Think about how it feels to operate a large corporation that has to transport millions of tons of commodities in daily operation nationwide. So, suppose that an individual managing the sales and marketing of that company did not begin in an office with a fancy office set-up. Instead, he began on the outside where he worked on the trains. It is the tale of Claude Edward Elkins Jr. commonly referred to as Ed Elkins.
Ed Elkins is a very critical business leader in the United States. He is the present Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Norfolk Southern Corporation, which is among the largest railroad corporations in North America.
Some brief details about him are as follows:
- Joined Norfolk Southern: 1988
- Wage: The initial job was a manual labor position in trains, which was called Road Brakeman.
- Veteran: U.S. Marine Corps.
- Present Position: Chief Marketing officer (CMO)
- Education: College at Wise of University of Virginia (English Degree) and Old Dominion University (MBA).
Ed Elkins is a legendary individual since he was able to climb the ladder up to the very top beginning with the very bottom. He knows trains like almost no-one else, as he drove trains! This paper will narrate his entire story using ordinary language.
Who is Claude Edward Elkins Jr?
Ed Elkins or Claude Edward Elkins Jr. is a high-profile executive at Norfolk Southern. When a map of the eastern United States is studied, you will find thousands of miles of train tracks there. Norfolk Southern works on these tracks. They transport cars, coal, food, and clothes between cities.
Ed Elkins is the one in charge of ensuring that customers make use of these trains. He is the manager of the group that communicates with other companies. He assists them in determining how to transport their products in a safe and fast manner.
He is not a businessman in a suit only. He is a “railroader” at heart. A railroader is a person who has been working with trains all his life. Ed has been involved in this industry for more than 35 years. People respect him since he understands the effort involved in transporting freight.
Early Life & Education
Ed Elkins was brought up in an environment where railroads are significant. He is a native of the Appalachian border of Virginia. This region is known for coal mining and the railroad. It was usual to see trains in his childhood.
He worked in his country before he began working in trains. Ed Elkins had been a US Marine Corps member. Marines are considered to be hardworking, hard and disciplined. This experience gave him a lesson in becoming a leader and a team partner.
Upon his service, he attended college. You may be surprised by his study selection. At the beginning he did not major in engineering or business.
- Undergraduate Degree: He had a Baccalaureate in English at Clinch Valley College (now the University of Virginia College at Wise).
- Why English? Learning English makes people communicate. It also teaches you to write, talk and think coherently, which are very desirable skills in a leader.
He understood later in his career that he had to learn about money and business. So, he went back to school.
- Graduate Degree: He has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree at the Old Dominion University.
Starting His Railroad Career (1988 Onwards)
Ed Elkins joined Norfolk Southern in 1988. He did not begin with a comfortable office having a computer. Rather, he started working on the outside on the tracks as a Road Brakeman.
This was a very physical job. The primary responsibility of a brakeman is to couple and uncouple the heavy metal train cars. They also go through the tracks to check the train and ensure that nothing is wrong. This is something Ed did regardless of the weather, rain, snow or heat.
He was a responsible worker and therefore promoted to more responsible jobs due to his reliability and hard work:
- Conductor: Having been a brakeman he once was a conductor. The conductor can be compared to the train captain. They control the cargo, the schedule and the crew.
- Locomotive Engineer: Then he discovered how to drive the train. This is a difficult skill. It takes an engineer to control the speed of a massive and heavy train, to know when to brake, and ensure that the train does not break down or get too fast.
- Relief Yardmaster: He was also a yardmaster which is a train air-traffic controller. They determine the route of the train to the rail yard.
Ed is the fourth-generation railroader. His great-grandfather, grandfather, and father were all railroad workers. He had a strong respect for the job even before he began it with this history.
Rise Through the Ranks at Norfolk Southern
Ed Elkins did something different after years of laboring with his hands. His operations shifted to driving and repairing trains to marketing (business and sales). This is rare. The majority of the people remain in a single location, yet Ed desired to know the operation of the entire company.
He had a 20-year experience in Intermodal Marketing.
What is Intermodal? This is whereby freight is transported in more than one mode such as a ship and a train or a train and a truck. It is a gigantic component of the world’s transportation of goods. Ed became an expert at this.
The success was followed by larger positions in leadership:
- 2016: Group Vice President of Chemicals: he was assigned the duty of shipping chemicals. This is a highly serious task since chemicals should be disposed with extreme precautions.
- 2018: Vice President of Industrial Products: He replaced the unit that delivers heavy products such as steel, paper and lumber.
- 2021: CMO and Executive Vice President: He became the highest-ranking member of the department. In his position as the Chief Marketing Officer, he has taken the lead in the Intermodal, Automotive and Industrial Products strategy. He is also in charge of the Real Estate and Industrial Development of the company.
What Is Claude Edward Elkins Jr Famous For?
There are several reasons why Ed Elkins is a renowned figure in the railroad community.
The “Digital Railroad”
Ed wishes to take railroads to the future. In his view, transportation of a container can be as convenient as monitoring the arrival of pizza on your phone because of a train. He advocates the use of GPS and superior apps that would help the customers know the location of their goods at all times. He is playing in RailPulse, which is an initiative to install smart technology on rail cars.
“Boots on the Ground” Leadership
Ed is a leader with a different style due to his former days as a brakeman and engineer. He knows how the workers are feeling. He says that his style is customer-focused and operation-based. This does not imply that he does not listen to what the customer requires, but it is also important that the railroad is physically capable of doing the job.
Growing Business in Georgia
Ed has grown to be a giant statewide leader in Georgia. He was elected the Chair of Georgia Chamber of Commerce in 2025. It is a prestigious position in which he assists other businesses in the state in their development. He also serves the board of the East Lake Foundation, which is benefiting communities in Atlanta.
Sustainability
Ed market trains are environmentally friendly. He educates companies on the use of trains as opposed to trucks as this results in reduced pollution. By using rail transport, he assists the businesses to reduce their carbon footprint.
Leadership Style and Business Philosophy
- He appreciates the power of diligent work, which stems from his practical background.
- He expresses himself well: His degree in English makes him easy to understand when explaining complex issues.
- He is flexible: The fact that he can quickly change jobs, work in the military, then in the railroad industry, and finally in the corporate boardroom demonstrates that he learns quickly.
- His ideology is that the railroad is the engine of the American economy. As the railroad is prosperous, so is the entire country.
| Year | Position |
| 2016 | Group VP – Chemicals |
| 2018 | VP – Industrial Products |
| 2021 | EVP & Chief Marketing Officer |
Career Achievements and Industry Impact
- Georgia Chamber Chair (2025): In 2025, Elkins was appointed Chair of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.
- Norfolk modernization: He transformed the company culture, which emphasized modernity and speed.
- Intermodal Success: The intermodal business increased under his leadership, which transferred a larger number of shipping containers through trains and a lesser number through highways.
Common Name Confusion Clarified
You can find other names when you search the name Elkins on Google. One should not confuse them.
Thomas Elkins vs. Claude E. Elkins
- Claude E. Elkins (Ed): The railroad man we are talking about. He is alive and active.
- Thomas Elkins: An African-American inventor in the 19th century, who invented a better refrigerator and a type of furniture. He also assisted individuals to flee the slavery through the Underground Railroad. They are two different people.
Relation to Claude Shannon?
- Claude Shannon: The famous mathematician and the father of information theory. He dealt with computers and codes.
- Claude Edward Elkins Jr. and Claude Shannon are not related by family. They only share a first name.
Conclusion
The American Dream is a real-life example of Claude Edward Elkins Jr., or Ed Elkins. His inspiring story demonstrates that anyone who is willing to make an effort can succeed. Ed was never employed in a posh office. He started as a brakeman, where he did strenuous and physical work in the railroad tracks that was usually hazardous. He received an English degree in college after serving in the Marines. Few individuals would have imagined a brakeman with an English degree would become one of the leading business executives. Ed has shown that anything is possible.
He made his way through the corporate ladder. He had perfected all the ways of the railroad business- driving trains and offering services to big organizations. He is currently the Chief Marketing Officer of Norfolk southern and one of the most influential figures in transportation. He is the one who propels the U.S. economy by making sure that the much needed items get to their destinations.
The story by Ed Elkins teaches a lesson simple but effective. It does not matter where to begin–with dirty hands and hard labor. It does not matter your social background but how dedicated you are, your education and the desire to achieve. His story demonstrates that hard work can help one climb to the top.
Also Read: Kunal Shah Success Story
FAQs
Who is Claude Edward Elkins Jr.?
Claude Edward Elkins Jr. (better known as Ed Elkins) is the Chief Marketing Officer and the Executive Vice President of Norfolk Southern Corporation. He is a businessman leader, who began his career in train operations as a brakeman.
What position does Claude Elkins hold at Norfolk Southern?
The person is the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). He is the head of sales, marketing and customer services of the company.
What is Thomas Elkins most famous for?
Thomas Elkins was one of the inventors of the 1800s. His most significant achievement is the invention of a device that would help preserve food (an early refrigerator) and as an abolitionist. His identity is not that of the railroad executive.
Who is the CEO of Norfolk Southern Railroad?
The President and CEO of Norfolk is Mark R. Geoge as of the beginning of 2026. The management is shifting, however, Mark in the case of Mark R. George was hired to lead the company recently.
Is Claude Edward, Jr. related of Claude Shannon?
No, they are not related. Claude Shannon was a renowned computer scientist and mathematician. All they share is the first name.