Progressive Railroading

Digital Transformation has had a significant impact on rail operations and recruitment in recent years. From automation to big data to real-time monitoring, technology continues to offer increased efficiency, safety, and reliability to the rail industry. The need to protect these initiatives from cyber attacks and disruption has never been greater, and is accompanied by an equally compelling demand for talent that understands a complex enterprise architecture and can manage everything from phishing attacks to freight scheduling to data resource management.

Progressive Railroading’s Rail Summit explores how IT and digital technologies are transforming the rail industry, and how railroads can – and should – recruit, hire and train the next generation of talent to ensure safe and successful operations.

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Agenda

1:00 PM

Cybersecurity Considerations for Rail

Gregg Robbins
Director of Technical Services and Security, Watco

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Gregg is the Director of Technical Services and Security at Watco Companies and is responsible for Watco's network and security operations teams. He has 37 years of IT experience, and for the last 28 years he has worked with transportation and logistics companies such as JB Hunt, Transplace, BNSF Logistics, and Watco Companies. Gregg has also worked with a local company and the University of Arkansas on NSF funded research into new authentication and hashing techniques.

As railways continue to modernize and rely upon digital technologies, cybersecurity is an increasingly important digital tool. In this presentation by Gregg Robbins, Director of Technical Services and Security for Watco, attendees will review how a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity--which includes robust security controls, effective staff training, and ongoing risk assessments--can help to mitigate the risk of disruption.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Assess ways to think like an attacker to make sure your team is focused on the right approaches
  2. Review a risk-based approach to addressing security priorities
  3. Understand what an Assume Breach Mentality really means
  4. Identify ways to segment your network to protect high risk and critical systems
  5. Learn a different approach to make your security team more approachable and end user education more effective and engaging

1:45 PM

Digital Recruiting Tools at Siemens Mobility

Speakers: Tami Wolownik, Head of People & Organization, North America at Siemens Mobility & Allison Whitesell, Head of Talent Acquisition, Siemens Mobility North America

As the rail industry shifts to the digital universe, so do our hiring practices. As an early adopter of digital recruiting tools, Siemens Mobility will share our experience in recruiting, hiring, and learning in a digital industry.

2:00 PM

A Call to Action: The Rail Industry’s Need for Tech Talent

Andrew Stahl
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Stahl Recruiting

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Growing-up on a small farm outside of Springfield, Oregon, Andrew started college on a violin performance scholarship. Later gravitating towards economics, he earned a B.S. with honors and later a master's degree from the University of Oregon. As a graduate student, Andrew studied rail industry issues concerning market power effects, merger synergies, captured shipper rates, and marginal cost estimations of individual rail movements.

Moving to California post-graduate school, he oversaw the development and structuring of financial derivative contracts for a start-up online exchange. Later work called for a move to Chicago - hub of the futures and options business. Keen to enter the rail industry, Andrew became an Executive Recruiter. Once learning the trade, Andrew formed his own agency to make an individualized, positive mark within our growing transportation industry. Having also worked for a time in the auto industry, Andrew maintains a continued draw to all things automotive, with particular passions for racing, auto restoration and road trips. Other interests include music, film, military history, motorcycles and causes supporting those in need.

The rail industry is facing a critical shortage of tech talent. Due to numerous factors – increasing rail system/supply chain complexities, decreased labor participation rates, and growing competition for tech talent across other industries – the net result is an industry struggling to innovate and keep pace with this challenge.

Action is needed to address this deficiency. Remedies include training program investments, competitive salaries and benefits, and importantly – creating an environment to attract tech-centric talent. A vital part of the global economy, it is essential the rail industry captures the personnel it needs to succeed. Taking action to address this shortage will ensure the rail industry’s long-term growth.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Explore the rail industry's need for tech talent
  2. Discuss the recruiting and training challenges faced by railroad organizations
  3. Examine solutions aimed at addressing these needs

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