The Board Members

---

Current Board Position: Board Treasurer

Company Position: Vice President, Labor Relations, BNSF Railway

​Sam joined BNSF in August 2018 as assistant vice president, Labor Relations, with responsibility for labor relations matters related to Transportation employees including the operational change team. He was promoted to his current role in 2023 and now leads labor relations for all BNSF’s unionized employees.

Sam has more than 25 years of labor relations experience, including serving as a labor attorney for the ​New York City Transit Authority, labor counsel for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City and a variety of labor relations roles at CSX where he spent 11 years of his career. Immediately before joining BNSF Sam served as the AVP of Labor Relations responsible for all operating crafts at CSX.

Education

§ Bachelor of Arts in business administration, State University of New York

§ Juris Doctorate, New York Law School

Affiliations/Community Involvement

· Board of Directors, Pillars of Change

· American Bar Association

· Board of Directors, Mental Health America, NE Florida (former)

Personal

Sam lives in Fort Worth, Texas with his wife Marcela, 2 children and their dogs. He and his wife are active in many philanthropic activities involving Latin America and the Caribbean. 

BNSF

BNSF Railway is one of North America’s leading freight transportation companies operating on 32,500 route miles of track in 28 states, and also operates in three Canadian provinces. BNSF is one of the top transporters of consumer goods, grain and agricultural products, low-sulfur coal, and industrial goods such as petroleum, chemicals, housing materials, food and beverages. BNSF’s shipments help feed, clothe, supply, and power American homes and businesses every day. BNSF and its employees have developed one of the most technologically advanced, and efficient railroads in the industry. We work continuously to improve the value of the safety, service, energy, and environmental benefits we provide to our customers and the communities we serve. 

Current Board Position: Board Secretary

Company Position: Director, Operations Excellence, Amazon.com

Relevant Expertise: Highly accomplished senior executive with extensive transformational project and people management experience sharpened over 30 years in the transportation and logistics industry. A successful problem solver and critical thinker with far-reaching knowledge of operations, planning, engineering, and information systems with strong communications and interpersonal skills.

Key Accomplishments: Delivered 97% YoY growth in shipments while improving on-time-deliveries (OTD) to 98% and increasing productivity by over 20% for the largest region at Amazon. Led the research, design, and development of a $400M capex strategic plan approved by the FedEx Board of Directors with a MIRR of 32% and an NPV of over $250M.

Passion for Service: Sean is driven by a deep commitment to promoting equal opportunities and empowering the next generation. Access to quality STEM and Quantum Science education is critical for preparing students to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world. However, underrepresented groups face significant barriers to quality STEM education. This disparity perpetuates a cycle of educational inequality that hinders the potential of countless young minds and deprives our society of valuable contributions. 

Current Board Position: Board President (Chair)

Company Position: Vice President, Operations, Feeding America

Dr. Rah-Khem is a Radical optimist driven to champion systemic change for equitable access and community transformation. His doctoral research in Organizational Behavior, with a focus on Emergent Change, illuminates the complex interactions between systems, organizations, and individuals. Dr. Rah-Khem is the Head Advocate of Change & Innovation for Pillars of Change.

Leveraging these insights and his extensive experience in strategic planning and implementation, Dr. Rah-Khem champions social justice initiatives. He is a relentless advocate for systemic change and innovation, through equitable access to resources, education, economic opportunities, and political representation. His lived experiences fuel a deep commitment to bridging societal divides and empowering marginalized communities.

Dr. Rah-Khem maintains humanity's collective creativity can address the dynamic challenges facing our global communities. However, he emphasizes a critical point:

“We must break the stranglehold of ignorance, hate, and racism.”