CHAMPAIGN, IL – October 30, 2024 –The Association of American Railroads (AAR) honored four railroaders for their commitment to sustainability and advancing the industry’s environmental efforts at the 2024 Railroad Environmental Conference. Yesterday’s award ceremony honored railroaders in different job roles and across tenure for their work to protect and preserve both the environment and communities served by rail. AAR presented the 2024 John H. Chafee Award for Environmental Excellence to Union Pacific’s Jason Fox, the Environmental Excellence Award to Canadian National’s Reid Bodley, and the Career Achievement Award to both Canadian National’s Seble Afework and CPKC’s LeeAnn Thomas.
John H. Chafee Environmental Excellence Award – Jason Fox (Union Pacific)
The John H. Chafee Award, honoring the late Rhode Island senator known for his environmental advocacy, recognizes non-environment professionals who promote ecological initiatives. Jason Fox, Senior Director of Locomotive Engineering and Quality at Union Pacific since 2011, exemplifies this spirit. With degrees in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech and an MBA from UNC Greensboro, he leads UP’s locomotive reliability and maintenance efforts including several decarbonization initiatives. These initiatives include Energy Management Systems and Union Pacific/ZTR Hybrid project, which aims to introduce one of the first hybrid switchers in 2024, potentially reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%.
Railroad Environmental Professional Award – Reid Bodley (Canadian National)
The Railroad Environmental Professional Award recognizes outstanding railroad representatives in environmental, safety, or hazardous materials roles. Reid Bodley leads CN’s Environmental Performance team, where he has significantly enhanced the Environmental Management System, achieving a 90% increase in performance metrics since 2021. He has implemented key initiatives such as environmental training and the Life Critical Rules for better risk management, while refining the Health, Safety, and Environmental Audit program. A strong advocate for sustainability, he also supports various non-profits focused on environmental education and social equity.
Career Achievement Award – Seble Afework (Canadian National) and LeeAnn Thomas (CPKC)
Seble Afework, first recipient of this year’s Career Achievement Award, has over 35 years of experience in environmental protection within the railroad industry, significantly impacting CN’s sustainability goals. Since joining CN in 1989, she has led waste management and compliance initiatives, managed a major remediation project in Bathurst, New Brunswick, and developed a patented solution for wastewater sludge management. Her leadership and unwavering commitment to sustainability have earned her numerous accolades, underscoring her vital role in advancing environmental stewardship in the rail industry.
LeeAnn Thomas, the second recipient of this year’s Career Achievement Award, has nearly 40 years of experience in environmental risk and liability management, significantly impacting the freight rail sector during her 29 years at CPKC. She established a formal environmental risk management program and a financial accrual process for liabilities that are now industry standards. Her leadership in remediation projects, including the Shoreham Facility, has notably reduced environmental liabilities and improved regulatory relationships.
The railroad industry continues to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability, highlighted by the recent presentation of the 2024 Environmental Achievement Awards by the Association of American Railroads. These awards celebrate individuals who have made significant contributions to environmental initiatives, reflecting the railroad industry’s ongoing commitment to minimizing its environmental footprint.
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