By Alexandra Harper 
The Beginning
The name Claude Edward Elkins Jr. makes you think of drive, strength, and change. He worked as a railway worker and worked his way up to become an executive. His career shows both the good and bad sides of working in corporate America. People look up to him as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Norfolk Southern. His story can teach us about hard work, being flexible, and how hard it is to handle growth in one of the most competitive industries.
His work history not only inspires Norfolk Southern workers, but it also shows that dedication to learning, growing, and understanding the business from the ground up can lead to amazing results. Claude Edward Elkins Jr.’s story is both inspiring and humbling. It shows the good and bad sides of ambition and the stress that comes with being a leader at the top level.
Quick Bio
Born in Southwest Virginia, Claude Edward “Ed” Elkins Jr. has a BA in English from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, an MBA in Port & Maritime Economics from Old Dominion University, and management certificates from places like Harvard Business School. In 1988, he started working for Norfolk Southern as a Road Brakeman. He moved up through the company’s ranks and will become Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer in 2021. He is known for going from being a rookie brakeman to being a top boss. Elkins is on a number of boards, such as those for the National Association of Manufacturers and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. His estimated net worth is between $33,000 and $470,000, mostly from the stocks he owns and the extra money he gets as an executive at Norfolk Southern.
Early Years and the Start of a School
Claude Edward Elkins Jr.’s life began in Southwest Virginia, a place that taught him to be disciplined, strong, and work hard. As a child in this setting, he learnt how important it is to keep going, which would become very important to him in his career.
Getting educated was a key part of his success. Elkins went to the University of Virginia’s College at Wise to get a Bachelor of Arts in English. There, he developed his speaking and critical thinking skills. After that, he got an MBA in Port and Maritime Economics from Old Dominion University to improve his skills. He kept looking for ways to grow. He got better at being a leader by going to Harvard Business School, UVA Darden School, and the University of Tennessee Supply Chain Institute for advanced classes.
Starting a Job on the Front Lines
Claude Edward Elkins Jr. started his job at Norfolk Southern in 1988 as a road brakeman, which was one of the hardest jobs you could have. This job required him to be physically strong, disciplined, and accurate, so he got to see directly how the railway works.
In his early years, he also worked as a conductor, train engineer, and yardmaster on short notice. Being in charge of people on the front lines taught him a lot about the business, which would later affect how he led others. Many executives have never worked directly with customers or clients before, but Elkins built his job on hands-on experience, which made his path stand out.
Move up to roles in marketing and strategy
After getting good at operational jobs, Claude Edward Elkins Jr. moved on to Intermodal Marketing. This change was the first step in his move into leadership and planning. He did a lot of work in marketing for almost twenty years, building strong relationships with customers, knowing how freight moves, and coming up with new ideas that made Norfolk Southern more competitive.
There were some tough times in this part of his work. When he switched from operations to marketing, he had to learn new skills and deal with success goals. Still, his knowledge of how things worked became an advantage because it helped him connect what customers wanted with what the railway could actually do. He was on the rise as a star in the company because he had these skills.
Getting up the corporate ladder
Elkins’s hard work and success made it possible for him to take on executive duties. He was made Group Vice President of Chemicals Marketing in 2016 and was in charge of one of the most important parts of train transport. By 2018, he had become Vice President of Industrial Products because of his skills, which gave him even more power within Norfolk Southern.
These jobs put his ability to balance what customers want with what the business needs to do to the test. He was praised for coming up with growth plans, but he also had to deal with the bad realities of market volatility and problems in the supply chain. His leadership was shown by both the things that went well and the problems that made him better at making decisions.
Getting the job of Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer
When Claude Edward Elkins Jr. was named Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Norfolk Southern in December 2021, it was the high point of his career. This accomplishment showed how much he had changed from being a brakeman to a business leader.
He is in charge of many different business units in this job, such as Intermodal, Automotive, Industrial Products, Real Estate, Industrial Development, Short Line Marketing, Field Sales, and Customer Logistics. The duties are huge and need strategic thinking, toughness, and the ability to handle both challenges and chances. His story shows how positive ambition can lead to success, but it also shows how heavy the duty is that comes with planning the business future of a Fortune 500 company.
Contributions to the Community and Business
In addition to being a business leader, Elkins has been involved in the community and in the industry as a whole. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the East Lake Foundation, and TTX Company are some of the groups that he has helped. His involvement shows that he cares about more than just Norfolk Southern. He also cares about economic growth and the well-being of the neighbourhood.
He has built a legacy of service that goes beyond business success through these actions. His example shows how important it is to balance the duties of a business with the duties of a citizen.
What Claude Edward Elkins Jr. left behind.
A lot of people remember Claude Edward Elkins Jr. for being able to work his way up from the bottom to the top. His story shows that leadership can be reached through hard work, learning, and staying strong.
His story also shows the stress that executives in a complicated business have to deal with. It’s not easy to balance the needs of shareholders, customers, and employees while also looking out for their health and safety. The most important thing about his work legacy is that he found a balance between the good and bad parts of being a leader.
In conclusion
In today’s business world, Claude Edward Elkins Jr. is both a success story and a task for leaders. His story shows how hard work, education, and the ability to change can lead to success. He went from being a brakeman to being the Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Norfolk Southern. His job hasn’t been easy, but it shows that hard work and a clear vision can lead to success.
As his legacy grows, Claude Edward Elkins Jr. continues to show what is possible when hard work and desire come together. His life story can teach young workers, business leaders, and communities alike.
FAQs
1. What does Claude Edward Elkins Jr. do?
Claude Edward Elkins Jr. is the Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Norfolk Southern. He is known for going from being a brakeman on a railway to being a top business boss.
2. What kind of schooling does he have?
He has a BA in English, an MBA in Port and Maritime Economics, and advanced management certificates from Harvard, UVA Darden, and other top schools.
3.How long has he worked for Norfolk Southern?
Before taking on more important leadership tasks, he started out as a road brakeman in 1988.
4. What does he have to do as Chief Commercial Officer?
He is in charge of many different types of businesses, such as Intermodal, Automotive, Industrial Products, Real Estate, Industrial Development, Short Line Marketing, Field Sales, and Customer Logistics.
5. What will he leave behind?
His amazing rise from working on the railway to being in charge of the company shows that hard work and persistence can break down barriers and leave a lasting effect.