When Caroline Mays attended the Freight Academy in 2016, she already had an extensive background as a freight industry professional. She was Freight Branch Manager in the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) at the time she enrolled, and although she had been working in the profession for several years, she remembers learning from the lectures, the trainings, and from the numerous industry speakers who came to offer insights and new perspectives.
Caroline initially began her role in freight planning without much formal training in the area. She acquired all her skills working on the job and was particularly glad that she had the opportunity to participate in an organized training with much more structure.
“This was the first time all the components of the job were brought together for me, which was very important and impactful,” she said. “It really helped me as a freight planner to see a more comprehensive view and understand better why we do what we do.”
Her cohort included public sector professionals from all over the country, which allowed her to meet peers with whom she was able to create lasting professional relationships and friendships that remain to this day. She counts learning from them, and at times, leaning on them as among the best results of her experience.
“The Freight Academy helped me in my career journey and with becoming a leader, and although I knew the mechanics and technology of freight planning, I learned to apply my skills as a leader,” she said. “It made me more well-rounded and less focused on the technical. I needed to find out what I could do to help TxDOT as a better leader, and it gave me a greater passion for what I did, and how I did it.”
While she was enriching her leadership skills, she also began to consider how she could become a better mentor to others. She learned to lead other freight professionals from within her agency while ensuring freight remained at the forefront of their goals. Her perspective on impact of her decisions widened, and she learned to educate others, create champions, and strengthen relationships with stakeholders.
“Another very important part of my experience at the Freight Academy was the exposure to all elements of freight transportation, including roads, warehouses, railroads, and ports,” she said. “It’s hard to imagine how it all comes together, but a lot of it is about building and maintaining relationships with others in those areas. Now I’m bold enough to go and knock on those doors, bring people together, and be more comprehensive in what we do at TxDOT.”
All the time and effort she put into the Freight Academy proved to be well worth it. Soon after she completed the program, she was elevated to Section Director, and then promoted again to lead three groups in her department. After that, she was again elevated to her current position as Director of Planning and Modal Programs for TxDOT. Her time at the Freight Academy was a differentiator when her supervisors were considering her for promotions, and she considers it a part of her success and her career’s trajectory. The knowledge and innovative ideas that she brought back helped her advance, ultimately to her current position in executive leadership.
“I’m able to influence decision making in the public sector and better define our roles in the public sector,” she continued. “We are the ones who convene the stakeholders. Freight decisions cannot be an afterthought, because there are huge implications for railroads, roadways, and border crossings. Everything I learned at the Freight Academy helped me and equipped me with the knowledge and the renewed passion to educate others within the agency, and outside as well.”
Her professional network grew after the Freight Academy and continues to expand. She has found a community of freight industry professionals and other peers who always remind each other that they are always available to offer support and guidance as they face similar challenges in their work.
“Completing the Freight Academy helps you gain confidence because you see that you’re not isolated. We work better together when we have a network of people from whom we can learn, and that happens after the Academy,” she said. “We use our relationships to keep growing as people and as professionals, and to be entrusted with more responsibilities. You can see how the investment pays off over time. You see that almost everyone who attends the Freight Academy has moved up in their roles.”
