BNSF recognizes Employees of the Year

BNSF recognized a special group of employees for their outstanding achievements in 2014 at an awards ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas, April 13.

BNSF’s annual Employees of the Year event recognizes employees who embody the company’s vision and values. Their achievements positively impact BNSF customers, fellow employees, owners and the communities served by BNSF. Of the 48,000 team members across the company, some 100 employees received this special recognition.

“Our Employees of the Year recognition is a way to thank our people for truly exceptional efforts and results. I’m grateful for their hard work and dedication. From rendering aid in an emergency to implementing business processes that will forever make our railroad better, this distinctive group of employees deserves this special recognition and BNSF’s gratitude,” said Carl Ice, BNSF president and chief executive officer. “All of the men and women who work for BNSF do so with commitment and dedication. Every day, all year long, they bring incredible focus and perseverance to BNSF’s goal of serving our customers and delivering on the important role we play in moving our global economy forward.”

This year’s award recipients’ actions span a wide range of achievements and reflect valuable contributions to some of BNSF’s most important initiatives. Examples of their efforts include the reduction of rail congestion in heavily-populated areas, the successful training of more than 800 employees in advanced track inspection that improves safety and the opening of the Big Lift Automotive Facility, which will help BNSF meet the increasing needs of automakers to get their vehicles to markets across the country.

BNSF named Montserrat Beamon Intermodal Safety Employee of the Year. Beamon works at the BNSF Corwith facility in south Chicago as an intermodal equipment operator. In just three years with BNSF, the railroad said she has made a tremendous contribution to the intermodal operations’ safety culture.

The railroad named Clintel Betts, equipment operator and laborer foreman, was named Mechanical Safety Employee of the Year. Betts, who has been with BNSF for nearly 41 years, serves as the trainer for the mechanical facilities at the Argentine Locomotive Maintenance Inspection Terminal, in Kansas City, Mo. He is a leader who recognizes the value of teamwork and has helped create standards in forklift operation, fall protection and locomotive movement.

Tessa Burkle Collins was named Transportation Safety Employee of the Year. Collins joined BNSF in 2005 as a conductor in North Dakota and now serves in Dilworth, Minn., as one of the safety coordinators for the Twin Cities Division. As a safety coordinator, she works with the safety manager and site-safety teams to improve safety processes, reduce risk and facilitate enhanced safety training and behavioral-based safety programs, among other responsibilities. Her most important role is being a leader who influences others, helping to foster a culture of commitment and compliance.

For more winners and honorees of the awards please visit here.