Progressive Railroading names NS leaders Women of Influence

Progressive Railroading has honored four NS leaders for their exceptional contributions to the rail industry. These distinguished individuals will be celebrated on the magazine's website, in the print edition, and during a special virtual event in March.

Congratulations to these outstanding railroaders:

Jennifer Bailey
Director of Mechanical Operations, Juniata Locomotive Shop
Leadership

Jennifer is a seasoned and respected operations leader whose career at NS has been defined by her ability to drive efficiency, champion safety, and foster collaboration across diverse teams. Throughout her career, Jennifer has distinguished herself as a collaborative and empowering leader, committed to creating alignment between organizational objectives and workforce engagement.

Jennifer’s dedication to operational efficiency and strategic foresight has yielded significant results. In 2024 alone, her team completed 86 engine overhauls, extended the life of 13 yard and local locomotives, and successfully converted 20 DC units to AC units, marking a substantial modernization of NS’ fleet. Her leadership has directly contributed to an 84% improvement in the All Release Reliability Metric (ARRM) for locomotives following engine overhaul, a key performance indicator that measures the number of days between shop events. By refining maintenance processes and balancing transportation needs with budget constraints, Jennifer has set new standards for operational efficiency. 

Mina De Oliveira
Vice President Enterprise Resources
Sustainability

Mina De Oliveira’s leadership at NS is driving transformative advancements in fuel efficiency, sustainability, and operational optimization—cementing her position as a key influencer in the rail industry. In her role as Vice President Enterprise Resources, Mina has taken a proactive and innovative approach to tackling one of the industry’s most significant challenges: reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while maintaining cost-effective service. 

Mina has quickly made her mark by establishing a cross-functional team that is leading NS’ precision energy management program, a multi-faceted initiative that leverages technology and data to optimize locomotive use, improve fuel efficiency, and streamline fuel distribution. Mina’s leadership in working cross-functionally with Operations and Finance to streamline processes, refine horsepower per ton (HPT) standards, support extending train schedules, and allocate power efficiently between trains, has delivered record levels of fuel efficiency. In recent months, the company has seen sustained improvement in fuel efficiency, improving 2.7% in 2024 compared to the prior year. While harnessing data insights, Mina continues to align teams, enhance sustainability, and drive operational excellence.

Cherita Hunter Jones
Sr. Manager Grade Crossing and Wayside Engineering 
Mentorship

Cherita Hunter Jones has over 17 years of experience at NS, where her career has been defined by a steadfast commitment to leadership, developing others, and operational excellence. From day one as an agreement employee to her current leadership role, Cherita’s journey is a testament to her versatility, passion, and dedication to empowering others within the organization. 

Among Cherita’s notable contributions is her leadership in empowering women in rail. She has led two delegations of women in 2023 and 2024 to the Women in Rail Conference, a premier event that brings together nearly 300 industry professionals. Beyond her influence within NS, Cherita extends her impact to the community through her work with Operation Lifesaver, a national initiative promoting rail safety.

As part of her role as a crossing engineer, Cherita prioritizes the “Three Es” of crossing safety: education, enforcement, and engineering. She educates children, schools, and local law enforcement about the importance of being responsible around tracks, often engaging in hands-on programs during See Tracks? Think Train Week (formally Rail Safety Week). Cherita is equally dedicated to mentorship and career development within NS.

Devina Miller
Group Manager Operational Efficiency  
Innovation

Devina Miller, a 21-year veteran of NS, has dedicated her entire career to the rail industry, continuously driving innovation, operational excellence, and employee engagement. As Group Manager of Operational Efficiency, Devina has created a systematic approach to continuous improvement, leveraging data-driven decision-making and sustainable innovation to ensure NS remains competitive, adapts to change, and delivers smart growth. 

Devina’s contributions to operational efficiency are transformative. She has spearheaded numerous system material initiatives designed to reduce material holds, locomotive dwell time, and inventory costs. Her creation of NSure (Norfolk Southern Unscheduled Repair Evaluation & Norfolk Southern Unscheduled Release Evaluation) has standardized locomotive check-in and check-out processes, leveraging critical metrics like ARRM (All Release Reliability Metric) and Mechanical Failure data. This innovation has enhanced failure detection and streamlined maintenance, ensuring locomotives are returned to service more reliably and quickly. Collaboration has been a cornerstone of Devina’s leadership. Her ability to mobilize teams under challenging circumstances showcases her exceptional leadership and commitment to accountability.