Job history: Catherine has been with CSX for over 20 years, holding various roles in the real estate department. She has held leadership and negotiation roles in acquisitions, sales and corridor services.

Why she's influential as an innovator: Early in her career, Cat spearheaded the migration from an outdated mainframe to a modern contract system, laying the groundwork for digital transformation within CSX Real Estate. Most recently, she co-led the development and launch of Chessie, an AI-enabled chatbot on CSX's Real Estate webpage. Chessie provides 24/7 instant support to utility permit submitters. By standardizing answers and eliminating wait times, Chessie has enhanced the customer experience while streamlining internal workflows for thousands of annual permit requests.

Cat's commitment to continuous improvement didn't stop at launch. She drove enhancements to expand Chessie's capabilities. From modernizing legacy systems to pioneering AI solutions, her work has transformed CSX Real Estate operations and elevated customer service. By introducing scalable, resource-smart technologies, Cat has not only improved efficiency but also positioned CSX as a leader in digital innovation within the rail industry.