Meet the ‘State of the Industry’ Lineup for Women in Rail 2026

Railway Age and RT&S are returning to Chicagoland on Oct. 6-7, 2026, for the fourth annual Women in Rail Conference. This year’s program features the diverse experiences and practical career advice that draw attendees year-after-year, plus new sessions, including “State of the Industry: Growth Strategies,” which will focus on the forces shaping freight rail, passenger rail, and transit over the next one to three years, including economic outlook, capital investment, technology, and more.

Over the course of two days at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg, Women in Rail 2026 will include dynamic “fire-side chat”-style panels of trailblazing women and their allies; a celebratory awards luncheon; and opportunities to connect with a community of motivated railroaders.

Meet the “State of the Industry: Growth Strategies” Panel

Join us Oct. 7 to be part of the conversation with:

Arielle Giordano, Vice President, Government & Industry Affairs, Genesee & Wyoming

Arielle Girodano is responsible for managing G&W’s government affairs strategy and team at the federal, state, and local levels.

Prior to joining G&W, Giordano was Assistant Vice President of U.S. Government Affairs for Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC). Giordano and her team were instrumental in the creation of CPKC. Before the CP-KCS combination, Giordano led U.S. government affairs for CP, establishing its first DC-based office.

Before joining CP in 2018, she served as Counsel for the US House of Representatives, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials under former Chair Bill Shuster. As such, she shared responsibility for freight rail, passenger rail, commuter rail, high speed rail, hazmat safety, pipeline safety, and all related Federal agencies. She worked on key legislation, including the FAST Act, the STB Reauthorization Act, the PIPES Act of 2016, the RESPONSE Act, and the STB IS Improvement Act.

Shannon Drown, Chief Commercial Officer – Railroad, R. J. Corman

Shannon Drown joined R. J. Corman in 2019 as Director, Commercial Development and advanced to the role of Vice President of Commercial & Industrial Development. In this position, she leads the commercial development team, sales efforts, and key account management for the R. J. Corman Railroad Company. Prior to her position with R. J. Corman, Drown held leadership positions with Union Pacific Railroad and CSX Transportation. Drown holds a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Kentucky.

Jean Savage, CEO & President, Trinity Industries, Inc.

Jean Savage was appointed CEO and President for Trinity Industries, effective Feb. 17, 2020. She leads the organization with a focus on delivering innovative engineering solutions, optimizing processes, and driving strategic growth. She was previously Vice President of the Surface Mining & Technology division of Caterpillar, Inc., a position she held since August 2017, overseeing the division’s end-to-end value chain, ensuring a customer-centric approach in product design, development, manufacturing, and sales, Prior to this, Savage held leadership roles from 2002 to 2013 in Caterpillar’s Progress Rail division, a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar, Inc. Prior to joining Progress Rail, Savage worked in a variety of manufacturing and engineering positions for more than 14 years at Parker Hannifin Corporation. She began her career spending nine years as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Michael McLaughlin, Chief Operating Officer, Virginia Passenger Rail Authority

Michael McLaughlin joined VPRA as Chief Operating Officer in April 2021 where he oversees the planning, programming, design, and construction of rail projects. Previously, he served as Chief of Rail for Virginia’s Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) where he was responsible for statewide rail planning and passenger and freight programs, and where he played a vital role in negotiating landmark rail deals with CSX and Norfolk Southern. His 25 years of experience also include tenures at the Chicago Transit Authority and time working as a senior transportation aide on Capitol Hill.

Karen Philbrick, Executive Director, Mineta Transportation Institute

An award-winning scholar and frequently invited keynote speaker, Dr. Karen Philbrick is the Executive Director of the Mineta Transportation Institute at San José State University. She leads two competitively selected multi-university consortia focused on improving the mobility of people and goods. These include the California State University Transportation Consortium, which unifies the surface transportation research and workforce development efforts of the 23-campus California State University system, which represent and support the geographical, cultural, racial, and socioeconomic diversity that makes our state and nation strong, and the Climate Change and Extreme Events Training and Research Program funded by the FRA.

“Women in Rail is always energizing because it is filled with real people sharing real experiences. Real women. Real stories. Real, actionable intelligence. The State of the Industry panel will explore the challenges and opportunities influencing rail today—but, just as importantly, it will focus on what we can do about them! Attendees can expect candid discussion and usable strategies they can take back to their own organizations and put into practice immediately and use to advance real change.” – Karen Philbrick

PROGRAM HIGLIGHTS

Railway Age and RT&S editors have created a curated program based on community feedback. Sessions will include:

• Advice on building a resilient career despite industry disruptors. 
• Practical guidance on launching a business or consultancy. 
• Strategies on how to balance efficiency, cost, and sustainability in modern rail projects.
• And an early celebration of American railroading’s bicentennial anniversary—coming in 2027—and how women have played a continuing role!

WHAT 2025 ATTENDEES ARE SAYING

“Each year, the conference gets better and better. I am looking forward to next year.” – Devina Miller, Norfolk Southern

“I was inspired to attend WIR along with so many bright, talented and dedicated women in the rail industry. I made some important connections and learned how diverse and interesting our backgrounds are that brought us to where we are today. I also appreciated hearing that many of us face the same challenges. A very important conference for us to be a part of in our current times.”  – Erin Stammer, PNW Railcars, Inc.

WOMEN IN RAIL AWARDS LUNCHEON

A special luncheon on Oct. 6 will honor Railway Age’s 2025 Women in Rail and RT&S’ 2026 Women in Rail Engineering award winners. Plus, for the first time, IRJ’s 2026 Women in Rail award recipients will also be recognized.

SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS

The 2026 Women in Rail Conference has garnered strong industry support with sponsorship from: GATX, Trinity Rail, R. J. Corman, API, Genesee & Wyoming, Anacostia Rail Holdings, RailPros, The Greenbrier Companies, Railroad Development Corporation, Zephyr Rail, League of Railway Women, and The National Association of Railway Business Women.

LEARN MORE

• Registration is now open, with early reduced rates valid until Aug. 28. For more information on confirmed speakers and to register, visit the event page.
• To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, contact Jonathan Chalon at  [email protected] or (212) 620-7224.