From the editor — Propel: an interactive summit of the finest kind

On Oct. 7, Progressive Railroading presented Propel, a one-day leadership summit designed for high-potential rail professionals, at Convene in Chicago’s loop.

“We want [Propel] to be for emerging leaders — people who might have already been identified through their own enterprise, their own organization, as high-potential contributors to their organizations,” as Wendy Dietzler, senior director of events and education for Trade Press Media Group and Progressive Railroading, told my colleague Bridget Dean last month in a LinkedIn post. “But, also people on their own who are very, very driven to advance their careers in rail.”

And driven these Propel attendees were. They actively participated in hands-on skill-building sessions facilitated by Matt Meuleners, executive partner at FOCUS Trainer. They rolled up their sleeves and connected (and connected ... and connected) in round tables. They networked in the truest, most dynamic sense of the word. Thanks so much, Matt, for the expert facilitation.

I also was privileged to be part of a fireside chat with two rail professionals who recounted their respective journeys as railroaders and emerging leaders (strike that, they’ve emerged): James Carey, assistant vice president of external relations for Union Pacific Railroad; and Jacob Elium, vice president of network planning and operations for Norfolk Southern Corp. Carey and Elium also are members of Progressive Railroading’s Rising Stars Class of 2024. Thank you so much, James and Jacob, for being there. For subjecting yourselves to the likes of me. And for sharing your experiences, insights and selves.

A river of connection

If the first iteration of Propel is any indication, this event is a platform for the best kind of dimensional interactive content: the human kind. Our education and events team may have provided the framework for Propel’s content (thank you, Wendy; thank you, Danielle Goepel!), but these engaged workshoppers provided the energy and, crucially, the context for it. This engaged group clearly wanted to learn, to be part of something — they expected to be part of something. And they were. You couldn’t miss the spark, their spark. Their energy. They were locked in. They created a current of connection — strike that, a river of it. And in a live event, that’s the absolute best.

Thanks to supporting sponsor Michigan State University for being part of Propel ‘24 and special thanks to the attendees. I look forward to learning more about and from these Propel-ers, be it at the next iteration of this summit, in an interview for a story I’m writing or recording, or during an impromptu conversation in the not-too-distant future. Thank you all for being there. Thank you for making a difference, and for the difference you’ll continue to make.