If Rhonda Nicoloff was surprised to receive a phone call congratulating her on being selected as Wasatch Woman's Business Woman of the Year, then that surprise was nothing compared with that of generations of railroad and industrial supply men who watched this attractive, petite firecracker of a woman become president of A&K Railroad Materials two years before her 40th birthday.

"In 2001, there had never been a female in management in this office," Rhonda explained, sharing how her first job out of college turned into a life-changing — and life-affirming — career that has taken her to the top of her industry.

Rhonda graduated from college with a business and marketing degree in 1991, and started out with A&K in sales out of a satellite office in Indiana. With a laugh, she says, "No. I never pictured myself in the railroad industry, but you can sell anything — you just have to love it, and," she adds with a twinkle, "A&K is a wonderful company."

The proof is in the pudding; not only has A&K shown major progressive chops for promoting a woman to the helm, but every month they celebrate the anniversaries of employees who have been with the company 20, 30 or even 40 years. "It speaks volumes about our company," Rhonda proudly shares. And Rhonda's work record also speaks for itself: when she took over the western sales region (that's the entire western half of the U.S., folks) annual revenue was around $3 million. Within two years under her direction, they were showing annual numbers in the neighborhood of $20 million.

Rhonda is an undeniably dynamic and accomplished woman, but she is instantly approachable and down-to-earth. This company president is also a proud wife and mother. "I've been married since 1993," she told me, "to the same man," she added with a smirk. She and her husband Bill, along with their two children relocated to Utah from Indiana in 2001.

"At the time, I was vying for position. My goal was to be the first female VP of A&K," she said. "When I shared that with the owner, he said he didn't see me as a VP. His goal was for me to take over and become the president."

The move wasn't easy. They left family, friends and her husband's career behind. "It was a rough road," Rhonda confessed. "There were times when we thought, 'What have we done?'"

After about 18 months, things smoothed out and the culture shock turned into an avid love of the mountains and outdoor recreation that are so abundant in Utah.

Rhonda seems to move through her life confidently, heeding her personal mantras of kindness and appreciating each moment — but she is the first to admit that she doesn't have it all figured out.

"If someone tells you as a mom, businesswoman and wife that they're balancing it all, I'd like to hear how. Something has to give — whether it's your workout routine or your sex life. If somebody has got all of that figured out, I'd love to sit down and talk to them."

Even without all the answers, Rhonda is certainly doing a bang-up job of juggling the myriad roles of the 21st century woman. Muffy Mead-Ferro, who nominated Rhonda for this honor, says, "As president of A&K Railroad Materials, Rhonda is an inspiration because she's risen to the top of an organization in an industry that is still almost completely dominated by men."

"She is a glamorous woman in an unglamorous world and she bridges that gap like no one else could. She and her husband Bill are setting a great example for the rest of us about balancing work and family obligations without giving either one of them short shrift."

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