People on the move: CDTA, NYU, MARTA

The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA), New York University (NYU) and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transportation Authority (MARTA) have made new appointments to their respective leadership teams. 

CDTA adds to its leadership team 

Christopher Desany has been named the next CDTA COO. Desany most recently served as vice president of planning and infrastructure at CDTA and has been with the authority for 18 years. He has led the organization in strategic and service planning across the entire service area. He oversees all technology initiatives, including intelligent transportation systems (ITS), ERP and scheduling systems, infrastructure, performance measurement and project management. In addition, he manages CDTA’s operating and administrative facilities, train stations, parking structures and shelters.  

Jaime Kazlo has been named the next CDTA chief of staff. Kazlo most recently served as director of corporate communications and has been with the authority for 11 years. She oversees internal and external communications, community engagement and board relations. Kazlo currently serves as the chair of the American Public Transportation Association Marketing, Communications and Customer Experience Committee. 

Patricia Cooper has been named the next CDTA chief financial officer. Cooper most recently served as director of finance and has been with CDTA for nine years. She has led financial functions, including planning and performance, grant management, budgeting and policy development. 

NYU brings in former deputy secretary of U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) 

NYU has appointed  Polly Trottenberg—a former deputy secretary of USDOT and commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT)—as dean of NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and a global distinguished professor at NYU. Trottenberg will begin her new role on Aug. 1. 

“Public service is a noble profession, and it is one of higher education’s principal aims to better the world in which we live by giving those drawn to public service the best and most effective education and training possible,” said NYU President Linda G. Mills. “Polly Trottenberg exemplifies the kind of successful, committed public servant that we look to the Wagner School to produce, and she will bring to the Wagner deanship the experience of someone who has demonstrated leadership in making use of research to develop impactful ideas and in turning those ideas into real policies that improve the lives of people every day. We are delighted to name her as dean of NYU Wagner.” 

Trottenberg added, “I am deeply honored to join NYU’s Wagner School as its new dean, under the inspirational leadership of President Mills and Provost [Georgina] Dopico. At a time when public service and impactful academic scholarship are so essential, I look forward to working with the extraordinary faculty, students, staff and alumni at Wagner and across NYU to educate the next generation of public service leaders and support the research that forms the basis for sound public policy.” 

As deputy secretary of USDOT, Trottenberg helped oversee hundreds of billions of dollars of new investments in roads, bridges, transit, passenger and freight rail, airports and ports. Trottenberg also served in 2023 as the acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. 

As NYC DOT commissioner, she led the city’s Vision Zero initiative. Between 2009 and 2014, she served first as assistant secretary and later undersecretary of transportation policy at USDOT. She previously spent 12 years on Capitol Hill, which was preceded by two years at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. 

She has served on numerous boards and commissions, including as a board member of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, chair of the Union Station Development Commission, as co-chair and a member of the Northeast Corridor Commission and as chair and member of TRANSCOM, a coalition of 16 transportation-related agencies in the New York metropolitan area. 

MARTA General Manager and CEO announces early retirement   

MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood is retiring early. The retirement is effective immediately, and MARTA Chief Customer Experience Officer Rhonda Allen was named acting general manager and CEO by the MARTA Board. 

Greenwood joined MARTA in July 2019 as chief of bus operations and urban planning, advanced to deputy general manager of operations in 2021 and was named general manager and CEO in January 2022.  

Greenwood is a Canadian citizen and was recently notified that his Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) is forthcoming after the expiration of his Employment Authorization Document (EAD or work permit) this summer. Upon expiration of his work permit on June 18 and out of an abundance of caution, Greenwood ceased working, personally notified all MARTA board members and executive leadership individually and signed a delegation of authority to Allen. MARTA notes Greenwood’s Canadian visa is valid, and he remains in the U.S. legally while he awaits imminent delivery of his Green Card.  

“My wife and I have decided this is a good opportunity to take an early retirement and spend more time with our family and friends,” Greenwood said. “I do want to thank the board, the executive leadership team and everyone at MARTA for their support and their continued work to improve and grow transit service in this region.” 

Under Greenwood’s leadership, MARTA achieved the highest AAA bond rating during a difficult financial time and has advanced the largest improvement and expansion program in its history, including construction of the region’s first bus rapid transit line, a systemwide rail station rehabilitation project and an entire fleet of new railcars. 

“Collie came to MARTA with a tremendous knowledge of transit and an innovative mind and has led the authority through some challenges and great successes,” said MARTA Board Chair Jennifer Ide. “My fellow board members and I are thankful for his leadership and wish him and his family the best.” 

The MARTA Board of Directors will convene a committee to begin the search for the next general manager and CEO.