The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA), HDR and SilverRide have made new appointments to their respective leadership teams.

MARTA Board names Jonathan Hunt permanent general manager (GM) and CEO

Hunt has served as MARTA interim GM and CEO since August 2025. In this interim role, Hunt has led the authority through the launch of several big projects, including the redesign of MARTA’s bus network, the replacement of its Breeze fare payment system and the implementation of the city’s first bus rapid transit line, as well as overseeing operations, safety and customer experience during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“Over the past year, Jonathan has demonstrated strong leadership and adept decision-making, guiding MARTA through its largest and most complex periods of improvement in its history," said MARTA Board of Directors Chair Jennifer Ide. At the same time, he has strengthened stakeholder relationships, improved public and employee engagement and ensured the customer is always front and center. My fellow board members and I are thrilled to name him as permanent GM and CEO."

Hunt joined MARTA in 2014 and spent more than a decade in the authority's legal department as chief of corporate law and real estate, then deputy chief counsel and ultimately chief legal counsel before being named interim GM and CEO.

Earlier in his career he was a senior assistant city attorney for the City of Atlanta, handling aviation matters for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, practiced law at Denton’s and Baker & Hostetler and was a project engineer with Gilbane Building Company. Hunt serves on the national board of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and chairs its Legal Affairs Committee. He holds a bachelor's degree from Hampton University and a Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

“I am honored by this decision and look forward to continuing the important work of improving MARTA service, increasing ridership and expanding the transit system,” Hunt said. “This last year serving in the interim role has been the most rewarding and purposeful experience of my professional career, and I have a renewed dedication to this vital work and most importantly to the people we serve every day. Though my title is changing, my mission will remain the same: deliver routine excellence every day by creating a safe, clean and reliable transit system that we can all be extremely proud of. I firmly believe MARTA’s best and brightest days are ahead of us, and I am humbled, honored and excited to get to work."

SFRTA names next executive director

The SFRTA Governing Board has named Dave Kubicek as its new executive director. Kubicek brings more than 35 years of executive leadership in the passenger rail and public transportation industry. He was selected following a national search that has been overseen during an interim leadership period by Deputy Executive Director Diane Hernandez Del Calvo, who has served as interim executive director since March 2026. Kubicek will begin his role on Aug. 31, 2026.

Prior to joining SFRTA, Kubicek served as executive vice president of Capital Construction Engineering Design for the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CapMetro), where he oversaw capital design and construction, power systems, environmental sustainability, rolling stock and support equipment, systems engineering and design, capital construction and transit asset management, facility design and construction, facility programming and management and real estate. 

"Dave Kubicek brings decades of executive leadership, technical expertise and a proven ability to deliver complex transit initiatives," said SFRTA Governing Board Chair Commissioner Raquel Regalado. “As we work to strengthen the agency's financial foundation and plan for the next decade of commuter rail service, Dave Kubicek's extensive experience leading major transit systems and capital programs will help position Tri-Rail for continued success and growth."

Before CapMetro, Kubicek served as senior director of rolling stock and systems integration for the Austin Transit Partnership, leading systems integration, engineering, planning, construction cost modeling and operations planning for Austin's light rail program.

He has had leadership positions with Metro-North Railroad, Long Island Rail Road, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Dallas Area Rapid Transit and Parsons. Throughout these roles, he has overseen large-scale transit operations, infrastructure development, rolling stock procurement, capital program delivery and enterprise asset management while collaborating with federal, state and regional transportation partners.

Kubicek holds an Associate Degree of Occupational Studies from Universal Technical Institute and has completed the LEAD Executive Program through a consortium of North America's leading transit agencies. He also maintains professional certifications in maintenance management, facilities management, telecommunications and digital systems and has served in leadership roles with the American Public Transportation Association, the Association of American Railroads and the Federal Transit Administration's State of Good Repair Working Committee.

HDR promotes Rashed Islam to professional services director for transportation

In his new role, Islam will oversee HDR's integrated approach to infrastructure delivery, comprising dozens of transportation services provided by more than 5,000 transportation professionals, including engineering, construction, program management, environmental, planning and advisory practices.

Based in Austin, Texas, Islam will work with practice leaders to foster professional growth and technical leadership while competitively positioning HDR in the global infrastructure marketplace. He will provide strategic leadership as it relates to improving standards and implementing strong quality assurance and risk management practices, as well as coordinating the company’s approach to developing new technologies and transportation service areas.

“For three decades, Rashed has shown his dedication to quality, innovation, exceptional service and strong client relationships,” said HDR Transportation President Tom McLaughlin. “As our industry continues to evolve with new technologies and approaches, he embodies what sets HDR apart: A trusted advisor who provides the reliable and professional guidance that communities can depend on.”

Islam has worked in the transportation industry for over 30 years and has been with HDR for almost his whole career. He most recently served as HDR’s central region transportation director, managing operations for a region that includes 18 states.

“Our transportation clients are facing increasingly complex, high-stakes challenges that require firms with strong technical depth,” Islam said. “I’m excited to guide our teams as we put HDR’s expertise, disciplined delivery and smart technology adoption to work to help communities solve those challenges.”

SilverRide appoints next chief product and technology officer (CPTO)

SilverRide has appointed Sooketoo Bhuta as CPTO. Bhuta will lead the company’s product, technology, data and innovation strategy and own the multi-year roadmap for the platform that powers SilverRide’s assisted transportation network.

“Sooketoo brings a rare combination of product vision and operating discipline,” said SilverRide CEO Jeff Maltz. “He has spent his career turning technology into commercial results. Hiring a CPTO of his caliber is a deliberate investment in the platform, data and [artificial intelligence] that will define the next era of assisted transportation and support services and in the operational reliability our PACE and transit partners count on every day.”

Bhuta brings more than 15 years of product and technology leadership across mobility, healthcare, enterprise technology and financial services. He most recently served as head of product at Joule Labs, where he led the scaling of autonomous vehicle fleet operations.

He previously served as director of architecture and engineering at Franklin Templeton Investments and as director of service delivery at Yahoo. He began his career at Accenture and holds a B.S. in Engineering and Economics from the California Institute of Technology.

“SilverRide sits at the intersection of advanced technology and human dignity, and that is what drew me to this role,” Bhuta said. “The company has made a real commitment to its platform. My focus is to scale it with data, AI and automation so every ride is more reliable and every partnership more valuable while opening new ways to help older adults and people with disabilities live with greater independence.”