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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Who's Doing What in the Industry

Ballard to Retire from Trinity Metro in April 2019
FORT WORTH, TX—Paul J. Ballard, president and chief executive officer of Trinity Metro, has announced his retirement in April 2019 after five years on the job. Ballard oversaw the construction of TEXRail commuter rail, scheduled to enter passenger service Jan. 5.

Before coming to Fort Worth, Ballard led the successful startup of Music City Star commuter rail in Nashville, TN. He began his 46-year public transit career as a brakeman and trainman on the Boston and Maine Railroad and has been a general manager, chief executive officer or president of transit systems in both the public and private sectors.

For APTA, he is vice chair of the Commuter Rail Committee, a former chair of the Membership Committee and a member of committees including High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail, Legislative, Rail Transit CEOs, Mid-Size Operations and Bus and Paratransit CEOs.


VTA, BART Honored for Promoting Diversity
SAN FRANCISCO—The Golden Gate Business Association (GGBA) recently honored the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in San Jose, CA, and the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) in Oakland for their ground-breaking efforts to level the contracting playing field for LGBT-owned small businesses.

VTA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Nuria Fernandez, also vice chair of APTA, and BART General Manager Grace Crunican accepted awards for their leadership in adopting policies that allow certified LGBT-owned businesses to compete on a more equitable basis for transportation-related contracts. GGBA representative Paul Pendergast presented the awards.

VTA’s policy to include LGBTQ-owned businesses in its Business Diversity program ensures non-discrimination in the award and administration of contracts. BART’s policy makes certified LGBT contractors eligible to receive a 5 percent bid  preference on small-business prime contracts.

The GGBA champions opportunity, development and advocacy for the LGBTQ & Allied business community throughout the San Francisco Bay area.


SAN FRANCISCO—John J. Haley, director of transit for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), has announced his retirement.

Haley, a 30-year transportation professional, joined the SFMTA in 2010. He previously was general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and deputy general manager of the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District. He is a past member of the APTA Board of Directors and several APTA committees.


NEW ORLEANS—Taslin Alfonzo, public information officer for Transdev in service to the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority, recently received the 2018 Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) Senior Practitioner Award, presented to SPRF members recognized by their peers as veteran public relations professionals with high ethical standing. Alfonzo has more than 15 years of PR experience, is accredited in public relations and is secretary for the Public Relations Association of Louisiana. She joined Transdev in January 2018.


GERMANTOWN, WI—WAGO has hired Edward (Ed) Naczek as product manager for DIN Rail Mount Terminal Blocks. He previously worked for Storage Battery Systems LLC from 2011-2018 as application and product sales engineer/marketing for three years and the marketing director for four years.


NEW YORK CITY—WSP USA announced the appointments of Patti Boekamp as vice president and transportation area manager for its San Diego office; David Lambert, most recently assistant commissioner of capital program management and chief engineer for New Jersey DOT, as a senior structural manager in the Lawrenceville, NJ, office; and Jason Mayfield as a lead architect, based in the firm’s St. Louis office.

Prior to joining WSP, Boekamp was principal program manager for an international engineering firm and worked more than 20 years for the city of San Diego in roles including director of engineering and capital projects.

Lambert served in many roles during his 35-year career at NJDOT, most recently managing a workforce of 1,100 employees in six divisions.

In his new position, Mayfield will be responsible for working on numerous projects with WSP’s transportation facilities group, including the Texas Bullet Train scheduled to operate between Houston and Dallas. He was previously with the firm from 2000-2004 as a project architect and more recently a senior architect with Ross & Baruzzini.


LEWISVILLE, TX—The Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) announced the promotions of Kristina Holcomb to deputy chief executive officer and Michelle Bloomer to vice president of operations.

Holcomb joined DCTA in 2007 and previously served as vice president of strategic planning and development. Bloomer recently served as DCTA’s assistant vice president of bus operations and maintenance and previously worked for the North Central Texas Council of Governments.

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