Deborah H. (Butler) Painter

Deborah (Deb) Harris Painter (formerly Butler) retired in 2015, after a thirty-seven year career with Norfolk Southern Corporation. Her tenure there included 29 years in the company’s operating department in Atlanta, followed by 8 years as executive vice president planning and chief information officer in Norfolk, VA. Prior to her retirement, she served as chair of the Board of Directors of Thoroughbred Technology & Telecommunications LLC, and as a member of the Board of TTX Company. She is particularly proud that upon her retirement, the NS rail yard in her hometown of Memphis, TN, was renamed Harris Yard in her honor. Ms. Painter serves as a Director of CMS Energy and Consumer’s Energy, Michigan’s largest electric and natural gas utility.
Ms. Painter graduated from Agnes Scott College with a B.A. in English literature and received training in transportation management and executive education at Northwestern University, the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and the Harvard Business School. Ms. Painter is active in the transportation management community, having most recently chaired the Executive Committee of the Transportation Research Board (National Academies).

Ms. Painter serves her community in a number of capacities, including as a Trustee of the Chrysler Museum of Art, and as a Commission/Treasurer of the Norfolk Airport Authority.

Ms. Butler married Kenny Painter in September 2015, and has three wonderful children, Julia (Mrs. Sam Cooke), Maggie, and Will. Kenny manages the airport in Luray, VA (KLUA), holds commercial and multi-engine ratings, is a licensed CFI, A&P and IA, and is PIC of the couple’s 2006 TBM850.