FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2024
Contact:
Mike Friedberg
202-469-5131
(Washington, D.C.) - On April 5, The Coalition of the Northeast Corridor (CNEC) voted to elect Caroline Decker as the new CNEC Vice Chair. In this newly created role, Decker will work closely with CNEC's Chair, Ronnie Hakim, and other members to advance the coalition's mission of advocating for critical funding for Amtrak's Northeast Corridor (NEC) infrastructure.
Ms. Decker currently serves as the Senior Vice President and National Rail Business Director for one of the world’s largest leading engineering firms, WSP. Prior to joining WSP, Decker served as the service line lead for the NEC where she coordinated operational readiness and planning activities for the opening of Amtrak’s Moynihan Train Hall. Additionally, Ms. Decker secured key legislation and annual funding increases for the NEC during her time as VP of Government Affairs and Corporate Communications.
Ms. Decker’s executive leadership also includes her time as a Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for former Representative Bob Clement (D-TN-5). She was honored with Railway Age’s “Women in Rail” award in 2017 and the WTS-DC Chapter “Woman of the Year” in 2019. She also founded “Notch 8 - Women of Amtrak”, serving as Amtrak’s first company-wide women’s employee resource group.
“The CNEC Board of Directors is pleased to announce the election of Caroline Decker to serve as the Vice Chair of the Coalition,” said Mike Friedberg, CNEC Executive Director. “With decades of leadership in the transportation sector dedicated to modernizing transit and passenger rail services, her nomination underscores CNEC's commitment to strengthening its leadership team and advancing its advocacy efforts on behalf of the Northeast Corridor. Her expertise and dedication will undoubtedly contribute to the coalition's continued success in advocating for the necessary resources to maintain and enhance one of the nation's most vital transportation networks”.
Reflecting on her appointment, Caroline Decker stated, "It’s a privilege to serve as the new Vice Chair of the Coalition for the Northeast Corridor working with so many trusted and respected colleagues across multiple sectors. Our collective advocacy for funding for the Northeast Corridor has proven extremely effective and working with our Chair Ronnie Hakim and all our members we will build on this track record of success and continue to make the case for badly needed funds to replace and rehabilitate key assets on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.”
“Caroline Decker is a proven leader whose passion for passenger rail and experience overseeing transformational projects on the NEC is a perfect fit in her new role at the CNEC,” said Amtrak Chief Executive Officer Stephen Gardner. “Congratulations to Caroline on her appointment and we look forward to further collaboration with her, and the CNEC, to secure generational investments for the NEC and continue a new era of passenger rail.”
CNEC is the business community’s voice for strengthening rail infrastructure in order to reduce congestion, create jobs and grow the economy. We represent diverse stakeholders who rely on the Corridor to conduct commerce, access customers, and transport employees.