People News: New York MTA, Patriot Rail

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has reorganized its leadership team. In addition, Patriot Rail has appointed a General Manager for its Lakeshore Railcar & Tanker Services company.

“I am excited to welcome such an experienced and committed group of public servants from diverse backgrounds to leadership roles across the MTA,” MTA Acting Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said during the agency’s Oct. 19 reorganization announcement. “These individuals have demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of New Yorkers and have navigated complex challenges throughout their careers. The MTA welcomes them to the important work of bringing back ridership and driving the region’s economic recovery.”

MTA’s leadership team changes include:

• Lisette Camilo, who will serve as Chief Administrative Officer, a newly created role overseeing the MTA’s Procurement, IT, Real Estate and Human Resources functions. She served for the past six years as Commissioner of New York City’s Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS). Camilo’s public service work began at the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services (MOCS) in the legal unit in 2011, where she was appointed NYC Chief Procurement Officer in 2014. Prior to MOCS, she was Legislative Counsel at the New York City Council for the Contracts, Juvenile Justice, and General Welfare Committees. newly created CAO role will oversee the MTA’s Procurement, IT, Real Estate, and Human Resources functions across the agency.

• Jamie Torres-Springer, who will serve as President of MTA Construction and Development, the position held previously by Lieber, before his current role appointment in July 2021. Torres-Springer has served as Commissioner of New York City’s Department of Design and Construction (DDC) since 2018. He led development and implementation of DDC’s Strategic Blueprint for Construction Excellence, a comprehensive plan to streamline capital project delivery, and had a leading role in several programs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including siting vaccination centers and building an emergency medical PPE stockpile. Prior to DDC, Torres-Springer led a national planning practice working on urban infrastructure, open space, and citywide strategic plans for inclusive growth and sustainability.

• Shanifah Rieara, who will serve as Senior Advisor, Communications and Policy. Most recently, she was Deputy Comptroller for Public Affairs at the New York City Comptroller’s Office, where she managed all aspects of public engagement, and oversaw strategic engagement with interfaith communities and New York City’s growing immigrant and diverse constituencies. Previously, Rieara was Assistant Comptroller and Bureau Chief of Public Affairs in the Comptroller’s Office and Northern Manhattan Director in the Manhattan Borough President’s Office.

Additionally, New York MTA reported that Chief Customer Officer Sarah Meyer will now report directly to the Chair and CEO; MTA Construction and Development Chief of Staff John McCarthy will serve as Chief, External Relations reporting to the Chair and CEO, and will lead communications, Governmental and Community Affairs, MTA Arts & Design, and key policy initiatives; Laura Wiles will serve as Chief of Staff; Naomi Renek will serve as Senior Advisor for Federal Policy; and Paige Graves will serve as Acting General Counsel.

Clint Morris is the new General Manager at Patriot Rail’s Lakeshore Railcar & Tanker Services, a full-service tank and hopper railcar cleaning facility with a wastewater management division. He has 20 years of management experience, and will be responsible for developing Lakeshore’s centralized waste treatment processes and for growing the wastewater client portfolio. Morris will also oversee all personnel.

Before joining Patriot Rail, Morris was Facilities Manager at VLS Recovery Services, a railcar cleaning and waste management company, and also held the position of General Manager at Gruene Plant Services, which manages all aspects of waste disposal.

“Clint will bring insightful vision to our Lakeshore team,” Patriot CEO John E. Fenton said. “He has vast experience in railcar cleaning services and the wastewater treatment industry, which will be significant to the growth of our Lakeshore portfolio. We look forward to Clint’s future at Patriot.”