Valley Metro has added two new members to its executive leadership team as the agency evolves preparing for expanded service and increased focus on riders and regional mobility. The authority named Melissa Boyles as chief of staff and Mike Pal as chief transportation officer.
“I am extremely excited to add these two new talented leaders to the Valley Metro team,” said Jessica Mefford-Miller, Valley Metro CEO. “They will each bring a variety of new skills that will help us build the regional transit system that Maricopa County residents want and deserve.”
Boyles has 25 years of transportation industry experience. She has served in program management, civil rights program development and compliance and in national roles developing diversity, equity and inclusion and social equity programs. Boyles has had 12 years serving in executive leadership roles at transportation-related private sector organizations. She has a comprehensive understanding of the transportation industry, strong alliances with national and local transportation professionals and a passion for public transportation. In her role, she will assist the CEO and coordinate with internal team members and city partners to further initiatives important to the organization and the future of transit in the Valley.
Pal has nearly 30 years of experience managing large-scale transit operations. He began his career with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) as a bus operator and advanced swiftly to serve in leadership roles responsible for the delivery of bus, bus rapid transit and paratransit. Most recently, he joined Metro Transit in Minneapolis as a deputy chief operating officer with oversight of bus, light rail, commuter rail and more. In his role as chief transportation officer, he will lead teams tasked with the development and delivery of bus, light rail, streetcar and demand-responsive services, including paratransit in communities across the Valley.
