Powered by Legacy: Celebrating Black Contributions with VRE
VRE is a diverse organization made up of individuals from various backgrounds. This February, we're celebrating our VIPs and honoring Black History Month! We recognize African American culture by highlighting the talented professionals who help keep VRE running. I was honored to speak with two remarkable individuals who bring talent, dedication, and a spirit of unity to our team. By sharing their stories, we celebrate their achievements and the lasting impact of inclusivity and excellence at VRE.
Alana Vernon: Full Steam Ahead
The only female engineer on the VRE/Keolis team, Alana Vernon has spent 21 years on the tracks – breaking barriers and mastering her craft. Her 15-year journey with Keolis, the company providing engineers and conductors on VRE trains, is remarkable. Her job is multifaceted – operating locomotives, monitoring instruments, and coordinating with crew and dispatchers. But she recognizes that the foundation of her success was laid more than a century ago. “I’m standing on the shoulders of my ancestors and all those who have come before me,” she said. Alana acknowledges the weight of that history, appreciating how many Black Americans fought simply for the right to have a seat on a train, let alone run one. Representation is important to her, and she draws inspiration from trailblazers like Edwina Justus, who became the first Black female engineer in 1976 and Ralph Roberts, who in 1973 became the first African American train engineer.
A proud Belizean immigrant, Alana moved to New York at age eight. Her late father, a Vietnam veteran and activist, turned their Harlem brownstone into a refuge for those in need, while her mother, a seamstress-turned-interior designer, built a career rooted in craftsmanship. From an early age, through her parents’ activism and strong values, Alana was deeply aware of Black history and the struggles for equality in America. That consciousness, shaped by her upbringing and paired with her own determination, paved her path in the railroad industry. Alana wore many hats before finding her place on the rails.
Her transportation career began in 2002 with Greyhound, then as a conductor with New Jersey Transit in 2004. Soon Alana realized she had found her calling. She vividly
remembers her 2010 interview with Keolis and VRE – getting the job on a Friday, packing up, and moving to Virginia by Sunday. A testament to her confidence and unwavering belief that she would one day call herself a locomotive engineer. For those aspiring to follow in her footsteps, Alana offers this advice: “One of the things I
feel like a lot of people don’t realize is this is a field where you don’t need a degree. Of course, it’s a job where you must put the role first. But you can make a great living and a great retirement once you get in and put in the time to hone your career. It’s not for everyone, but if you stay committed, you can have a wonderful, fulfilling career.”
What does Alana find most fulfilling? It's the people she shares her days with. “I love what I do... A lot of it really has to do with representation. I have two Black supervisors that I see every day. It makes it a positive workplace and pushes me to be confident, seeing them and knowing that I can always move forward. It makes me feel like I matter and don’t have to hide who I am or where I’ve come from.”Alana acknowledges there are downsides to her job. What pulls on her heartstrings are the three fatalities she witnessed during her 21 years on the rails. Each life lost left a heavy imprint, a reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and the safety precautions VRE and Keolis prioritize. Alanas faith and the strong support system from her church family has carried her through the toughest moments – when she is no longer the vigilant, responsive engineer fulfilling a role, but simply a person feeling the weight of those experiences.
While still years away from retirement, Alana opes to return to Belize, her country of birth. The call of the northeastern coast tugs at her. But until then, VRE is honored to have her at the helm, safely transporting passengers to their destination. As we spoke of home, heritage, intersectionality, and the journey that led her here, she left
me with a quote from Maya Angelou—words she carries with her in every stride forward: “I am the dream and the hope of the slave.”
Mike Mills: A Journey on Both Sides of the Rails
One thing about Keolis’ VRE employees – they are dedicated. Take Mike Mills, a man whose career has spanned two decades, shaped by both opportunity and perseverance. What does representation in the rail industry mean to Mills? “It means being able to set an example as a Black man,” he said. “To be someone a young cousin or a kid out there can look up to and know – this is possible. No one can hold them back.”Hoping to be a source of inspiration, Mills draws from his own family. Experiencing personal loss has shaped him, reminding him to put his loved ones first. His guiding principle? “Leave a room better than you found it.” And in both his professional career and his personal life, that is what he strives to do.
Mills entered the rail industry at a crossroads, like many 20-somethings figuring out their next steps. At 22, he was juggling school, working at Home Depot, and searching for direction when he met a locomotive engineer who worked at the freight railroad company CSX. This chance encounter led Mills from conductor to engineer to transportation manager. Not many people can say they have become an engineer twice, mastering both freight and passenger rail. Breaking down the difference between his past roles, Mills explains that conductors are the faces of the train – the ones greeting passengers, opening doors, and handling customer service. Engineers are in the locomotive, operating the train. Mills has done it all and his experience across both freight and passenger service gives him a unique perspective in his leadership role as a transportation manager with Keolis today. He understands the weight of responsibility in every position, knowing that, whether hauling cargo or carrying commuters, lives are always in his hands.