Rising Stars 2022: Ari Ferrand-Rodgers

Ari Ferrand-Rodgers, 32
Director of organizational development
New Orleans Public Belt Railroad

Nominator’s quote: “Improving diversity at NOPB, attracting new staff and upskilling the current workforce have been [some] of Ari’s top priorities. ... Ari is challenging traditional mindsets and putting in place initiatives aimed at retaining diverse talent.” — Tomeka Bryant, New Orleans Public Belt Railroad

Education: B.A. in mass communications with a concentration in broadcast journalism, Nicholls State University; MBA in human resources management, Capella University; human resources certification, SHRM.

Job responsibilities: Planning and developing company policies at New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB) and ensuring legal compliance and implementation of goals and talent strategy. Managing and supporting the assessment of organizational needs and the design, implementation and evaluation of programs that facilitate the professional development and continuous learning of team members.

Career path: In 2014, began a career in the transportation and logistics industry as a human resources manager. In 2019, became HR generalist at NOPB. In 2021, promoted to director of organizational development.

How did you get into the railroad industry? After working in the trucking industry for several years, I was pursuing a career change. I began searching for different occupations within the transportation industry and discovered NOPB was seeking an HR generalist. I submitted my resume through three different channels, and a month later I was selected for an interview.

What is the best career advice you’ve received? The best career advice I received was from NOPB’s General Manager Mike Stolzman. He advised me to rise above so I could see farther by venturing outside of my comfort zone. Doing so allowed me to grow and engage in new challenges that greatly increased my productivity, creativity and ability to cope with change.

What advice would you give to a new railroader? Be confident, yet humble. Embrace failure, as it is necessary for growth. And think of yourself as a lifelong learner.

What was your very first job? A Pizza Hut server at age 16.

Describe a fun fact about yourself. I love attending festivals, especially those in New Orleans. The music, unique dishes and experiences are all amazing. I love the excitement of getting ready, entering the gates for the first time and exploring the festival grounds.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Traveling the world to see and experience new places, cultures and foods.

How has the pandemic changed your view of career and life in general? During the pandemic, I led NOPB’s COVID-19 task force. [Some] of our organization’s main goals were to keep employees safe and ensure operations remained efficient. Although the pandemic posed many workplace challenges, we were able to produce the same, if not better, results with fewer people and resources.

Personally, the pandemic taught me to start seizing the moment and never take life for granted.