People News: DRPT, KCSM
Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
Zach Trogdon (left) has been appointed as Virginia DRPT's Chief of Public Transportation and KCSM President, General Manager and Executive Representative Oscar Del Cueto Cuevas (right) has been appointed President of the Mexican Railway Association (AMF).
The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) names Zach Trogdon Chief of Public Transportation. Also, Kansas City Southern de Mexico (KCSM) President, General Manager and Executive Representative Oscar Del Cueto Cuevas is appointed President of the Mexican Railway Association (AMF).
DRPT
The Virginia DRPT recently announced that it has selected Zach Trogdon as the new Chief of Public Transportation, effective Oct. 25. Trogdon, who has two decades of executive experience in the public sector, according to an ABC13 report, comes from the Williamsburg Transit Authority (WATA) where he served as Executive Director since 2017. Grant Sparks will resume his role as Director of Transit Planning.
According to the ABC13 report, Trogdon will “lead the evaluation, assistance and execution of a $4.7 billion portfolio of public transportation, commuter assistance and congestion management programs throughout the Commonwealth.”
At WATA, Trogdon led the Authority’s daily activities and managed the progress of important capital facility projects through the acquisition of needed real estate, according to the ABC13 report. Additionally, he worked with the Authority’s discal agent to establish a Capital Fund to “more effectively plan the acquisition, maintenance and repair of major capital assets.”
Prior to WATA, Trogdon was the County Administrator in Charles City Council and a Town Manager in North Carolina, ABC13 reported.
“We are thrilled to welcome Zach Trogdon to DRPT as its next Chief of Public Transportation,” DRPT Director Jennifer DeBruhl said in the ABC13 report. “His track record of success as a public sector executive will be valuable at DRPT during a transformative time in the public transportation industry with opportunities to improve services for Virginians.”
According to the ABC13 report, Trogdon is a graduate of the University of Mary Washington, holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from the College of Charleston, and is a graduate of the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia.
Trogdon succeeds Jennifer DeBruhl who joined DRPT in 2016 as Chief of Public Transportation. In July 2022, she was named the agency’s Director.
“I am honored to join DRPT as the next Chief of Public Transportation and lead this agency through a pivotal time in the future of public transportation,” Trogdon said in the ABC13 report. “There have been many great advances in public transportation over the last several years and I look forward to working with all public transportation partners to deliver safe and reliable services that meet the needs of Virginians.”
KCSM
Kansas City Southern (KCS) announced on Oct. 18 via a Twitter post that Oscar Del Cueto Cuevas, KCSM President, General Manager and Executive Representative has been appointed President of AMF by a unanimous vote by the board of directors.
Del Cueto, who has more than 30 years of experience in the railway industry, joined KCSM in 2006 where he has served in numerous roles, including Director of Mechanical, Director of Transportation, General Superintendent of Transportation and Vice President and General Director, which he held until becoming President in August 2020.
According to the Class I, Del Cueto was a key member from KCSM in securing the concession within Mexico. He is on the Board of Directors of the Railway and Terminal del Valle de México, (Ferrovalle) and a full member of the Steering Committee of the Ferrovalle railway terminal. He is also a member of the Mexican Council of Foreign Trade of the Northeast (Comce Noreste) and in January 2021, he was appointed to the Board of the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico (AMCHAM).
Del Cueto holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Monterrey. Additionally, he received a Certificate in the Management Rail Program from the University of Michigan.
