Alumni Spotlight: Micki Rust, TTX Company
Name: Micki Rust
Cohort: 19
Graduation Year: 2022
Current Position: Director General Equipment at TTX Company
Micki Rust is a recent graduate of TSCI's Executive Master of Science in Transportation Management and is a current industry leader. Like many industry companies, TTX Company chooses candidates to attend TSCI through an application and selection process to invest in leadership retention and growth. TTX continues to serve on the TSCI Board. Micki, having been sponsored through the program, reflects on the strong bonds and exceptional friendships made during the program. "A significant benefit of attending the Institute and a program that is industry specific is that it allows continued opportunity for connection. In addition to my Cohort, the program has led me to build relationships with other alumni from the program."
Micki was recently named Scholarship Committee Chair for the League of Railway Women (LRW). The League of Railway Women, founded in 1997, is “committed to improving the railroad industry by connecting and cultivating women in rail” with a mission to “advance the representation, recognition and opportunities for women, thereby promoting diversity and improving business results of the railroad industry.”
Micki began her rail career in 2008 at GE Railcar Services, a railcar leasing company in Chicago. When GE was put up for sale, she realized her desire to remain in the rail industry and decided to apply for a role at TTX Company. In December of 2015, she was hired into the Finance Department as the Contract Compliance Auditor. Then she moved to the Fleet Department where she held various positions from the Manager of Asset Management to her current role as Director of General Equipment.
As the Director of General Equipment at TTX, Micki is responsible for overseeing the distribution of the general equipment fleet of railcars to North America's Class I carriers, the management of the North American Boxcar Pool, and assisting carriers and shippers in heavy duty railcar reservations. Additionally, she is involved in strategic decisions that support future TTX railcar needs and is responsible for partnering with internal stakeholders to ensure railcar availability meets the utilization needs of TTX partner owners.
Looking at what's in store for TTX in the near future, there is much anticipation of the new fleet management system that will help streamline and improve current processes and introduce new, improved functionality, allowing increased efficiencies for both internal and external users.
On her free time, Micki enjoys hanging out with her husband and two children, Grayson and Dagny. They recently adopted two puppies and have been spending significant time working on their manners through training. Any additional free time is spent training for an upcoming half marathon that Micki is running with another Cohort 19 graduate, Nicole James.
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