadowed in today’s world. 

What sparked your interest in the rail industry? What told you it could be a place for you to thrive? 
Frankly, I initially immersed myself more in my initial role in financial forecasting for my department at CSX. At that point, rail was not a main focus for me. It was not until I incorporated myself into railroad real estate that I saw first-hand the history, landscape and complexity of our railroad property and property rights. The elegance in the documentation of how a railroad property is/was acquired, along with its corresponding complexities, make this a truly enjoyable role. You very likely cannot find a career that can foster a similar sentiment and growth. 

What’s one of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned in your career? 
While in my past role at CSX, someone said to me that I must never try to make all the money that's on a deal and that I must let the other party make some money, too. While that was applicable to financial negotiations or outcomes, I took it a step further as part of relationships with customers, buyers, coworkers or even family members. You must not take sole credit, especially in a role where you are so dependent on cross-functionality. Share the “wealth,” be it financial or simple appreciation. 
 
What are your passions outside of work? 
In college, I played competitive men’s volleyball, which is a rather big sport in Puerto Rico. I still enjoy playing it at least once a week with friends. I enjoy time with my children and wife, as they ground me in a world where we tend to lose ourselves in our careers at times. Lastly, I enjoy landscaping my yard. I am pretty simple. 
 
How do you plan to keep making an impact in your corner of the industry? 
Our network is vast and runs through multiple major cities, towns and neighboring properties that may or may not understand railroad real estate ownership rights — or best railroad safety practices. I plan to better address these issues by reaching out to cities, towns and neighboring property owners to educate them about all real estate issues, whether they are boundary issues or unauthorized use of our properties. This is not just an opportunity to address issues; it’s also about building a rapport with these municipalities. They are, in fact, our neighbors, and we should be working collaboratively to ensure the safety of their constituents as well as our operations. 
 
What’s the biggest challenge confronting the rail industry today? 
One of the biggest I see is the rail industry not proactively or effectively establishing relationships with rail-adjacent landowners. As the saying goes: “We get more with sugar than with salt.” We all benefit by having a good relationship with rail-adjacent landowners. This is not to say that we should yield to any demands or requirements; I’m merely sharing that some human connection goes a long way, from what I have seen in my time in this role. There likely will be a time when we would need their help, a conversation that can be much smoother if a rapport is already established.