Rising Stars 2023: Matt Long

Matt Long, 29
Assistant superintendent operations
Canadian Pacific Kansas City

Nominator’s quote: “Matt’s leadership brings a sense of positivity in the physically and mentally challenging environments that accompany railroad operations. Despite his boast-worthy accomplishments at 28 years old, Matt is humble, respectful and kind — traits that have served him well in connecting with others in the company and industry.” — Leena Wadher, Canadian Pacific Kansas City

Education: Bachelor’s degree in finance, Auburn University.

Job responsibilities: Accountable for inputs and outputs of safety, service, productivity, financial metrics and adherence to CPKC’s core values in territory from Ottumwa, Iowa, to Kansas City, Missouri.

Career path: Started as management trainee for CPKC’s sales and marketing department in 2018. Later, was promoted to strategy and pricing analyst with a portfolio in fertilizers. After that, joined the operations team under CPKC’s operations leadership management training program and worked as trainmaster in increasing levels of responsibility. When Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern merged in April 2023, advanced to assistant superintendent operations.

How did you get into the rail industry? I was recruited to join CP after graduating from Auburn in 2018.

What is the best career advice you’ve received so far? Take the time to learn your craft and build a solid foundation. It will take an immense amount of patience but will pay dividends tenfold.

What advice would you give to a new railroader? Build good habits and understand the “why” behind processes. Also, get to know the people around you and keep an open mind as everyone you interact with has something to teach you.

What was your first job? I was a certified electrician in the North Carolina National Guard.

Share a fun fact about yourself. I swam for Auburn’s Division I swim program for three years; my specialty was the 200-meter freestyle.

If you could have dinner with anyone alive in the world, who would it be and why? Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the U.S. Department of Defense. As a frontline leader in operations, my job is to create fluidity within my terminal and to problem-solve issues with variables that aren’t always in my control. As a general in the military and someone serving at the highest level, Gen. Milley has operated and led people and organizations successfully. Being able to converse and listen to someone with this knowledge would be inspirational and rewarding.

Who has had the biggest influence on your career and why? I am incredibly fortunate to have a mentor that has poured guidance, trust and knowledge into me, even before my start in railroading. They have shaped me into the person that I am today and have continued to support me in both my professional and personal lives. I aspire to be the type of leader that they can be proud of, and I’m incredibly grateful for the influence that they have had on my life and career path.

Describe a major obstacle in your career and how you surmounted it. Understanding the basics of terminology, territory and interchanges are some of the most foundational elements for any railroader. In my time in sales and marketing, I was always curious about how best to serve and support my portfolio, but I lacked some of that foundational knowledge. It was then that I identified a gap in my skill set and started spending time in the operations center and riding local jobs that serviced my customers. My interest in operations then grew more and more, ultimately leading me to where I am today.