Like mother, like daughter: Two railroad careers, one shared legacy

For Shawna Hendley, Supervisor Engineering Fleet Planning, railroading was never just a career choice, it was part of her upbringing. It shaped the pace of family life, from moves across states to the lessons she learned long before she ever stepped into an office herself. Watching her mother build a life on the railroad showed her what commitment, resilience, and pride in work really meant.

Shawna’s mother, Shari Heyob, never planned to become a railroader. When she walked into an unemployment office in Elkhart, Indiana, she was simply looking for something new. She was sent to Chicago to take a written test, told to arrive early, and decided to take a chance. “And the rest is history,” she says.

Shari started at Conrail in 1978 in the stations department, working in billing and administrative roles, some of the behind-the-scenes roles that help keep the railroad moving. Much of her early career was spent as a stenographer, supporting investigations and working closely with train and engine crews. It wasn’t an easy time for women in the industry, but Shari learned to adapt, take opportunities as they came, and stay the course.

Shari moved to Pittsburgh for a new position with Conrail working in their customer service department. There, she met her husband, Randy Heyob. Both working on the railroad, and as Conrail later consolidated roles in Pittsburgh, Shari and Randy began moving in parallel. Shari continued advancing through clerical and stenographer positions, while Randy worked in the Flexi-Flow terminal before relocating again with the railroad.

In 1999, when Conrail split between Norfolk Southern and CSX, Shari faced another crossroads. She was offered a role with CSX, but family came first. Randy chose Norfolk Southern, and Shari found her own role at NS. They moved to Atlanta, where Shari continued her career in Maintenance of Way, managing the Personnel Group, supporting leaders and overseeing complex work until her retirement.

“It was a really great career,” Shari says. “We moved a lot. I worked nights and weekends. But I met some great people. And some not so great, but you get that anywhere.”

Shawna was watching.

Years later, when Shawna considered a career at Norfolk Southern, it wasn’t persuasion that guided her, it was her mother’s example. Shari told Shawna about an upcoming hiring session, but didn’t soften the truth. “You’ve got to have thick skin,” she told her daughter. “But you can do this.”

“I’ll never forget that day. It was a long day filled with testing. My hiring session started with a couple hundred people and ended with four hires.” said Shawna, “I was nervous but excited for the future and here we are 20 years later.”

Shawna started as a clerk in Central Yard Operations (CYO), working nights and weekends and eventually received a position with Design and Construction in the Engineering Dept. She then spent more than a decade managing safety reporting and metrics in the Engineering Department, that helped leaders across the organization make informed decisions. Eventually, mother and daughter worked in the same Atlanta office and in the same Maintenance of Way organization, two generations shaped by the same department, decades apart.

“I learned the value of hard work, it was from watching my mom” said Shawna. “She inspired me and I am grateful for my career at NS, through hard work and consistency anything can happen.”

Today, Shawna manages the Engineering railcar fleet, a role that’s fast-moving and complex. While the responsibilities are new, the foundation isn’t. The lessons she learned by watching her mother—stick with it, adapt, trust yourself—still continue to guide her.

Two women. Two railroad careers. One shared legacy built on resilience, hard work, and the quiet confidence that comes from showing up every day and sticking to it.

By Jihan Gary, Senior Communications Manager

Jihan Gary leads internal communications for Norfolk Southern, focusing on change management and employee communications. She also oversees strategic communications for Digital and Technology, Human Resources and Compliance. Jihan joined NS in 2023, with over 15 years of corporate communications expertise.