People News: RAC, HNTB/WTS

Pictured, left to right: Railway Association of Canada Board Chair Janet Drysdale (CN Photograph); HNTB’s Jeff Watson (HNTB Photograph); and HNTB’s Dominic Spaethling (HNTB Photograph).

Railway Association of Canada (RAC) appoints Janet Drysdale of CN as Board Chair, succeeding Jeffrey J. Ellis of Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC). Also, HNTB’s Jeff Watson earns the WTS Man of the Year Award, and WTS Utah names HNTB the Employer of the Year.

RAC

CN Senior Vice President and Chief Stakeholder Relations Officer Janet Drysdale has been appointed Board Chair of RAC, which represents close to 60 railroad companies, including Class I’s and short lines, as well as tourist, intercity and commuter passenger railways, and more than 60 suppliers and consultants. She succeeds Jeffrey J. Ellis, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at CPKC.

With more than 30 years of cross-functional leadership experience, Drysdale currently oversees stakeholder engagement and communications, including public and government affairs, media relations, corporate communications, and investor relations at CN; she has also held executive roles in Finance, Sustainability, and Corporate Development. In 2020, she was recognized as a Women in Rail honoree by Railway Age and named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the executive leadership category by WXN.

Additionally, Drysdale is an independent director of Rumo S.A., Brazil’s largest freight railway, and is executive sponsor of the Women’s Employee Resource Group at CN.

“We are thrilled to welcome Janet Drysdale as the new Chair of the RAC Board of Directors,” RAC President and CEO Marc Brazeau said. “Her vast experience and visionary leadership will be invaluable as we continue to advocate for a competitive, sustainable, and safe rail sector in Canada.”

RAC also extended its gratitude to outgoing Chair Jeff Ellis “for his outstanding contributions and dedicated service throughout his tenure,” noting that his “leadership has been steadfast in guiding the organization through a period of significant growth and transformation.”

“I am deeply honored to take on this role at such a pivotal time for the rail industry,” Janet Drysdale said. “I am committed to building on the solid foundation laid by the RAC Board of Directors and driving forward initiatives that enhance the sustainability, efficiency, and safety of our industry. Collaboration and innovation will be key as we navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

In other RAC news, the association recently released Rail Trends 2023, a rolling 10-year review of financial and statistical results for Canadian railways.

HNTB / WTS

HNTB West Division President Jeff Watson has received the Honorable Ray LaHood (Man of the Year) Award from the San Francisco chapter of WTS, which is described as an international organization “that attracts, sustains, connects and advances women’s careers to strengthen the transportation industry.” The award recognizes leaders who have “made significant contributions to advancing women in the transportation industry,” according to infrastructure solutions firm HNTB, which announced the award May 28.

Based in Los Angeles, Watson “has been instrumental in driving diversity and advancing women’s roles at HNTB and across the transportation sector,” HNTB reported. “He has championed several projects and initiatives that demonstrate HNTB’s commitment to gender equity and community engagement. For instance, Watson spearheaded the THINK Forum on equity transportation, which convened transportation leaders to advance equitable outcomes. He also established a scholarship with the Mineta Transportation Institute to enhance opportunities for underserved communities and supported women’s education and welfare initiatives through the California Transportation Foundation.”

Additionally, Watson has mentored female employees and advocated for roles that improve engagement with minority-owned, women-owned and small business enterprises within the transportation sector, according to HNTB, which noted that he “ensured the creation of a new position to mentor and engage these enterprises, inspired by a proposal from a female employee he mentored.”

Watson has been a longtime supporter of WTS and actively encouraged women at all levels within HNTB to engage with the organization, according to the infrastructure solutions firm. He also has participated in numerous fundraising efforts, raising more than $150,000 for charities that support women, girls, underserved communities and transportation initiatives, HNTB reported.

“As someone who cares deeply about advancing gender equity in transportation, I am honored to receive this recognition,” Jeff Watson said. “This award is a reflection of HNTB’s collective efforts to elevate women’s careers within the industry. It reinforces our resolve to continue advocating for diversity and to create empowering opportunities for women.”

Meanwhile, the Northern Utah Chapter of WTS International recently named HNTB as Employer of the Year for its “commitment to providing outstanding mentoring programs, creating opportunities for upward mobility, and ensuring the presence of women in top leadership roles.”

HNTB said that the firm not only covers WTS membership costs but also sponsors attendance at programs and conferences; similarly, it supports other professional development opportunities “by providing flexible work schedules and reimbursement for training programs” to foster individual growth and to serve “as a catalyst for bolstering inclusivity and diversity within the company’s ranks.”

“This recognition fuels our commitment to continue creating an environment where every individual can thrive and contribute meaningfully to our industry and community,” said Dominic Spaethling, Vice President and Utah Office Leader for HNTB. “We are grateful to WTS for this acknowledgment and remain dedicated to advancing opportunities for all in transportation.”

Several HNTB employees and offices have recently been recognized through WTS awards and Board of Director appointments. These include:

• Regine Beauboeuf – WTS Michigan Chapter | 2024 Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award.
• Courtney Blechle – WTS Houston Chapter | 2024 Member of the Year.
• Gary Bua – WTS Boston Chapter | 2024 Honorable Ray LaHood Award.
• Alexa Gangemi – WTS International Board of Directors | Director-at-Large.
• Desiree Gazzo – WTS Greater New York Chapter | 2024 Member of the Year.
• Tirzah Gregory – WTS Kansas City Chapter | 2024 Member of the Year and 2024 Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award.
• Gretchen Ivy – WTS Kansas City Chapter | 2024 Member of the Year.
• Jessica Kessinger – WTS San Antonio Chapter | 2024 Woman of the Year.
• Yvonne Lopez-Diaz – WTS Foundation Board of Directors | Chairperson 2024-2026 and WTS Inland Empire Chapter | 2024 Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award.
• Teri Marsh – WTS Puget Sound Seattle Chapter | President.
• Marisabel Ramthun – WTS Heart of Texas Chapter | 2024 Woman of the Year.
• Joy Riley – WTS South Carolina Chapter | 2024 Woman of the Year.
• Hallie Somerville – WTS Orange County Chapter Executive Board | First Vice President and Programs Chair.
• Mike Sweeney – WTS Greater New York Chapter | 2024 Honorable Ray LaHood Award.
• Jacqueline Tabares – WTS Inland Empire Chapter Executive Board | Vice President.
• Jane Wilberding – WTS Greater Chicago Chapter | 2024 Member of the Year.

In related news, WSP National Transit and Rail Market Leader Jannet Walker-Ford is the first recipient of a new WTS International award named in her honor, and HNTB’s Senior Project Manager Joy Riley has been named WTS South Carolina Chapter’s Member of the Year and HDR’s Transportation Program Management Services Director Erin Slayton has been elected to the Executive Committee of WTS International.