The Suit Magazine

For over a quarter-century, Jeannie Beckett has been working the rails in the transportation industry. Her focus has been the development and operation of high-speed rail lines and mega-transportation facilities.

Her company, The Beckett Group, is a consulting firm that Beckett describes as “specializing in transportation, partnering with the State Rail Plan in Washington.”
Beckett cut her teeth in the industry during a twenty five-year stint at the Port of Tacoma. There she played a number of roles, providing a broad background in port operations and development, as well as road and rail access. She was responsible for port comprehensive planning, emergency management planning, project implementation, and funding solutions.

Eventually, she realized that she could address a wider array of the community’s needs as an independent consultant. “Working as a consultant I [could] network and explore partnering with other firms in the state of Washington,” Beckett explained.

In addition to her work in transportation, Beckett has a strong background in finance, providing her clients with insights into cost-benefit analysis, project funding solutions and internal controls including contract compliance. “What separates us from our competitors is that we tailor our services to your business, your challenges, and your people,” she said.  “Having a good plan is half the battle; execution is our goal.”

Beckett attended the University of California at Berkley, where she received her B.A. in Economics with an emphasis on Transportation in 1976. She later earned her M.B.A in Finance from San Francisco State University in 1980. Ever since her college days, Beckett has been a huge proponent of small businesses, believing that “we need more small business tax initiatives for solar usage.”

Although she has been affected by the shockwaves of our recent economic collapse, the Beckett Group is in a strong position. “The company has grown 25 percent this year,” she reported.

Recently, they have been working on a High-Speed Rail and Freight Initiative in Washington.  Additionally, the group has been part of a planning team that is working with the European Union on their 30-year Sustainability Strategic Plan. “The world is chasing the same businesses and the same projects,” Beckett said.

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