Army Veteran Finds Home at RailWorks

After 25 years in the military, Scott Sneen was ready for a new adventure, but anxious for what post-Army life would look like. By enrolling in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) Corporate Fellowship Program, Sneen found his new home at RailWorks Track Systems in Chehalis, Wash.

As part of our commitment to Veterans, RailWorks partners with HOH to provide meaningful employment opportunities to transitioning military.

“RailWorks is committed to recruiting and retaining top military members,” said Carl Halbert, Regional Human Resources Manager. “Veterans bring numerous benefits to our team — they’re used to working in high-stress environments, so they truly understand the value of teamwork and readily seek out challenges.”

Sneen interviewed with multiple companies participating in the HOH program, but RailWorks stood out to him.

“What got me excited about RailWorks was the culture and the idea of working in a new industry,” said Sneen. “As a child, I was always drawn to the railroads near my home, and I knew RailWorks would give me insight into the management of rail infrastructure projects.”

Born and raised in a small Wisconsin town, Sneen enrolled in the Army at 18 — a career choice that has taken him all over the world, from locations across the U.S. to assignments in Panama Canal, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan. During his time serving, he acquired two associate’s degrees, a bachelor’s degree and worked in human resources for 10 years before spending his last 15 years as a Military Intelligence Warrant Officer.

This summer, Sneen joined the RailWorks team as a Project Engineer and is now responsible for planning and executing rail infrastructure construction projects. The skills he developed in the Army — time management, team leadership, contingency planning, attention to detail and flexibility — have translated to the work at RailWorks, where he’s learning about estimating, bidding, scheduling, logistics and conflict resolution.

“I want my team to know they can count on me to execute any task with efficiency and ensure we are safely conducting our work,” he said. “My military work provided me with the skills to always be flexible and make quick decisions in dynamic situations.”

After completing his fellowship in November, Sneen will be officially out-processed from the Army and ready to begin his next chapter as a full-time employee at RailWorks.

“When I began my military retirement journey, I was worried and scared,” said Sneen. “Every employee I’ve interacted with at RailWorks has been a stellar professional and has made me feel welcomed. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience and I’m grateful for the time and effort RailWorks has put into my professional development.”

To learn more about careers at RailWorks, visit our Careers site. To learn more about Hiring Our Heroes, visit their website.