BNSF Executive Included in HispanicBusiness’s 2009 Corporate Elite

BNSF Railway Company Vice President and Corporate General Counsel James Gallegos was recently selected by HispanicBusiness as a member of the magazine’s 2009 Corporate Elite.

“It is easy to understand why Jim Gallegos was selected to be a member of the 2009 Corporate Elite. In addition to being a great attorney, Jim is a natural leader. He manages his staff with trust, integrity and a thoughtful touch,” said Roger Nober, BNSF’s executive vice president, Law and Secretary. “We are pleased to have him as our corporate general counsel.”

After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in business from the University of Colorado in 1983, Gallegos worked as a marketing analyst for BNSF-predecessor railroad Burlington Northern and, a few years later, the Soo Line. He earned his law degree from the University of Minnesota in 1990 and immediately accepted a federal clerkship in Tucson, Ariz. In 1991, Gallegos’s career took him to the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. and then to U.S. West, Inc. which later merged with Qwest Communications in 2000.

At BNSF, Gallegos is responsible for corporate transactions, financings, public disclosure, human resource advice, corporate compliance and governance, and board matters.

The 2009 Corporate Elite is comprised of 25 successful executives who have risen to and remained at the top of their professions despite the tumultuous financial climate of 2008. Gallegos was also recognized by HispanicBusiness in 2007 as one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics.