People News: ASLRRA, MDOT MTA, OCTA, Transdev U.S.
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
Pictured: Richard Sherman, ASLRRA; and Lauren Skiver, Transdev U.S.
The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) hires a new Assistant Vice President of Policy and Industry Affairs. Also, the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) appoints its first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Director; Transdev U.S. signs on a new Chief Operating Officer; and Orange Country (Calif.) Transportation Authority (OCTA) recognizes the OC Streetcar project lead as an Employee of the Year for 2022.
Richard Sherman has joined ASLRRA as Assistant Vice President of Policy and Industry Affairs. He will support the association’s efforts in a range of policy areas, with a particular focus on capital projects, infrastructure funding programs and agency procedures.
Sherman served previously at Blank Rome Government Relations and Chambers, Conlon & Hartwell, where he supported a range of transportation clients including ASLRRA. He has helped clients secure more than $200 million in grant funding over 19 separate awards in the rail, maritime and highway sectors; supported overseas railroad consultancy projects and performed work for national governments and multilateral non-governmental organizations; and led several U.S. Trade and Development Agency project preparation missions in the railway sector, including in North Africa, Central Asia and Latin America, according to ASLRRA. Sherman also served with the U.S. Army in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In related developments, earlier this year Alexis Kudlak joined the association as Senior Accountant, responsible for revenue and dues processing, payables, and departmental budgeting.
MDOT MTA has named Kelly Fenner as Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), fulfilling the agency’s strategic plan commitment to create a senior leadership-level position overseeing aspects of equity internally and externally.
Building upon the work done by MDOT MTA’s employee-driven Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Fenner will be responsible for implementing the agency’s DEI initiatives and serve as its key liaison with MDOT on the department’s Diversity to Belonging Steering Committee, according to MDOT MTA, which operates Local Bus, Commuter Bus, Light RailLink, Metro SubwayLink, MARC Train and Mobility paratransit services.
Fenner returns to MDOT MTA following service since 2020 as DEI Director for the Baltimore County (Md.) Police Department, establishing partnerships with internal and external stakeholders; developing and teaching DEI curriculum; and reviewing, revising and restructuring policies and procedures to ensure alignment with DEI strategies. Previously she was an MDOT MTA Police Captain.
“Diversity, equity and inclusion are not new themes to MDOT MTA, but we cannot be satisfied with the status quo,” said Holly Arnold, who took on the role of MDOT MTA Administrator in 2021. “This is another important step in ensuring the diversity of our community is well represented at every level of our agency and that everyone feels welcome.”
At Transdev U.S.—a rail and streetcar, bus, paratransit, and microtransit operator—Lauren Skiver will take on the role of Chief Operating Officer starting March 10, 2023. She will have operational and fiscal responsibility for the Vehicle Services, Non-Emergency Medical Transport (NEMT), and Rail businesses, along with responsibility for the Maintenance, Safety and Security teams. Skiver will join the Executive Committee of Transdev U.S. and work closely with Susan Sweat, who remains Chief Operating Officer of the Transit division.
Skiver served most recently as CEO of SunLine Transit Agency in Thousand Palms, Calif. She began her transit career 27 years ago at Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) as a Maintenance Clerk, and subsequently became Director of Paratransit and Customer Service. She then moved to the Maryland Transit Administration, where she managed Paratransit Service and later oversaw all operating modes including light rail, subway, bus and commuter rail service. Skiver served nine years in the U.S. Army specializing in military intelligence as an Imagery Analyst, which included serving during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Skiver serves as Chair of Leadership APTA (American Public Transportation Association), which focuses on developing visionary and resilient leaders for the transit industry. From 2020 to 2023, she was also Chair of the California Hydrogen Business Council.
“We are excited to have Lauren join the Transdev team,” Transdev U.S. CEO Laura J. Hendricks said. “We know that her extensive public transit experience and leadership including her intimate knowledge of Zero Emission buses and hydrogen fuel cell technology will provide exceptional value to our clients. We are thrilled to have an innovative industry thought leader like Lauren join our Transdev team.”
OCTA has named Program Manager Ross Lew as its Administrative Employee of the Year. Lew is one of three employees honored with an award for 2022 for helping the agency “achieve organizational excellence and a balanced, sustainable and equitable transportation system.” The other two employees were named as Coach Operator of the Year and Maintenance Employee of the Year. The three were selected from among 36 employees chosen as employees of the month throughout 2022.
Lew is leading the OC Streetcar project toward construction completion. Expected to open in 2024, the 4.5-mile system will run through Santa Ana and Garden Grove, Calif. He also leads the SR-55 Improvement Project and oversees other freeway projects on the 55 and the 91.
“Thanks to his hands-on approach and effective partnering, the project team met several key milestones, including reopening segments of Fourth Street ahead of schedule and reopening major intersections, including the Ross Street intersection before the start of the school year at Nova Academy,” OCTA reported. “Ross is recognized for his dedication to meeting project commitments and efficiently managing construction activities.”
In related developments, OCTA in January received a $149.841 million TIRCP (Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program) grant from CalSTA (California State Transportation Agency) for OC Streetcar.
