Kevin Keller, PG, CGWP, is the Vice President/National Director of Intermodal Transportation Planning at HDR. And although it may seem like he’s always been in the rail industry and knows everybody in it, he didn’t begin that way. “I started out as a State Regulator, then moved to being a Federal Regulator,” he said. “It was during my tenure at the U.S. Department of Energy that I had the opportunity to work on a rail project, working with Class 1 railroads to design rail cars that could safely transport spent nuclear waste. That got me hooked on the rail industry and resulted in me going to a Class 1 RR. And ever since then, I’ve been working in the industry.”
Keller has many career highlights that he can attribute to his career in the industry: confirmation as Chair of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Freight Rail Transportation and Supply Chain Reliability Committee and TRB Rail Group Executive Board; Past President of the American Railway Development Association (ARDA); Vice President of Engineering Services AREMA Functional Group Board of Directors, Chair of AREMA Committee 13 (Environmental), and Director on the AREMA Foundation Board; and Project Principal and Project Manager on numerous critical freight rail projects, including Uinta Basin Rail Study (i.e. Seven Counties Supreme Court Decision), CP/KCS Merger, CN/EJE Merger, USDOT Federal Grant Programs Development (i.e TIGER, etc), PTC FCC Compliance Programmatic Agreement development, and the USDOT RRIF Loan Program development. He also recently received the Association of American Railroad’s (AAR) Career Achievement Award in recognition of his career dedicated to environmental stewardship. But his biggest highlight (and success) outside of the industry is “being married to a saint for nearly 40 years that continues to put up with me, and having two great kids.”
Keller has been a Member of AREMA since AREA was incorporated into AREMA, in 1997. He is on Committee 24, Education and Professional Development, and was one of the original officers, and continues to be involved as an Emeritus Member with Committee 13, Environmental, and has served on the Membership Committee (twice). He noted that being involved on Committees in AREMA allowed him to develop important career connections and relationships that he could never have done on his own. “The rail industry is unique in that it can make career and personal relationships that can last throughout your whole career.” Keller says he tells anyone and everyone to actively participate in as many professional development activities as possible, like the ones AREMA offers.
As he has done so much in and for the industry, Keller says the most rewarding part of his work is mentoring younger staff and sharing the relationships and experiences that he has grown over the years. “This industry can provide a variety of career opportunities and paths for everyone, from management to technical, to administrative and operations. Don’t hesitate to reach out of your comfort zone to try new tasks.” He also adds that communication is the most valuable skill to focus on in one’s career. “You can be the most experienced, technically skilled person in the industry, but if you can’t communicate those skills to anyone else, it doesn’t matter.”
Outside the industry and in his free time, Keller says that he is a lifetime Scouter and participates in scouting activities. For the past 23 years, he has been and continues to be the Lead Commissioner for a 10-day summer camp session at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation. Keller is also a diehard Disney fan and takes advantage of going to Disney World at every opportunity.
Kevin, we salute your passion for the industry, your knowledge, and your ability to give back. Thank you for all that you do to make the rail industry that much better.