The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has appointed Lourdes Zapata as chief diversity and inclusion officer. Zapata will oversee the MTA’s Department of Diversity and Civil Rights, overseeing the MTA’s continued efforts to provide equitable and inclusive opportunities for both career opportunities within the transit authority and contracting and business opportunities for external parties. Zapata takes over for Tracey Mitchell, who has served on an interim basis since Feb. 24.
Zapata served as the chief diversity officer for the State of New York under former New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo from 2018 to 2019, where she worked on policy and proactive initiatives to increase diversity within the state’s workforce. Most recently, Zapata has served as the president and CEO of the South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (SoBRO). Zapata originally joined the Bronx nonprofit community and economic development organization in September 1997 as the director of community development. Throughout her work at SoBRO, Zapata has developed and managed over 750 affordable housing units, planning efforts to rezone the Third Avenue corridor, Bruckner Boulevard and other sections of the Bronx. In her return to the organization in August 2019, Zapata made history as its first woman and Latina leader.
“With her wealth of experience, Lourdes is a natural fit to oversee the MTA’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, including our best-in-state MWBE/SDVOB contracting program,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “I’m confident that with her at the helm, the MTA will remain an industry leader as we move forward with delivering the historic $55 billion Capital Program and its investments in accessibility, transit equity and State of Good Repair work.”
“The key connector for New Yorkers is mass transit, and there is arguably no better time to join the MTA than right now, as it builds back with a vision for an inclusive transit system,” Zapata said. “For my part, I will put past lessons to use to further develop and increase participation of minority and women-owned businesses as the MTA embarks on not only improving essential transportation, but also creating job opportunities that affect our communities.”
Zapata has also served the state as executive vice president of the Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development at Empire State Development (ESD), where she was responsible for the development and oversight of statewide Minority- Women-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) procurement policy. In that role Zapata oversaw certification, compliance and business development activities and worked with state commissioners and the Legislature on matters affecting MWBEs.
The MTA has developed one of the country’s leading MWBE Business Development programs and has further supported small businesses through its Construction Small Business Mentoring Program, which has awarded over $400 million in contracts. In 2021, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul honored the MTA with the MWBE Champion Award for awarding the most amount of money to MWBEs out of 97 state agencies.
“I am thrilled to welcome Lourdes Zapata on board," said MTA Chief Administrative Officer Lisette Camilo. “She shares the vision and commitment to keep the MTA among the top New York State agencies – often the best – in diversity contracting. With her passion and years of experience in this field, I am confident that Lourdes will excel in this role and build on the MTA’s successful MWBE program, which provides invaluable opportunities for MWBE companies.”
“One of the MTA’s core values is equity and that doesn’t just apply to the transit service we provide,” said MTA Acting Chief Customer Officer and Senior Advisor Shanifah Rieara. “The MTA’s MWBE program is something that we are extremely proud of and we are excited to welcome Lourdes to lead the diversity and inclusion department. As someone who shares the ambition and goal to equal opportunity, I have no doubt she will keep the MTA a leader in this field and identify contracting opportunities to create more MWBE success stories.”
Zapata was born and raised in the Bronx. She received her master's degree in public administration from New York University and a bachelor’s degree from Hood College in Frederick, Md.
