2022 Annual Conference Speakers

Martita Mullen, PE

Senior Manager Design and Construction
Canadian National Railway Company

Martita Mullen is Senior Manager Design and Construction, she is responsible for construction and infrastructure improvement projects in the US. She earned her bachelor's degree in civil engineering at Northwestern University and a master's in civil engineering at Tufts University.  She is a PE in Tennessee and has her PMP. Mullen worked for Illinois Central Railroad as a track designer and assistant track supervisor.  After graduate school, she returned to railroading as a management trainee at CN, which acquired Illinois Central in 1999. Since then, she has managed projects, including construction of the CN intermodal terminal and Harrison Yard in Memphis, Tenn., and CN infrastructure upgrades for the GO Transit expansion in Toronto. Martita has also worked in Track Standards and Track Maintenance during her 19 year railroading career.‎  
________________________________________________________________________________

Chad Anderson

Senior Vice President Operations, Terris Rail Maintenance
 

Chad Anderson is a senior engineering professional with 28+ years of progressive and multifaceted experience in the railroad industry including both the US and Canada with advanced expertise in Precision Scheduled Railroading, cross-functional team leadership, engineering management, project management, and transportation operations. Chad offers a career history of increasing accountability and exceptional performance along with expert skills in problem solving, safety engagement, engaging internal and external stakeholders and operating in diverse environments. 

His key achievements and responsibilities include:

• Improved Safety on Southern Region with 72% reduction in injuries and 70% reduction in incidents over 6-year period.
• Improved Safety on Southern Region with 72% reduction in injuries and 70% reduction in incidents over 6-year period.
• Launched the Planning and Control Office to oversee $1.5B Engineering Capital Budget and realized 35% and 11% improvements in unit cost for new rail and tie installations, respectively.
• Directed Engineering disaster response & restoration following 3 major hurricanes, working with multiple teams, departments, contractors, and municipalities, restoring service in record time.
• Safely integrated MKNR, SAR and EJE lines into CN Engineering operations, building capital and operating programs and new engineering teams.
• Led field integration of WC, DMIR, and DWP operations into CN’s network, obtained new hourly agreements, implemented new service plans saving crew starts, improving on time performance, while handling record growth.
• Awarded CN’s Presidents Award for Safety in 2002 for implementing On Track Safety Rules for Engineering employees in US.

Megan Tang

Over 20 years of experience in design, construction, and deliver transportation projects, I have grown into leadership roles, from Bridge Task Leader to Engineer of Record to Project Manager, supervising support engineers and technicians. I designed and detailed over 100 bridges in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas and was the Engineer of Record for over 50 bridges in Texas. I have joined DART as TRE chief Engineer since 2018. As TRE Chief Engineering Officer, I manage the resources and activities of the operation and maintenance contractor, subcontractor and third parties involved in inspection, maintenance, design and construction activities along TRE Right-Of-Way (ROW) which is 34 miles from the City of Dallas to the City of Fort Worth and 11 miles Madill Subdivision from the City of Carrollton to the City of Irving.  The Maintenance of Way disciplines include track, bridges and other structures, facilities, communications and signals.

I helped secure a 2020 BUILD Grant for two TRE double tracking projects which awarded the full requested amount of $25 million. The total TRE double tracking projects were estimated at a cost of $52.5 million. In 2020, I coordinated with the Texas Department of Transportation and had the signed TxDOT-TRE master agreement to utilize federal Section 130 funds for at-grade crossing safety improvement projects for the entire TRE Corridor. Since 2020, DART has had four at-grade crossings approved to utilize this funding and one of the crossings was completed with safety improvements in May of this year.

 I teach volunteers for the Formosa Association of Student Cultural Ambassadors (FASCA) to help teenagers become distinguished Asian Americans. Through a variety of activities, they learn through leadership, teamwork, community service, and cultural experience to expand their world view. As a teacher, I assist to develop their cultural awareness and uncover their potential. I also am an authorized volunteer for Operation Lifesaver to deliver the message to the general public for highway-rail grade crossing safety and rail trespass preventions in various communities.

I am in 2022 RT&S Women in Railroad Engineering List.
________________________________________________________________________________

Camern Wallace Givens

Signal Project Engineer
The Kansas City Southern Railway Company

Attended Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, Louisiana, A.S. in electronics technology, B.S. in electronics engineering technology; Louisiana Tech University, M.S. in engineering management.

As signal project engineer, responsible for managing and coordinating all phases of signal engineering and construction for capital, capacity and industry projects; participating in conceptual development and overseeing organization, scheduling and implementation tasks.  Duties include project estimating, material management, construction management, database management and financial reporting.

In February 2014, became a project engineer with KCS. Managed state grade crossing surface projects for four years. Moved into current position in 2018.
________________________________________________________________________________

Brandy Martin

________________________________________________________________________________

Dave Harrison

Executive Director – Workforce Development and Government Relations

Dave has extensive experience coordinating and advising employers, Industry Associations, and the Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship (DOL- OA) on the most effective implementation models for Registered Apprenticeships, Workforce development and Military hiring programs. 
 
Dave has served as a DOL designated Industry Subject Matter Expert in Registered Apprenticeship Technical Assistance for the last 6 years. Additionally, Dave directs industry engagement operations for the Registered Apprenticeship Centers of Excellence as well. He also serves on the board of the Minority Professional Truckers Association, the DOL/DOT Driver Shortage Taskforce, and the White House Supply Chain Taskforce.
 
His extensive experience in apprenticeship is combined with more than two decades of experience in operations, human resources, recruiting and employee training and development in the private sector. Dave has directly supported, developed, and implemented apprenticeship related training instruction and on-the-job training outlines for multiple workforce development programs. Dave has successfully designed and implemented National Standards of Registered Apprenticeships, National Occupational Frameworks, and curriculum across a multitude of industry sectors. In his capacity as Executive Director he manages 21 National Apprenticeship Programs that have accounted for over 19,000 Apprentices.
 
Dave served multiple combat tours of duty as a U.S Army Infantry leader. He received his BA in History - Secondary Education from Austin Peay State University.  He has been a high school educator, football coach, business owner and in his over 11 years with J.B Hunt Transport he is best known for developing and directing the Hunt’s Heroes program with the dedicated mission of hiring 10,000 Veterans. He and his wife, Gena, have five daughters and 8 grandchildren.
________________________________________________________________________________

Amy E. Smith

Amy has been with Cummins for just over 3 years and joined the Regulatory Affairs team in 2021 leading Cummins Nonroad and Power Systems Regulatory Affairs Team. In this role Amy works closely with Cummins Rail Business to proactively engage and advocate on emerging regulatory matters that support Cummins environmental and sustainability goals.

Prior to joining Cummins, she practiced law at Barnes & Thornburg advising clients on CERCLA and RCRA matters, held various roles at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management including Deputy Assistant Commissioner in the Office of Land Quality. Amy has also served as Associate Faculty teaching environmental law and policy at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) at Indiana University Purdue University – Indianapolis.

Amy has a Bachelors in Environmental Science from the University of Florida, her Master of Public Affairs from Indiana University in Environmental Policy & Natural Resource Management and Policy Analysis and her Juris Doctor from Indiana University—McKinney School of Law.
________________________________________________________________________________

Farah Lawler

• Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, University of Texas at Arlington
• Executive Masters of Business Administration, Texas Christian University (TCU)

• Board of Directors, ACH Child & Family Services
• Inclusive Excellence Advisory Board, Texas Christian University
• Deputy Chair, Young Professionals in Transportation – DFW Chapter

• Family: Justin (husband), Amira (daughter), Norah (daughter)
• Golf, running, hiking, skiing, reading

Clay Gambill

Clay has nearly 20 years in the transportation industry, starting part time in college working for JB Hunt Transportation, and then moving to BNSF Railway after graduation to be a Trainmaster in Chicago, IL; Brownwood, TX; and Fort Worth, TX. He then spent over 2 years with the unit train demurrage program before moving to Houston to take on a sales role for the former Gulf Division of BNSF Railway, and then back to Fort Worth as sales manager for the Machinery and Over Dimensional team. After over 11 years with BNSF Railway, Clay moved home to Northwest Arkansas to lead the BNSF Logistics Wind Energy Logistics sales team. He has spent the last 5.5 years in various roles and increasing leadership opportunities in wind energy, project cargo logistics, and rail logistics spanning all of North America. When not at work, Clay enjoys spending time with his children (16 & 9), cycling, and photography.  
________________________________________________________________________________

Matt Pittman

Chief Compliance Officer
Trinity Industries, Inc. (NYSE: TRN)

Matt joined Trinity as Associate General Counsel in 2016.  Upon joining the Company, Matt became the Company’s legal representative for a, now successfully concluded, three-year federal monitorship under a settlement agreement with FHWA.  Under the monitorship, Matt helped create Trinity Highway Products’ Eligibility Compliance Program, including its Risk Assessment Methodology and Compliance System Audit.  During that time Matt also founded and led Trinity’s first Legal Operations Department.  Matt soon thereafter founded and led the Company’s Global Trade Compliance Department, which he continues to oversee, and as Chief Compliance Officer also oversees the four pillars of Trinity’s Compliance Program: Prevention, Detection, Response, and Evaluation. In addition to his role as Chief Compliance Officer, Matt also leads Trinity’s ESG efforts, including publication of the Company’s CSR Reports, providing quarterly updates to the Company’s Board of Directors on sustainability strategy and progress, and serving as chairperson of the Company’s ESG Governance Board. 

Prior to joining Trinity, Matt worked as an associate attorney at both Baker Botts, LLP, and Loewinsohn, Flegle, Deary, LLC in Dallas, Texas.  Matt also worked as Vice President, Operations and Support at Industrial Coil, Inc., a family owned business specializing in form coils for high voltage industrial electric motors.  Matt also previously worked as a kindergarten teacher through Teach for America in Greenville, MS. 

Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Matt graduated from Duke University with a B.A. in political science, and earned is J.D. from Stanford Law School.  Matt and his wife, Jennifer, have three children and reside in Plano, Texas.

________________________________________________________________________________