10 BNSF Railway HR leaders
Rebecca Schrimsher, Assistant Vice President Human Resources at BNSF Railway, is one of ten BNSF Railway HR leaders listed here, alongside people who hold assistant vice president, regional director and director roles in HR, total rewards and talent development. A reader can learn how HR leaders work at BNSF Railway from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Brock Beard, MBA, PHR
LinkedInExperience: Director Human Resources - Corporate Departments & Employee Relations · BNSF Railway
Brock Beard has been Director Human Resources - Corporate Departments & Employee Relations at BNSF Railway since March 2024, and was Director Human Resources - Engineering there from December 2022 to August 2024. Brock Beard was Human Resources Manager - Technology Services & Strategy at BNSF Railway in 2022 and describes working as a Human Resources Director and business partner to leaders.
Carrington Barnes
LinkedInExperience: Director Talent Development · BNSF Railway
Carrington Barnes has been Director Talent Development at BNSF Railway since March 2026. Carrington Barnes was Director HR - Engineering at BNSF Railway from May 2024 to March 2026 and Director Human Resources there from 2022 to 2024, and held the roles Compensation Manager (2021 to 2022) and Human Resources Manager, Marketing (2019 to 2021) at the railroad.
Heather Graham, PhD
LinkedInExperience: AVP, Total Rewards, HR Operations & People Analytics · BNSF Railway
Heather Graham has been AVP, Total Rewards, HR Operations & People Analytics at BNSF Railway since May 2023. Heather Graham was AVP, Total Rewards, Workforce & HR Technology there from 2020 to 2023, General Director, Compensation, HRIS, and Workforce Planning from 2018 to 2020, and Senior Director Human Resources- Marketing, Sales, & Intermodal Operations from 2016 to 2018.
Katherine E. DeWaters
LinkedInExperience: Human Resources Director: Operations Departments · BNSF Railway
Katherine E. DeWaters has been Human Resources Director: Operations Departments at BNSF Railway since March 2026. Katherine E. DeWaters was Human Resources Director: bnsf | tech from August 2025 to March 2026 and Human Resources Director: Corporate Departments from January to August 2025, and held Human Resources Manager roles at BNSF Railway in talent acquisition and technology services from 2021 to 2025.
Kristell Hodges
LinkedInExperience: Human Resources Director · BNSF Railway
Kristell Hodges has been Human Resources Director at BNSF Railway since September 2025. Kristell Hodges was Human Resource Business Partner at BNSF Railway in 2025, Director EEO and Diversity there from 2021 to 2025, and Director Central Staffing and Sourcing from 2016 to 2021, and was Manager Staffing - College Recruiting at the railroad from 2014 to 2016.
Leeann Podolske, PHR, GPHR
LinkedInExperience: Regional Human Resources Director - South Region · BNSF Railway
Leeann Podolske has been Regional Human Resources Director - South Region at BNSF Railway since October 2020. Leeann Podolske was Director of Human Resources - Red River and Southwest Divisions at BNSF Railway from 2018 to 2020, Director of Human Resources, Northwest - Montana - Twin Cities Divisions from 2016 to 2018, and Director of Human Resources - Northwest Division from 2011 to 2016.
Melanie Edmundson
LinkedInExperience: Director Human Resources (Operations) · BNSF Railway
Melanie Edmundson has been Director Human Resources (Operations) at BNSF Railway since August 2018. Melanie Edmundson was Director Talent Development, Transportation at BNSF Railway from 2016 to 2018, HR Director, TX Division in 2016, and Manager Human Resources (Technology Services) there from 2013 to 2015.
Melodi Tripp
LinkedInExperience: AVP Human Resources · BNSF Railway
Melodi Tripp has been AVP Human Resources at BNSF Railway since March 2022. Melodi Tripp was General Director Human Resources at BNSF Railway from 2021 to 2022 and Director Human Resources there from 2015 to 2021, and held the roles Director Engineering Support (2010 to 2015) and Director Engineering Planning & Administration (2009 to 2010) at the railroad.
Meredith Stasko, PHR
LinkedInExperience: Director of Human Resources · BNSF Railway
Meredith Stasko has been Director of Human Resources at BNSF Railway since October 2022 and held Human Resources Manager roles at BNSF Railway from 2018 to 2022. Meredith Stasko was Corporate HR Manager at Omni Hotels & Resorts from 2017 to 2018 and Assistant Director of Human Resources there from 2016 to 2017.
Rebecca Schrimsher
LinkedInExperience: Assistant Vice President Human Resources · BNSF Railway
Rebecca Schrimsher has been Assistant Vice President Human Resources at BNSF Railway since August 2025. Rebecca Schrimsher held the roles General Director Human Resources (Sr HRBP) at BNSF Railway from 2022 to 2025 and General Director Compensation, HRIS & Workforce Planning from 2020 to 2022, and was Director of Human Resources there from 2018 to 2020.
Choose the right perspective
Pick the person whose HR area is closest to your question, since HR business partnering, total rewards, regional field HR and talent development involve different decisions. Check the start date of each role to see how recent the experience is.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What did you focus on first when you took on your current HR role, and what did you learn from it?
- 02How do you decide which HR problems need one approach for everyone and which need a different approach for each group?
- 03What has your own work taught you about supporting leaders in operating departments?
Reaching BNSF Railway HR leaders
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About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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