GETTING TO KNOW

RT&S Committee Chair Interview

hobby, and I am always on the lookout for rare, collectible, hard-to- nd bottles.

AREMA: Tell us about your family!

WNEK: I am a proud uncle to a beautiful, 11-month-old baby girl named Makayla and I try to spend as much time with her, my brother Kevin and his wife, Melissa, as much as possible. In my free time, I always enjoy visiting my family’s lake house in Wisconsin. I also love chasing around my 2-year-old Bernedoodle, Riley. She has a ton of energy and keeps me on my toes!

AREMA: If you could share one interesting fact about yourself with the readers of RT&S, what would it be?

CHAIR: JONATHAN M. WNEK, PE, PROJECT MANAGER, RAILPROS

Committee: Committee 17 - High Speed Rail Systems

AREMA: Why did you decide to choose a career in railway engineering?

WNEK: I started o studying electrical engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign and quickly realized that it was not for me. I switched over to Civil Engineering, planning to focus on roadway engineering, not even realizing that railway engineering was an option. Professor Chris Barkan gave a lecture on railway engineering in one of the introductory courses and I found it really interesting, which led me to continue with the rest of the railway engineering program. is led to a summer internship in the Track Department with Amtrak in Philadelphia. A er spending the summer working for the railroad, I was hooked!

AREMA: How did you get started?

WNEK: A er I nished my master’s degree in civil engineering, Amtrak hired me full-time as a track geometry and roadbed improvement engineer in Philadelphia. I focused mainly on track geometry analysis, capital program planning, and working in the eld with high-speed surfacing crews. Getting to travel up and down the Northeast Corridor and having the opportunity to learn from the experienced railroaders allowed me to gain invaluable knowledge at Amtrak that I will carry on through the rest of my career.

AREMA: How did you get involved in AREMA and your committee?

WNEK: I began my AREMA membership as a Student Member at UIUC. I was among the group of students in the railway engineering program who founded the student chapter in 2008. A er college, Amtrak was very supportive of my continued participation in AREMA, and my rst supervisor, Steve Chrismer, played a signi cant role in encouraging me to get involved in Committee 17. rough my committee work, I have met some fantastic colleagues who are passionate about contributing to the MRE, and we always welcome any industry colleagues who share that passion to join our committee.

AREMA: Outside of your job and the hard work you put into AREMA, what are your hobbies?

WNEK: I am an avid runner (although I do go on long breaks) and have completed multiple half-marathons. I am also a diehard Chicago sports fan and try to go to as many Cubs, Blackhawks, and Bears games as possible. Bourbon collecting is my other

WNEK: I am a huge baseball fan and have seen games at 16 di erent MLB stadiums, with plans on visiting every single one. I’ve worked my way through most of the stadiums in the Midwest and Northeast and need to start working my way through the South. If I have the chance, I always try to go to a game wherever I am.

AREMA: What is your biggest achievement?

WNEK: My biggest achievement so far is my career in the rail industry. I have been in the industry for 12.5 years and have had the opportunity to work for both the railroad and on the consulting side. I have had the chance to work on a multitude of freight, high-speed rail, and commuter rail projects. In my current role, I get to work with a fantastic team and get to manage complex and interesting projects.

AREMA:What advice would you give to someone who is trying to pursue a career in the railway industry?

WNEK: Don’t be afraid to ask questions. When you are starting your career o in the rail industry, you don’t know what you don’t know yet, and most everyone is willing to share their experience and help guide you. Also, never pass up a chance to gain eld experience. No matter what role or discipline you are aiming for in the industry, gaining experience in how things actually work and how the system is maintained is invaluable. Finally, get involved! Seek out your student AREMA chapters if they are available. If not, nd a group of people and start one! ere are also several regional and local railway clubs and associations that are accessible and are always looking for younger members to participate.