People News: KCS, SamTrans
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
Kristiana Evers of Kansas City Southern (left); April Chan of SamTrans.
Kristiana Evers of Kansas City Southern (KCS) was selected to join the Emerging Leaders Class of 2023 for the Central Exchange in Kansas City, Mo. Also, the San Mateo County (Calif.) Transit District Board appointed April Chan as General Manager/CEO of SamTrans; she will also be responsible for services provided by the district to both the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Authority, which owns and operates Caltrain, and the San Mateo County Express Lanes Joint Powers Agency.
Kristiana Evers, Senior Marketing Finance Specialist at KCS, will be part of the yearlong Central Exchange Emerging Leader Experience, KCS reported in an Oct. 17 LinkedIn post.
“This leadership development series advances leaders’ effectiveness, builds networks and connects participants with regional and global thought leaders,” KCS said. “Since 2007, 147 different companies have invested in over 1,000 women from five different countries to experience the Emerging Leaders program. Central Exchange is a community for women to reach their full potential. For over four decades, Central Exchange has worked to support women and believes that all women should have the opportunity to reach their full potential. When ambitious women receive more opportunity for growth, it ultimately benefits everyone—employers, colleagues, family and the community—and leads to a more equal world.”
Evers joined the Class I railroad in 2015. She holds a B.S. in accounting from the University of Kansas and an M.S. in accounting from University of Missouri, Kansas City.
April Chan will take over leadership of SamTrans on Nov. 1, according to the San Mateo County Transit District (District), the mobility manager for San Mateo County, which operates SamTrans fixed-route buses and Redi-Wheels and RediCoast paratransit. In her new role, Chan will also serve as Executive Director of the San Mateo County Transportation Authority, which administers the Measure A transportation sales tax to fund transportation projects county-wide. Additionally, she will be responsible for services provided by the District to both the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Authority, which owns and operates the Caltrain commuter railroad, and the San Mateo County Express Lanes Joint Powers Agency.
Chan has been an employee of the District since April 2000, rising through the ranks from Senior Planner, Capital Programming and Grants to Chief Officer, Planning, Grants and Transportation Authority and Acting Deputy General Manager, her most recent position.
“Ms. Chan will be the first woman General Manager/CEO of the District and is the District’s first permanent General Manager/CEO to be promoted from within,” said SamTrans Director Jeff Gee, who chaired the recruitment committee. “Her appointment is testament to the [District] Board’s belief that this agency is headed in the right direction. Ms. Chan has a stellar reputation for working well with regional partners and is widely respected in the industry for her knowledge, professionalism and integrity.”
