LRW Announces 2022-23 Board
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
LRW President Sarah Yurasko (fourth from right) is joined by LRW leaders at the 2022 Annual Conference in Ft. Worth, Tex. (Photograph and Caption Courtesy of LRW)
The League of Railway Women (LRW) last month appointed its 2022-23 Board of Directors at the annual conference, which was held in conjunction with the Railway Supply Institute’s (RSI) 2022 Expo and Technical Conference in Fort Worth, Tex.
The LRW Board is made up of railway industry professionals, five of which comprise the Executive Committee. All serve on a voluntary basis.
The 2022-23 Executive Officers are:
- President: Sarah Yurasko, Senior Vice President Law and General Counsel, American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA).
- Vice President: Lisa Tackach, Marketing and Business Development, Railroad Construction Company, Inc.
- Secretary: Emilia Marceta, Project Manager, Signals and Communications, Network Infrastructure, Metrolinx.
- Treasurer: Urszula Soucie, President, Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA).
- Parliamentarian: Anne Whaley, Assistant General Counsel, Holland.
- Immediate Past President: Amanda Trainor Patrick, Vice President Trade Shows and Board Relations, RSI.
The 2022-23 Directors-at-Large are Avalisha Fisher (President, Driven Engineering, Inc.), Linda Hernandez (Director Industrial Development, Kansas City Southern de Mexico), Christine Kalil (Superintendent Asset Management QNS&L Railway, Rio Tinto/Iron Ore Company of Canada/QNS&L), Nicole McKinstry (Assistant Vice President, Sales Operations, The Greenbrier Companies), and Maggie Vuono (Chief Sales Officer, Rail-Pod).
Returning Directors-at-Large are Erika Bruhnke (Vice President Training, RailPros), Crystal Gitchell (Assistant Vice President, Legislative and Regulatory Policy, ASLRRA), Janet Hoang (Sustainability Specialist, Canadian Pacific Railway), Katie Kachel (Principal, Blank Rome Government Relations), and Michele Malski (Founder, SPRING LLC).
LRW marks its 25th anniversary this year. The association has grown from fewer than 200 individual members in 2017 to more than 2,500 members in 2022, supported by a corporate partnership program of 45 companies.
“I’m thrilled to continue our mission of connecting and cultivating women in rail, which promotes diversity and improves the business results of the railroad industry,” Yurasko reported in the LRW newsletter late last month. “As LRW President, I’m proud to promote the league’s work to advance the representation, recognition, and opportunities for women in the railroad industry by providing networking opportunities, sponsoring educational activities, and supporting mentoring partnerships. Our team of amazing volunteers has met the growing needs of our community with grace and strength.” She also announced LRW’s new Executive Director, Kathryn Keeler, and Executive Assistant, Christy Docauer.
In related news, Sarah Yurasko will serve as a co-moderator at Railway Age’s inaugural Rail Insights: Women in Rail Virtual Conference, to be held Nov. 10.
