Isaac Renteria, CPSM
Since 2022
Active
SMPS Kansas City member
AEC marketing professional
Isaac leads national business development strategy for GFT’s specialized freight rail and ports practice, serving one of North America’s largest and fastest-growing infrastructure consulting firms. As National Business Development Manager, he develops strategic client relationships, coordinates proposal development, and leads business growth initiatives for Class I railroads, short-line railroads, ports, and key freight infrastructure accounts across North America.
His expertise spans freight rail systems, port infrastructure development, rail bridge and tunnel design, terminal facilities, and multimodal transportation projects serving both private sector freight operators and public sector transportation agencies. Isaac brings specialized knowledge in strategic positioning, proposal narrative development, and stakeholder engagement for complex infrastructure pursuits. He excels at balancing big-picture market strategy with day-to-day tactical execution, ensuring sustained momentum toward long-term business objectives.
With a foundation from Texas A&M University and early-career experience serving coastal infrastructure projects including Port of New Orleans Louisiana International Terminal, Isaac has built comprehensive expertise in transportation business development. His approach emphasizes relationship-based collaboration rather than transactional interactions, working seamlessly with technical operations teams to ensure clear communication and trust-building with clients. His understanding of community impacts—from neighborhoods and schools to environmental justice considerations—enables him to craft proposal narratives that lead with stakeholder outcomes while showcasing technical engineering excellence.
Isaac demonstrates exceptional professional leadership through his CPSM certification achievement and active engagement with freight transportation industry associations. He serves as a board member of the Texas Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (TSLRRA), collaborating directly with freight rail clients to advance common industry missions. This leadership role provides strategic industry intelligence, strengthens client relationships, and positions GFT as a partner who shows up for the issues that matter most to the freight rail community.
As a dedicated participant in major transportation industry events, Isaac represents GFT annually at the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) conference, Gulf Ports Association (GPA) events, and Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) gatherings. His engagement in these organizations translates into business wins through industry intelligence gathering, warm client introductions, co-created technical content including conference abstracts and panel presentations, and enhanced brand recognition for GFT’s freight infrastructure capabilities.
Isaac’s marketing and business development approach reflects GFT’s “all-in” culture—rallying around what’s best for both the firm and clients while building relationships that extend beyond project transactions. His employer publicly celebrated his professional achievements through a featured Employee Spotlight profile, recognizing his contribution to the firm’s freight rail and ports business development capabilities during a transformational period of growth.
Isaac’s career advancement coincides with one of the most significant transformations in infrastructure consulting: GFT’s 2024 formation through the strategic merger of Gannett Fleming (founded 1915) and TranSystems (established 1966), creating a $1.3 billion unified platform with 5,000+ professionals ranked #18 on Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms list. His business development leadership supports a firm recognized as #6 in transportation, demonstrating the impact of his strategic market positioning.
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