We are proud to announce that BNSF President and Chief Executive Officer Katie Farmer was awarded 2023’s Railroader of the Year by Railway Age. Farmer has more than 30 years of experience in the rail industry. In January 2021, she was appointed president and CEO of BNSF, making history as the first woman to hold that position for a Class I railroad. She previously held the position of executive vice president of operations.
Farmer began her career with BNSF predecessor Burlington Northern (BN) as an intern in the Engineering department. After earning a master’s degree from Texas Christian University, she worked as a BN management trainee in Fort Worth, Texas, and went on to hold positions in marketing and finance.
“One area I am really focused on is ensuring that others have access to the same opportunities to develop that I’ve been given over my career,” Farmer told Railway Age. “Our culture at BNSF is to identify potential and really help individuals to grow and develop to their full potential. We talk about our people as our differentiator. We hire the best, we keep them engaged, we empower them to do what’s right, and we invest in their professional development. I look forward to continuing to ensure that those opportunities continue to exist for future generations.”
Read more here.
