July/August People in the News

July 12, 2013

Steve Kratzer has been appointed regional sales manager to serve the western U.S. transit market for Nova Bus.

Melvin Jones has been named Operation Lifesaver Coordinator for Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, with responsibility for coordinating Operation Lifesaver programs. 

Robert Ryan has joined TranSystems as market sector leader for its national passenger rail and transit practice areas. He will lead business development for the sector.

Ontario Councilmember Alan Wapner took the helm of the Omnitrans Board of Directors effective July 1. Rancho Cucamonga Mayor Pro Tem Sam Spagnolo was elected to vice chair at the June 5 Board meeting.

Mike Giugno has been named Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) managing director. He has 32 years of transit experience and has held a variety of positions including operations analyst, manager of street operations, director of transportation and director of operations.

ABC Companies announced the promotion of Tim Wayland to president and chief commercial officer of ABC Companies. 

The Intercity Transit Authority announced the selection of Ann Freeman-Manzanares as the agency’s new general manager. She has served in various senior level positions at the agency over the past 20 years.

Gary Gordon, P.E.,WSO-CSSD, has been appointed associate vice president based in the northeast for Kal Krishnan Consulting Services, Inc. (KKCS). Shan Bhattacharya has been named as a principal. 

Elaine Times has been named deputy CEO of Capital Metro, where she will oversee rail, bus and paratransit operations, and the planning, administration, risk management and information technology departments. Gerardo Castillo has been named senior vice president and chief of staff, overseeing the marketing and communications, government relations and board relations departments, and the office of diversity. Ken Cartwright has been named vice president of engineering and construction, where he will manage capital projects, oversee construction and manage the MetroRapid BRT project. Donna Simmons has been named vice president of administration and risk management compliance officer, overseeing the procurement, safety, security, human resources and risk management departments. 

Paul Williams will assume the position of managing director of Spheros Australia (Pty) Ltd. He has been an employee of Spheros Group for the past 15 years. 

Bill Spraul has been hired as the chief operating officer of the Metropolitan Transit System’s Transit Services division. He most recently was CEO of the South Bend Transportation Corp. and consultant with Veolia Transportation and had previously been the director of transportation operations for the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA).

Shawn Donaghy was promoted to Cincinnati Metro’s director of transit operations. He has been with Metro since September 2010, and was most recently assistant director of transit Operations. 

First Transit’s Director of Marketing Ashley McNamara, was recognized by Xavier University’s Williams College of Business as one of its “Young Alums” for its Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. Cynthia Roberts was appointed manager, national call center operations. She will be responsible for supporting and advising the company’s specialized transportation centers across the country. Driver Helen Joynes was recognized by the Princeton University Class of 2013 as one of its honorary graduates for her distinguished service to the university.

Mark Patterson was named president of RailWorks subsidiary L.K. Comstock Co. Nuno Pereira has been named president of its Canadian subsidiary PNR RailWorks Inc. 

Systra announced Michael D. Jones has joined the company as vice president human resources. In this capacity, he will be responsible for Systra’s U.S.-based human resources program, which includes policies and programs covering recruitment and retention, organization and succession planning, employment, compensation, benefits, performance management, employee relations, and training and development. 

HDR has named Dr. Khalid Bekka managing director, Gulf Arab States, based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Bekka previously served as HDR’s economics and finance director, based in the firm’s Silver Spring, Md. Office. He has been with HDR since 1998.

The Macatawa Area Express Transportation Authority has promoted of Sylvie Lepird to assistant manager of marketing and customer service. Bill Bowerman was promoted to safety and training coordinator.