Getting to Know Amanda Rey: An Employee Spotlight
1. What is your job title at Northern Plains?
Regional Manager of Marketing and Development
2. What does your job entail?
My role is to identify opportunities where we can strategically grow our business. I work alongside existing and prospective customers to grow our partnership in providing quality rail services. I engage with local economic development groups and other leaders within targeted communities. I collaborate within our service lines to determine where we have capacity to grow and explore potential new business opportunities.
3. When did you start?
I started in June 2024.
4. How did you find out about the job?
I happened to see the online posting for the Complete Track Works Regional Manager position located in Sioux Falls. This piqued my curiosity to explore what other open positions were posted on the Northern Plains website. I was thrilled when I found an opening in Marketing and Development.
5. Why did you want it?
I was drawn to this job for several reasons. After leaving the Canadian Pacific, I knew I wanted to return to the railroad industry when the right opportunity arose. This position aligns with roles I’ve held before, while also presenting the exciting challenge of learning and selling the services business. During my interview at the Grand Forks office, I felt a warm and welcoming atmosphere that reminded me of the Dakota, Minnesota, and Eastern, making it feel like home. Northern Plains and its leadership team have a strong reputation in the industry, and I was impressed by the company’s ambition to expand. I wanted to be part of this exciting future, and each day I spend here reaffirms that I am exactly where I belong!
6. What are you most excited about for the future?
I am excited about our future growth. With the services we provide, we really become a valued partner to our customers. I appreciate our approach on growth to ensure we continue to offer quality service to our customers as we expand our operations. There are many opportunities to explore!
7. What do you enjoy most about your job so far?
I truly love our company! The people and culture here are unlike anything I’ve experienced before, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of such an amazing team. Everyone takes ownership and is always ready to help wherever needed. One of the reasons I’m passionate about the railroad industry is the dedication and hard work of the people, and our team is no exception. I’ve enjoyed building relationships, both internally and externally, and I’ve had the opportunity to spend time in the field with our Safety Training and Complete Track Works teams. This hands-on experience has given me valuable insights into our various business lines and what we can offer our customers.
8. What does your average day look like?
Each day is a little different. Most mornings the sales and marketing team connects to discuss the various items we are working on for the week. Some days consist of being in the field, making cold calls on potential customers or attending scheduled meetings with new and existing customers. I also attend various networking events. Other days are spent in the office, making follow-up calls, preparing proposals, or working on projects.
9. Where are you from? What is your hometown?
I grew up in Sioux Falls (South Dakota). I moved away a couple of times to Ohio and Oklahoma, but always found my way back to Sioux Falls. It is a great place to live and raise a family.
10. What do you enjoy doing away from work?
When I am not at work, I am usually attending my kids’ sports and music activities. If I do get free time, I love to cook, bake, craft, and garden. My favorite time is being at the lake with family and friends. I enjoy fishing and boating. I always look forward to the peacefulness of an early morning paddle on the kayak or paddleboard. Every day is a great day at the lake!
11. Do you have any great memories from your time at Northern Plains so far?
One highlight of my time here is the day I participated in locomotive training at a customer’s facility with the Safety team. I was able to climb aboard a modern BNSF locomotive and participate in the operations training process. It was a memorable experience!
