Kari Gonzales is the Acting President at Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Association of American Railroads.
Prior to this role, Kari served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for TTCI and was responsible for company-wide strategic planning and business functions associated with day-to-day operations.
Kari has been a part of TTCI’s organization for nearly 20 years, starting as a student intern in 2000, and was hired full-time after completing her degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in December of 2002. She also holds a Master of Business Administration from Regis University, Denver (2015).
During her time as a research engineer, Kari excelled in conducting research and managing a diverse set of projects in support of the industry’s Strategic Research Initiative (SRI) program and TTCI’s commercial customers. She contributed a body of work that resulted in authoring/co-authoring of over 25 technical publications, including articles in Railway Age, Railway Track and Structures (RT&S), and the Journal of Wear.
In early 2012, Kari was selected as the inaugural candidate for TTCI’s Railroad Exchange Program and spent a year as a visiting professional with BNSF Railway in Fort Worth, TX on the railroad’s Condition Based Maintenance team. This experience enhanced her understanding of railroad operations and extended her expertise in wayside inspection systems.
Upon her return to TTCI, Kari managed the industry’s senior technical committee, the Equipment Engineering Committee, and revamped TTCI’s Internal Research and Development (IR&D) program. In 2014, Kari was selected as one of Progressive Railroading’s “Rising Stars.”
In addition to her commitment to TTCI, Kari volunteers her time in several industry and community organizations. She is currently the Education Chair for the League of Railway Women and serves on several community Boards.
