The Governing Board of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority voted unanimously to extend Executive Director Jack Stephens’ existing employment contract by two years at the January meeting of the board. By mutual agreement, Stephens’ contract will now expire on Jan. 31, 2017. Stephens has served as the authority’s executive director since February of 2014.
Prior to assuming the responsibilities of executive director, Stephens served as the authority’s deputy executive director for more than a decade. As such, Stephens was responsible for the day-to-day management of the authority, with oversight of operations, human resources, administration, procurement, marketing, customer service, finance and information technology, engineering and construction, and planning and capital development. He was also responsible for negotiating with outside agencies’ developers and contractors at the direction of the governing board or executive director.
Before joining the SFRTA, Stephens spent a dozen years associated with the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) in a succession of increasingly responsible managerial positions. Among the titles he held were deputy general manager for administration, interim general manager/chief executive officer, executive vice president, customer development division, assistant to the general manager, office of federal and state relations and legislative coordinator. Prior to coming into the transit industry, he was associated with the Orleans Parish Public Schools and the Georgia Department of Offender Rehabilitation. In addition, he served as legislative staff for the state of Georgia Senate and House of Representatives.
He has a B.A. degree from the University of the South and a master’s degree from the University of Georgia. He also studied toward a PhD in public administration/political science at Georgia State University. He resides in Pompano Beach, Florida.
