Paula Hammond, Anna Xiaohua Wang, Ann Barr Kovara
NEW YORK, NY—Parsons ­Brinckerhoff (PB) announced the following appointments:

Paula Hammond, Washington State secretary of transportation from 2007-2013, has been named senior vice president and national transportation market leader in PB’s Seattle office. She joins PB after a 34-year career with Washington State DOT.

Anna Xiaohua Wang has joined PB’s New York City office as a principal technical specialist. She has more than 17 years of experience in mechanical engineering and fire safety engineering, previously working as a project manager in the fire life safety and simulation group of a New York consulting firm.

Ann Barr Kovara is a senior supervising architect in the firm’s Los Angeles office. A former cultural heritage commissioner and planning commissioner for the city of South Pasadena, she has been an architect and project/construction manager for more than 30 years.

Anthony Lee
LITTLE FALLS, NJ—Anthony Lee, AICP, has joined SYSTRA as planning and environmental manager.

Lee is a professional certified planner with more than 20 years of experience as a client manager, environmental planning group leader, and project manager. His professional experience includes serving as an environmental protection specialist for FTA.

Koorosh Olyai
DALLAS, TX—Koorosh Olyai has joined Stantec as a senior principal in its Dallas transportation practice.

Olyai has more than 30 years of industry management experience in planning, design, construction, operation, and systems maintenance. Most recently he was assistant vice president of mobility programs for Dallas Area Rapid Transit.

Also, DOT named him chair and convener of the International Organization for Standardization/Technical Committee 204-Intelligent Transport Systems Working Group for Public Transportation and Emergency Management.

Sam Mansour
SANTA ANA, CA—TranSystems announced the appointment of Sam Mansour, P.E., as senior vice president and client manager for the company’s Passenger and Freight Rail practice areas.

Mansour has 29 years of experience providing design, construction, and project management services on commuter, public transit, freight railroad, grade separations, and other major infrastructure projects, as well as corridor assessment and feasibility studies.

Susan Bisno Massel
CHICAGO, IL—The Regional Transportation Authority announced the ­hiring of Susan Bisno Massel as director of communications and public affairs.

Massel served the city of Chicago for the past six years, most recently serving as director of public affairs for the ­Chicago Department of Buildings. Earlier, she worked in the cable communications industry for more than a decade.

Amanda Moreno Cross
DALLAS, TX—Amanda Moreno Cross has been appointed to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors.

Cross is the owner of several Dallas businesses including real estate company 2 Equinas at Bishop Arts, consulting firm C&K Capital, and commercial investment company VA Capital.

Scott Somers, Trinity Donovan, Jim McDonald, Shana Ellis, Dennis Kavanaugh
PHOENIX, AZ—The Valley Metro and Valley Metro Rail transit boards have elected new officers for the Fiscal Year 2013-14 term. Valley Metro is the regional public transportation authority, while Valley Metro Rail operates, maintains, and expands the area’s light rail system.

Mesa Councilmember Scott Somers chairs the Valley Metro board. Vice chair is Chandler Councilmember Trinity Donovan and Avondale Councilmember Jim McDonald is treasurer.

Tempe Councilmember Shana Ellis chairs the Valley Metro Rail board, and Mesa Councilmember Dennis Kavanaugh is vice chair.

Tonya L. McCray
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Tonya L. McCray has joined the Alexandria Transit Company (ATC) as director of finance and administration.

McCray has more than 15 years of experience in the finance and accounting profession. She comes to ATC from the American Geophysical Union, where she was controller and assistant director of finance.

Christina Rhoads
CINCINNATI, OH—First Transit has named Christine Rhoads senior manager of employee engagement and retention.

Rhoads joined First Transit in 2008 and was most recently recruiting manager for First Transit and First Vehicle Services.


Charles Stark
LOS ANGELES, CA—AECOM has named Charles Stark its Southern ­California transit and rail market segment leader, based in Los Angeles.

Stark has more than 35 years of industry experience. During his 11 years with Los Angeles Metro, he served as executive officer for engineering and construction and deputy executive director for project management.

Karen Garcia
SALEM, OR—Karen Garcia has joined Salem-Keizer Transit as its security coordinator. Garcia spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy, ending in 2006. She worked with Salem Hospital and Oregon State Hospital before coming to the agency.

Elaine Times, Gerardo Castillo, Ken Cartwright, Donna Simmons
AUSTIN, TX—The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro) announced the following promotions.

Elaine Times, an employee since 1986, has been named deputy chief executive officer, overseeing rail, bus, and paratransit operations and the planning, administration, risk management, and information technology departments. Prior to this position, she was executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Gerardo Castillo has been named senior vice president and chief of staff. Castillo, who joined Capital Metro in 2007, formerly was chief of staff to the president/chief executive officer.

Ken Cartwright, formerly strategic project management officer, is now vice president of engineering and construction. He joined the agency in 2007.

Donna Simmons has been named vice president of administration and risk management compliance officer. Most recently, she was director of human resources. She has been with the agency since 1991.

Rick J. Volk
DENVER, CO—CH2M HILL announced the appointment of Rick J. Volk, Esq., P.E., as North America director for alternative project delivery in the firm’s Transportation Business Group. He is based in the Charlotte, NC, office.

Volk has worked in the transportation field for 30 years. Prior to joining CH2M HILL, he was chief operating officer and executive vice president for business development with United Infrastructure Group Inc. Earlier he was chief executive officer, president, and director of infrastructure services for VP3 LLC, SemMaterials L.P., and New Century Transportation LLC, and vice president for Koch Performance Roads Inc.

Craig C. Goodall
NEWBURGH, NY—H.W. ­Lochner announced the appointment of Craig C. Goodall, P.E., as vice president, based in Newburgh.

Goodall has 30 years of leadership experience in consulting for major ­public agencies, including the rebuilding of Lower Manhattan after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Prior to joining Lochner, he was vice president for David Evans and Associates in New York.

Rob Victor
WASHINGTON, DC—Rob Victor, P.E., has joined HDR as Transportation Business Group manager for Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, and ­Maryland, based in Washington and Vienna, VA.

Victor previously served AECOM as an associate vice president, business development manager, and senior project manager. He has 18 years of engineering industry experience, including project management roles on major projects.

Drew S. McCaskey
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Operation ­Lifesaver Inc. has named Drew S. ­McCaskey state coordinator for ­Delaware Operation Lifesaver. McCaskey is a marketing coordinator and web manager for DART First State and the Delaware Transit Corporation.

McCaskey has more than 30 years of contracting and engineering experience, including the design and construction of transportation systems. He has managed projects such as rail station design improvements and construction of rail electrification systems.