This year’s 20 honorees were chosen based on their contributions to the railroad industry, career achievements, demonstrated leadership, professional association activity or community involvement.
Rising Stars
Progressive Railroading announces the 20 people chosen for recognition as the 2017 “Rising Stars” of the North American railroad industry.

This is the fifth year that Progressive Railroading has sponsored the Rising Stars Awards program. The magazine defines a Rising Star as someone under the age of 40 who has made, or is making, a positive impact on his or her company, organization, department or team, and is viewed by others — peers, colleagues, supervisors, clients or associates — as an up-and-coming leader in the rail industry.

During a nomination process that lasted several months, Progressive Railroading readers submitted a record number of nominations — more than 220 — of individuals who work for Class Is, regionals, short lines, passenger railroads, transit agencies, government agencies, academic institutions, engineering firms and suppliers.

This year’s 20 honorees were chosen based on their contributions to the railroad industry, career achievements, demonstrated leadership, professional association activity or community involvement. Their stories will be profiled on ProgressiveRailroading.com this summer and published in the magazine’s September issue.

In addition, the 2017 Rising Stars will be recognized at a dinner to be held July 23 at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel in St. Louis during the American Association of Railroad Superintendents’ 2017 Annual Meeting.

The Rising Stars for 2017 and the organizations they work for are:
Arthur Adams Jr.
CSX
Winnie Chang
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Nick Chodorow
Belt Railway Co. of Chicago
Joshua Engel-Yan
Metrolinx
Laura Fotiou
Amtrak
Robert Gordon
National Transportation Safety Board
Matthew Hipwell
CN
Travis Kelly
Texas Central Partners LLC
Darrell Krueger
BNSF Railway Co.
Michael Lefevre
Brightline (All Aboard Florida)
Michele Malski
Short Line Safety Institute
Julie Mink
Tealinc Ltd.
Myat Ohn
HNTB
Annka Robinson
Dallas Area Rapid Transit/Trinity Railway Express
Danielle Ross
Spectrum Inc.
Amanda Stahlnecker
HDR Inc.
Mike Stickel
Lake State Railway Co.
Sarah Touey
Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon
Stu Towner
Watco Cos. LLC
Matthew Walicki
AECOM