Job history: While a student at Michigan State University, Emily in 2020 worked as the first intern for RailPros' construction observation group when it was in its first few years of development. She completed her bachelor's degree in civil engineering and master's degree in structural engineering and joined RailPros full time. In her five years at RailPros, Emily has played a key role in building the construction observation program. She now serves as a lead engineer on the program, overseeing two review engineers and an intern.

Why she's influential as an innovator: Emily has been instrumental in developing RailPros' construction observation group, which manages utility and construction projects from agreement execution through construction completion. Before construction begins, Emily identifies noncompliance issues and works with the third party to ensure the project designs conform with the client railroad's standards. Once a project has completed the pre-construction requirements, experienced railroad professionals observe the third-party installation and immediately resolve items that do not meet the approved plan.

Emily is further developing the construction observation group to affect the future of track and infrastructure development. Third-party infrastructure projects have been increasing each year, and it is critical for the industry that these projects are managed effectively. Emily devises solutions that prevent interference with railroad operations and ensure that utility work being done will not obstruct future track construction or other types of future railroad development.