A simple advertisement leads to a successful career
Will Chevalier
Mechanical Foreman
BNSF Railway
Springfield, MO
3 years in the industry
6 years in military
Base: San Diego, CA
Never underestimate the power of advertising. After a six year stint with the Marines, Will Chevalier was ready for a change. While exploring his options, including an opportunity with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, he spotted a BNSF commercial on TV. “It said BNSF recruited and hired military vets big time,” he remembers, so he checked out their website. “I've always loved big equipment and heavy machinery, so when I saw what BNSF was all about they jumped to number one on my list.” Chevalier applied for the mechanical foreman job online, and was hired three years ago, choosing Springfield, MO as his desired location.
Today, Chevalier oversees the labor force that repairs and maintains BNSF's fleet of railcars and locomotives. While he doesn't actually fix cars himself, Chevalier is responsible for roughly 60 mechanics in the department, ensuring they get the job done efficiently and, most importantly, safely. “BNSF is always looking for leadership experience, and the leadership skills and discipline I learned in the Marines have served me well,” Chevalier says. “Compared to what I did in the military, this job is a piece of cake,” he said.
A self-avowed people person, Chevalier's enjoys family time with his wife, their young son and daughter. Always looking for ways to improve how he manages a unionized workforce, in January, he will enter a master’s program in organizational leadership to be paid for under the G.I. Bill. “Freight rail is flat out the most economical way to move large quantities of stuff from one point to another,” says Chevalier, urging anyone looking for a career to seriously consider the generous pay, benefits and retirement packages the industry offers. “I just see us getting even more efficient, but we need young, good talent in order for us to continue to be as successful as we are.”