Young Professionals Event

Monday, September 14, 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

The Young Professionals Event gives young professionals (40-years-old and under) the opportunity to hear from experienced railway industry experts. It will offer a panel discussion with three senior level industry professionals with practical advice on advancing your railway career. A Q&A session will be open at the end of the discussion, so bring your questions for our panelists. There will also be a fun cocktail demonstration. Gather your ingredients to join us in making a Hurricane cocktail with Regine from Shall We Wine, Inc. Once your drink is perfected, meet and mingle during the networking reception.

Schedule

1:00 – 1:30 PM ET 
Early Career Advice Panel Discussion 

1:30 – 1:45 PM ET
Cocktail Demonstration with Shall We Wine

1:45 – 2:00 PM ET
Networking Reception

Moderator

Gio DiDomenico, PE
Track Engineer
KIEWIT Engineering Group Inc. 

Panelists

Krista L. Keene, EIT, PMP
Sr. Real Estate Development Manager – Utility Occupancies
Amtrak
Krista serves as the Senior Manager for all utility occupations in the Real Estate Department at Amtrak in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Ms. Keene has nearly 20 years of design and management experience on both sides of the railroad industry – agency/project owner and consultant.  Her experience spans all facets of railroad projects. Krista has been as member of AREMA for more than 14 years in addition to her participation in Committee 17, High Speed Rail Systems, where she currently serves as Chair.  Krista recently joined Committee 1 to participate in their Subcommittee 5 – Utilities.  Krista graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BSE and Temple University with an MSE.  She is currently three classes away from finishing her MBA at Rowan University while studying for the PE Exam.  She lives in Cinnaminson, New Jersey with her husband.

Jerry W. Specht
Director of Signal Engineering
BNSF Railway
Jerry is the Director Signal Engineering at BNSF Railway Company. He graduated from North Dakota State University with a BS in Electrical Engineering. He has over 20 years of experience on BNSF Railway Company in the following capacities: Track laborer, Welder, Grinder, Machine Operator; Intern; Corporate Management Trainee; Signal Supervisor; General Construction Supervisor; Manager of Special Projects; General Signal Supervisor; Assistant Division Engineer; Manager of Signal; and Director of Signal Engineering. Jerry is very involved in AREMA and is currently serving as the Communications & Signals Functional Group Vice President. He is also involved with AREMA in the Publications Committee, Seminar Review Committee, and is a member of Committees 36, 37, and 39. 

Francis J. Miller, III, PE
Vice President, Sr. Project Manager – Director of Track Design, Transit & Rail
AECOM
Frank is a Vice-President and Director of Track Design at AECOM as part of the Transit and Rail Practice. He has over three decades of experience in the planning, design, construction, inspection, and project management of major railway, track, and facility engineering projects. Specializing in transit/railway engineering, his assignments have included major rehabilitation, design-build, and new start projects for mass transportation systems throughout the United States, including light-rail and heavy-rail transit systems and commuter, high-speed, and freight railroads.  Mr. Miller is very involved with AREMA and is the current Vice-President of the P&T Functional Group and Chair of the Membership Committee. He previously was a Director of the Passenger and Transit Functional Group and Past Chairman - Committee 17 (2010 – 2013) High Speed Rail Systems; He is currently the Chairman of Sub-Committee D-2 Corridor Planning for Committee 11 - Commuter and Inner-City Rail Systems and also a member of AREMA Committee 24 – Education and Learning where he serves as a Lead Instructor for the AREMA Introduction to Practical Railway Engineering Seminars. Mr. Miller received his B.S.T. in Civil Engineering from Spring Garden College and his A.S.T. in Construction Engineering from Spring Garden College and is a registered Professional Engineer in PA and NC.

Hurricane Cocktail Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 ounces light rum
• 2 ounces dark rum
• 1 ounce fresh lime juice
• 1ounce fresh orange juice
• 1/2 ounce passion fruit puree
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• 1 barspoon grenadine
• Garnish: orange wheel
• Garnish: preserved cherry
  
  

Procedure

• Add all all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake
• Strain into a large Hurricane glass over fresh ice
• Garnish with an orange half-wheel and a preserved cherry