Technology continues to redefine how we move the world — but at the heart of every transformation are people.
During a recent visit to CSX’s Data Center in Jacksonville, Florida, I saw that truth firsthand. Behind the network operations, security systems, and automation tools are thousands of IT professionals who keep America’s rail network moving.
Leaders like Gary Eppinger, Chief Information Security Officer and Head of Infrastructure, are preparing their teams for a new era of automation and AI. They are working to honor the company’s legacy while empowering its workforce for what’s next.
At Per Scholas, we’ve had the privilege of partnering with CSX and other industry innovators to design training that bridges those worlds: honoring existing expertise, building new technical capability, and opening doors for the next generation of IT professionals.
Because progress doesn’t come from machines alone. It comes from people that are curious, adaptable, and courageous enough to grow alongside change.
Honoring what works, building what’s next
In transportation and logistics, the future runs on both innovation and tradition.
While automation and AI are reshaping how work gets done, mainframe technology still powers critical operations.
Nearly 80% of technology executives say mainframe-based applications are essential to their digital transformation. – IBM Institute for Business Value
CSX understands that balance. Its IT organization spans 2,000 + professionals, managing everything from Cisco networks and Fortinet cybersecurity systems to Microsoft enterprise tools.
Inside its data centers, technology touches every part of the network — from real-time logistics and rail safety systems to cybersecurity operations that protect critical infrastructure.
That mix of legacy and modern infrastructure demands both technical mastery and adaptability. Through structured upskilling, mentorship, and internal mobility, CSX is helping employees bridge both worlds.
That’s not just good business. It’s cultural continuity.
When technology evolves, people do too
Automation and AI are often described as disruptive. But at CSX, they’re also deeply human.
By simplifying routine tasks, automation frees teams to focus on higher-value work — creative problem-solving, system design, and innovation that moves the entire enterprise forward.
Still, across industries, the potential of AI remains untapped.
87% of executives believe their companies already use AI effectively.
1 in 3 employees say they don’t use AI in their daily work.
– Per Scholas, 2025 Future of Tech Report
That disconnect shows technology is advancing faster than the training.
When companies pair automation with intentional upskilling, efficiency rises and engagement deepens. Employees see technology not as a threat, but as a tool that magnifies their impact.
CSX is proving what’s possible when people lead the change. Combining certifications in network and security technologies with hands-on experience in automation and cloud systems, its teams are learning to apply emerging tools to one of the nation’s most critical networks — keeping goods, freight, and data moving safely and securely.
Passing the torch. And the knowledge.
The shift from legacy to modern systems has created a new kind of urgency.
60% of mainframe specialists are over 50
91% of employers plan to hire new mainframe talent within two years
– IBM Institute for Business Value
Organizations are racing to capture and transfer institutional knowledge before it’s lost.
That’s where intentional workforce development matters most. Programs that combine technical training, mentorship, and career mobility ensure that expertise isn’t just documented — it’s passed down.
At CSX, employees from operations, engineering, and safety are finding new pathways into IT.
Each transition fills a skill gap while carrying forward decades of wisdom.
How Per Scholas helps companies get there
At Per Scholas, we’re proud to partner with companies like CSX to meet these evolving demands head-on.
Together, we design upskilling programs that merge certification, hands-on learning, and legacy-system knowledge — preparing workers for an AI-driven future while grounding them in the systems that built our present.
The result is a workforce that’s technically strong, adaptable, and ready for what’s next.
Because when companies invest in people, they don’t just modernize operations. They multiply potential.
The road ahead
For thirty years, Per Scholas has worked to unlock potential — helping thousands of individuals build tech careers that change their lives and strengthen their communities.
Our partnership with leaders like Gary Eppinger at CSX proves that the future of technology isn’t just about smarter machines or faster systems. It’s about people who are willing to keep learning, keep building, and keep believing in what’s possible.
The next generation of IT won’t be defined by hardware or code, but by heart, courage, and the human drive to move the world forward.
Here’s to building what’s next, together.