LRW Career Center
Webinar Series, Session 3
What Happens If You Don't Get The Job?
Session Host
Erika Bruhnke
Director-At-Large, League of Railway Women
Vice President, Training Services, RailPros
Erika Bruhnke is the Vice President of Training Services for RailPros, leading the organization’s Training and Media Services divisions. These divisions create and deliver vital rail safety programs to both contractor and railroad employees, as well as supporting the RailPros staff with their training needs.

Prior to joining RailPros, Erika spent a decade with BNSF Railway. She began as a Management Trainee, graduating to the role of a Terminal Trainmaster in Seattle, WA. She quickly promoted to a Division Safety Manager in Billings, MT and a few years later to a Senior Safety Manager role at BNSF headquarters.

After joining the system safety team, she progressed through the safety ranks, concluding her BNSF career as the Director of System Safety where she oversaw all system safety communications and training.

During her time with BNSF, Erika also was an active participant in regional diversity councils, eventually assuming the role as President of the Women’s Network.

Currently, Erika serves on the Board of Directors for the National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) and the League of Railway Women (LRW), and participates on Committee 24 with the American Railway Engineering & Maintenance of Way Association (AREMA) and the Supplier and Young Professionals Committees with the American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA).
Meet Our Rail Industry Experts
Ilyssa DeCasperis
Chief People Officer, Metrolink
Ilyssa DeCasperis is a human resources executive with a solid background in labor and employee relations.

She is a performance-driven professional with a proven record of success in providing excellence in all aspects of human resources. 

Ilyssa is currently the first Chief People Officer and EEO Officer for Metrolink.

Prior to that, she was the Vice President of Human Resources for Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center, where she completed an initial Collective Bargaining Agreement with SEIU-UHW in nine months without any labor unrest, after an extended three-year dispute (prior to her arrival), along with making changes within the HR Department’s scope, executing a number of employee events and reducing outside labor counsel costs. 

She has also sat on the union side as the Executive Director for the American Association of University Professors, during which she worked with the clinical and research faculty and librarians of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences of New Jersey (formerly UMDNJ) and the Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine. 

She has held positions such as the System Director of Labor and Employee Relations for the Greater Hudson Valley Health System and the New York City Transit Authority in the Office of Labor Relations. 

Ilyssa holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from St. John’s University (NY) and a JD from Brooklyn Law School.

Ilyssa enjoys spending time with her husband, children and two dogs, Khloe and Hudson. As a family, they are passionate about supporting charitable causes, including pet rescue and fundraising for various groups.

Ilyssa is the co-founder of CompelAmerica, an organization dedicated to eradicating bullying, from childhood to adults.
Andrew Stahl
Founder, Stahl Recruiting
Growing-up on a small farm outside Springfield, Oregon, Andrew started college on a violin performance scholarship.

Later gravitating to economics, he earned B.S. (with honors) and later a master's degree from the University of Oregon.

As a graduate student, Andrew studied rail industry issues concerning market power effects, merger synergies, captured shipper rates, and marginal cost estimations of individual rail movements. His thesis consisted of an operational, funding and demand analysis of Amtrak.

Moving to California post-schooling, he oversaw the development and structuring of derivative contracts for a start-up financial exchange. Later work called for a move to Chicago, hub of the futures and options business.

Keen to enter the rail industry, Andrew became an Executive Recruiter. Once learning the trade, Andrew formed his agency to make an individualized, positive mark within our growing transportation industry.

Stahl Recruiting continues to make an impact every day. Handling business with honesty, integrity and ethics, his global team brings forth top talent to the rail and infrastructure community.

Having also spent time in the auto industry, Andrew maintains a continued draw to all things automotive, with particular passions for racing, auto restoration and road trips. Other interests include music, film, military history, philosophy, and causes supporting those in need.
Maggie Vuono
Chief Sales Officer, RailPod, Inc.
Maggie Vuono is the Chief Sales Officer for RailPod, Inc. 

She began her railway career seventeen years ago in the Rail Division for the LB Foster Company. Maggie has also held estimating and management positions at several railway supply and contracting companies, most recently as the Director of Sales for Holland, LP.

ln addition to managing and developing sales and growth for RailPod, she is responsible for cross-functional strategic planning and vision.
 
Maggie is an experienced leader with a consistent, results-driven record of operational and project management. She is a powerful mediator with a proven ability to develop business, increase revenue and reduce costs without jeopardizing performance or quality.

Maggie is also known for excellent communication and interpersonal skills, strong work ethic, self-motivation and dedication to customers.

She serves as a Board Member of the NRC, as well as Scholarship Chair and is also a member of the Education Committee. She is also a member of AREMA, ASLRRA and LRW. Maggie serves on AREMA Committee 5: Track, where she serves as Supplier Chairman. 

Maggie has a BA in Marketing and a MS in Business & Leadership.
Thank You To Our Corporate Partners
For Supporting This Webinar!
Upcoming Career Center Webinars
Session #4 - How to Make a Resume for a Railroad Position (& cover letter)
About Us
Founded in 1997, the League of Railway Women (LRW) is committed to improving the railroad industry by connecting and cultivating women in rail. Our mission is to advance the representation, recognition and opportunities for women, thereby promoting diversity and improving the business results of the railroad industry. Learn more at www.railwaywomen.org