Job description: A second-generation railroader who started her career as a trainmaster with Class Is, Michele is the founder and president of Succession Planning for Railroads Investing in the Next Generation (SPRING), a recruitment and retention organization dedicated to rail industry employers. She visits tech schools, veterans bases and college campuses to give presentations on railroad careers to help people realize the rail industry could offer them a career path.

Why she's influential as a leader: Michele has dedicated herself to helping people discover the myriad career possibilities within railroading. She started SPRING on her own six years ago; the firm now has five contract recruiters. Under her management, SPRING has placed hundreds of candidates in front of rail industry employers. Most recently, Michele started a nonprofit organization called Hands-on Education from Railroad Employers (HERE) Corp., the first industry-supported collective and educational branding effort to spark curiosity about the North American rail industry. By educating candidates at nationwide events, HERE Corp. uses rail-knowledgeable ambassadors to engage with communities about the railroad industry and its relevance to the economy.