People on the move: Denver RTD, Santa Clara VTA, city of Madison, COTA, MTA, BART

The Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD), Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), the city of Madison, Wis., Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) have made new appointments to their respective leadership teams. 

Denver RTD names next COO 

Denver RTD has named Patrick Preusser its next COO. Preusser brings more than 28 years of experience at major U.S. transit systems and in cities around the world. He will begin his duties on Sept. 2.  

"Over the course of his career, Patrick has been recognized for fostering strong relationships, uniting diverse teams and guiding organizations through growth, change and complex service environments,” said Denver RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson. “He brings great knowledge and experience, as well as a deep respect for public service, and he is dedicated to advancing safety, reliability, customer experience and innovation in public transportation.” 

Preusser most recently served as COO of the Utah Transit Authority and has held senior leadership roles with the city and county of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services, TriMet and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. He also managed national passenger rail programs for the Federal Railroad Administration. He serves as a member of the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Rail Transit Operating Practices Working Group and Bus Operations Committee. 

Santa Clara VTA appoints next COO 

Santa Clara VTA has appointed Nauni Singh as its next COO, effective Sept. 1. Singh has spent 26 years at the agency. 

Beginning as a coach operator in 1999, Singh advanced through nearly every level of transit operations, including light-rail operator, transportation supervisor, assistant superintendent of service management, transportation superintendent of guadalupe light-rail division and deputy director of transit operations. The agency notes he has been instrumental in preparing for light-rail service to Super Bowl LX and the 2026 FIFA World Cup while building lasting relationships with operators and field staff. 

Singh is a Leadership APTA Class of 2023 graduate with a bachelor’s in geography from Punjab University, India. 

City of Madison names next General Manager for Metro Transit 

The city of Madison is appointing Jamie Acton as the next general manager for Metro Transit. Acton brings more than 15 years of experience in public transit leadership and planning. She most recently served as director of planning and program development for the Federal Transit Administration's Region 10, where she oversaw multimodal projects and managed grants across Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.  

“We are seeing great results with the implementation of bus rapid transit (BRT) and the other infrastructure updates that have recently come online,” said Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. “Jamie is highly qualified to build off that success as we continue to improve our public transportation network and work with local partners and neighboring communities to expand service. I’m excited to have her on board.”  

Previously, Acton led the Public Transportation Department for the Municipality of Anchorage. She managed the People Mover system — Alaska's largest transit provider —which the city says has many similarities to Metro Transit, including network operations, municipal ownership and a unionized workforce. Under her leadership, the agency refined the comprehensive system redesign, expanded service, modernized the fixed route and paratransit fleets, improved technology systems and rider tools and secured millions in grant funding to expand mobility options.    

Acton holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and interdisciplinary writing from Eastern Oregon University. She is an alum of the APTA Leadership program. Her first day at Metro Transit will be Oct. 13. 

COTA adds to leadership team 

Dorinda McCombs will join COTA as its chief LinkUS program officer. McCombs will be responsible for strategic planning, project implementation, performance evaluation, policy development and executive oversight of the LinkUS project team.  

Earl Jackson will serve COTA as chief financial officer, assuming responsibility for financial strategy, accounting, procurement and financial strategic planning initiatives. 

“As this community makes measurable progress on LinkUS, we need to have the best people in place to maintain our momentum and keep faith with the voters,” said COTA President and CEO Monica Tellez-Fowler. “Dorinda and Earl have the experience and the expertise to support LinkUS and COTA at this pivotal moment.” 

McCombs is associate vice president at HNTB Corporation, where she has worked for more than two years. Prior to that, she was chief capital planning and project delivery officer for the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority in Alabama, where she helped implement BRT. She also has served as senior director of capital programming for the Metropolitan Rapid Atlanta Transit Authority. She will join the agency on Sept. 2. 

Jackson is chief financial officer for the city and county of Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, where he manages a team of 130 and an annual budget of $850 million. Jackson’s career in financial management and planning includes a leadership role at the Chicago Transit Authority, where he oversaw budget development, oversight and financial planning of more than $775 million in annual operating expenses. He also served in leadership roles at BNSF Railway, the MTA and Bank of America. Jackson will join COTA Sept. 15. 

MTA appoints Director of Arts and Design 

MTA has appointed Tina Vaz as director of MTA Arts and Design. Vaz will be responsible for leading the MTA’s comprehensive range of visual and performing arts programs, as well as design initiatives that contribute to the cultural vitality of the transit system. Her oversight will include Poetry in Motion, MTA Music, digital art, photography and the Permanent Art Program. Vaz officially begins her new role Sept. 18.    

“For 40 years, MTA Arts & Design has been bringing world-class art, musical performance and poetry to millions of transit riders,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “We are excited to have Tina’s creative expertise to help us reach even more New Yorkers and visitors with art that reflects the dynamism of New York and the transit system.” 

Most recently, Vaz served as deputy director, chief brand and communications officer for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, leading communications, marketing, design, digital and external affairs for Guggenheim New York while overseeing brand strategy for the Guggenheim's international constellation of museums in Bilbao, Venice and Abu Dhabi.  

BART names new Independent Police Auditor 

The BART Board of Directors has named Inez Gonzalez as the new independent police auditor. The Office of the Independent Police Auditor (OIPA) is an essential part of the BART Civilian Oversight Model. The BART Board established both the OIPA and the BART Police Citizen Review Board in 2010.  Gonzalez succeeds Russell Bloom, who was appointed Independent Police Auditor in 2016 and retired from BART earlier this year. Her first day will be Sept. 2. 

“Inez Gonzalez has a wealth of experience that includes not only work in police oversight, but also as a member of law enforcement,” said BART Board President Mark Foley. “BART has one of the most robust police oversight models in the country, and it will be made even stronger thanks to the passion for equitable policing that Inez Gonzalez will bring to the Office of the Independent Police Auditor.” 

Gonzalez brings more than 25 years of progressive experience in police oversight, law enforcement and investigations to her new role. She most recently served as the executive director of the Police Civilian Oversight Board in Charlottesville, Va. While there, she implemented a comprehensive civilian investigation program to promote integrity and systemic improvement in police services.