People News: NS, UP, Illinois HSR Commission

Women leaders at Norfolk Southern attended the ABL Super Tuesday Conference on Oct. 3. Pictured, left to right: Phyllis Love, Kim Spicer, Banita Hyman, Lisa Holloman, Annelle McQuerry and Marty Thomas. Banita Hyman (third from left) was named to ABL’s 100 Most Influential Black Women of 2023 list. (NS Photograph)

Norfolk Southern (NS) Senior Director Infrastructure and Cloud Services Banita Hyman earns a spot on the Atlanta Business League’s 2023 100 Most Influential Black Women list. Also, Union Pacific (UP) President Beth Whited is recognized as a “People Leader” to watch by executive search firm N2Growth; and lllinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker appoints Moline City Administrator Bob Vitas to the Illinois High-Speed Railway (HSR) Commission.

Norfolk Southern

The Atlanta Business League has recognized NS Senior Director Infrastructure and Cloud Services Banita Hyman on its list of 100 Most Influential Black Women of 2023, NS reported Oct. 20. The 100 African American women business and civic leaders from Atlanta, Ga., were selected for demonstrating a commitment to their fellow citizens and for their significant involvement in community and civic activities.

A decade-long NS veteran, Hyman started working at the Class I railroad as an intern and now leads the development of end-to-end strategy and migration plans to support cloud infrastructure. According to NS, she focuses on “devising and executing innovative technology solutions, building cross-functional teams, and leading transformative cultural initiatives to enhance workforce engagement.”

Hyman has also organized speaker series and book clubs at NS to promote discussions around diversity, equity and inclusion themes. Outside the workplace, she partners with local-Atlanta high schools to mentor young women interested in STEM-related careers.

“Banita is a visionary within our organization, constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation and leadership,” said Fred Ehlers, Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer at NS. “Her unwavering commitment to Norfolk Southern and instrumental empowerment of women is inspiring.”

“I’m passionate about intentionally diversifying our organization and making sure that diversity leads to inclusion,” Hyman said. “It’s important to use the diverse perspectives and voices in our company to make a positive impact on our workforce.” She added that she wants “to strengthen the pipeline of women who are coming into STEM careers,” and noted that if “we wait to start at the college level, it may too late.” That’s why, she said, “I try to be as active as possible at high schools to give girls experience with technology at a young age.”

Union Pacific

UP President Beth Whited has earned the fourth spot on N2Growth’s list of 40 “People Leaders to Watch.” The list recognizes top Chief Human Resource Officers of 2023. Before Whited was elevated to President of UP in August, she served as Executive Vice President, Sustainability and Strategy and Chief Human Resources Officer and was also named one of Railway Age’s 2021 Women in Rail honorees. As UP’s first woman president, Whited is responsible for strategy, workforce resources, sustainability, law, corporate relations and government affairs functions.

According to N2Growth, the “trailblazers” on the list “have excelled in their roles and redefined the boundaries of human resource management.” The executive search firm noted that the past couple of years “have been a testament to the resilience and adaptability inherent in top HR leaders,” and noted that as “we navigate the aftermath of a global pandemic, these leaders are gearing up to face 2024 with renewed vigor and innovative strategies.”

Among the others people leaders honored are: Frank Lopez, EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer for Ryder System, Inc. (No. 22); Jeffrey Stoicheff, SVP, Human Resources for Penske Logistics (No. 24); Dantaya Williams, EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer at Raytheon Technologies (No. 32); Darrell Ford, EVP, CHRO and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at UPS (No. 35); Nicky Dingemans, Chief Human Resources Officer at Oliver Wyman (No. 39); and Cheryl Johnson, Chief Human Resources Officer at Caterpillar (No. 40).

Here is what N2Growth’s had to say about Whited’s service:

“Beth Whited is a railroad industry leader and the first female president in the history of Union Pacific. Her experience includes leadership roles in disciplines that touch nearly every part of operating the world’s largest freight rail network.

“Over the past 35 years, Whited has led multiple functions across Union Pacific, spanning Strategy, Marketing and Sales, Sustainability, Finance, Investor Relations and Workforce Resources. As Executive Vice President of Sustainability and Strategy, she helped develop and implement Union Pacific’s strategic vision as it strives to become the nation’s No. 1 supply chain logistics provider while guiding its efforts to reach net zero by 2050.

“Whited’s team led historic labor negotiations, securing unprecedented quality of life and paid sick leave agreements for Union Pacific’s craft professionals. As part of her Marketing and Sales leadership positions, she led the department for two years and the chemical business for four years. She served as president of the subsidiary Union Pacific Distribution Services.

“Whited’s industry-leading efforts have been recognized through many awards, including the 2021 Railway Woman of the Year by the League of Railway Women and Progressive Railroading and Constellation Research’s ESG50 List, reflecting her commitment to sustainability. Additionally, Union Pacific was the only railroad named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, underscoring its environmental and sustainability efforts. Engaged in both business and community activities, Whited is a member of the Board of Directors of RPM International Inc., serving on the Compensation Committee. She’s a member of the Humanities Nebraska Board, the Omaha Symphony Board, and the Aksarben Foundation Board of Governors. She was a founding member and former president of Union Pacific’s Lead, Educate, Achieve, Develop (L.E.A.D.) women’s initiative.”

Illinois HSR Commission

Moline (Illinois) City Administrator Bob Vitas has been appointed to the Illinois HSR Commission, according to a Quad-City Times report.

The Commission was formed in 2021 following passage of Illinois’ High-Speed Railway Commission Act. It is charged with creating a statewide plan for a high-speed rail line and feeder network connecting St. Louis, Mo., and Chicago, Ill., that includes existing Amtrak intercity passenger rail and Metra commuter rail services; connects the cities of Rockford, Moline, Peoria and Decatur; and uses inter-city bus service to coordinate with the rail line. The Commission is also slated to conduct a ridership study and make recommendations concerning a governance structure, the frequency of service, and implementation of the plan. The inaugural Commission meeting was held earlier this year. The Commission is to report to the Illinois General Assembly and Governor no later than Dec. 31 of each year, and is slated to finish its work by year-end 2026, according to nprillinois.org. Metra CEO/Executive Director James M. Derwinski is Commission Chair. Tim Butler, President of the Illinois Railroad Association, was elected Vice Chair in August.

Bob Vitas was nominated by the Illinois Municipal League, and he will serve as the League’s representative, the Quad-City Times reported Oct. 18.   

Vitas said in a statement to the media outlet that “he will serve in the position ‘until such time as the commission completes its work’ and provides the state legislature with a plan for high-speed rail.

“‘It will not resolve the issues with Iowa Interstate directly, but it will impact those discussions as Moline is a principal city to be served in connecting to the high-speed rail,’ he said. ‘At the end of the day, Moline’s Amtrak service will connect the city to Chicago and the high-speed rail system.”

According to the Quad-City Times, the $16 million Moline station “has not been used for rail service since it was built in 2018, and it’s important to be a voice at the table, he [Vitas] said.”

The Moline-to-Chicago passenger rail project “has been in the works for more than a decade,” according to the news outlet. “About $177 million in federal funding was awarded to the project in 2010, but it was delayed during Illinois’ budget crisis when then-Gov. Bruce Rauner froze new projects. In 2019, it was revived when the state allocated $225 million in addition to the federal funds.

“Earlier this year Moline city officials and state legislators held a news conference, calling on Iowa Interstate Railroad to stop ‘moving the goal post’ in negotiations with Illinois’ transportation department.

“At the time, an IDOT spokesperson said the department was working with Amtrak, federal agencies and Iowa Interstate Railroad to find a way to make the Amtrak service a reality in Moline.”