Revenue Accounting Leader Known for Positivity and Expertise

Problem solver. Team builder. Supportive mentor. These are a few ways teammates describe Shalae Bastian.

She’s one of two assistant managers of Revenue Accounting, where together they oversee 14 team members plus an intern. Many of Watco’s short lines count on this team to ensure moves are accurately billed, invoiced, and audited.

Previously, Watco’s Baton Rouge Southern Railroad (BRS) used a third party to track railcar movements and handle billing. But in 2025, the BRS was added to the Revenue Accounting’s portfolio.

When this happened, Bastian volunteered to lead the transition process of reviewing previous records of BRS railcar movements, inventory, waybills, and more from third-party spreadsheets and tying them to what we now directly receive in our internal database, known as Watco’s Accurate and Timely Service System (WATTS). According to her direct supervisor Tara Carpenter, this was a months-long endeavor that required Bastian to dive into the details to set BRS up for success on WATTS.

Carpenter said, “Shalae was the right person to lead this transition. She’s very knowledgeable, and when she doesn’t know something, she finds out the answer.”

Among her team, Bastian is known for her kind, supportive leadership. Revenue Account Specialist Bobbi Copenhaver shared: “She truly cares about each of us. Shalae encourages open communication, listens without judgment, and builds trust, which helps all of us feel valued.”

Bastian and her co-assistant manager are also known for making work fun. One way they’ve done this is by introducing a team-building exercise inspired by a current reality show that’s aimed at revealing suspects. Within Revenue Accounting, it’s helped them strengthen their communication skills and build trust with each other.

Copenhaver said, “The way they bring us together makes us more of a close-knit family. Not only do we get to work together, but we get to have fun while doing it.”