Barbara Schroeder is a Rail Transit Program Manager at Alfred Benesch & Company. She joined AREMA in 2010 and is very active in AREMA Technical Committee 24, Education & Professional Development, serving as the liaison to Technical Committee 13, Environmental, to help promote and support AREMA Sustainability & Resiliency policies. Schroeder also assists with the AREMA Scholarship Committee and the Conference Operating Committee, providing essential assistance at the Annual Conference & Expo. She states that volunteering with AREMA is “an incredible opportunity to network, share technical knowledge, and learn from expert colleagues. I get to participate in education and professional development activities that apply to career goals.”
Prior to working at Benesch, Schroeder noted some of her career highlights in the transportation industry, including working as a Design Manager for Parsons-Odebrecht Joint Venture in Miami, Fla.; as a Business Developer/Bid Technical Manager for Alstom Transportation Group in New York, N.Y.; and as a Commercial Manager in the Northern Line Services Agreement PFI (30-year Maintenance Contract for London Underground Trains and Station Communications) for Alstom Transport UK, in London, England. And even with the many exciting stories she could share about her career path, she was inching her way into the rail industry. “Know thyself and be flexible to create the career you are passionate about,” says Schroeder. “We work most of our lives, so find a course of action that inspires and gives you great pleasure every day.”
Schroeder discovered her passion for transportation early in life. “I was a mechanic on my WWII Fighter Pilot dad’s vintage cars…I was born to be in the transit industry!” And while working for Deleuw, Cather & Company (now Parsons Corporation), an international company with broad transportation market capabilities, Schroeder learned about the rail and transit group, begged her way into the fold, and never looked back. “I love the railroad industry. I am a total geek about the mechanisms that make trains operate—that means all train systems, train management, and train interfaces with infrastructure, including track, power, signals, and communications.”
Schroeder believes the most rewarding part of her work is helping and mentoring colleagues to achieve their railroading dreams. She attributes this to others who have served in the industry like Brigid Hynes-Cherin, who was educated as an environmental lawyer, and served as Regional Administrator for Federal Transit Administration Regions 2 (NY, NJ), 3 (PA, MD, DE, DC, WV, VA) and 9 (CA, AZ, NV, HI). “Brigid taught me how to navigate the transit industry,” declares Schroeder. “Its ways of working and idiosyncrasies—she helped instill my passion for systems planning, design, and delivery.” Because of her mentor, Schroeder encourages others to have a good understanding of every aspect of railroading. She notes that her knowledge and understanding from all angles has enabled her to learn and converse with colleagues to guide each other and fulfill career aspirations and project goals. “You have to be flexible,” she states, “and available to support project work where each other’s expertise can make a difference.”
Outside of the rail industry, Schroeder enjoys soccer. “I was invited to play with a women's outdoor soccer team when I was 35-ish and discovered my eye-foot coordination is much better than my eye-hand coordination, playing softball.” She says that her passion for the game includes tournament travel around the country and the world. Additionally, Schoeder has a passion for music and has played several musical instruments throughout her life. “After I achieved first chair, first clarinet in my junior high school orchestra, I switched to the oboe, which is totally opposite embouchure, like a smile versus a pucker, because we did not have an oboist. During high school and university, I played oboe well enough to solo with several county symphony orchestras.”
Barbara’s career path and extracurricular activities emphasize what she notes as a personal accomplishment in her life: “finding and understanding myself, and having the courage to be me, no matter what others may expect me to be.”
Barbara, we salute you for your leadership, authenticity and go-getter spirit. Thank you for all that you do to make the rail industry that much better.