People News: STV, WSP USA, Cardinal Infrastructure, Right Track Public Affairs
Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
From Left to Right: STV National Director of Zero Emissions Mobility Craig Cipriano; WSP USA Southwest Mountain Transportation Lead Matthew Sibul; and former CSX and Brightline Executive Bob O'Malley, who has formed Right Track Public Affairs, LLC.
STV welcomes Craig Cipriano as National Director of Zero Emissions Mobility. Also, WSP USA names Matthew Sibul Southwest Mountain Transportation Lead; Auke Mahar-Piersma joins Cardinal Infrastructure as Senior Advisor; and former CSX and Brightline Executive Bob O’Malley forms Right Track Public Affairs, LLC.
STV
STV announced Feb. 13 that Craig Cipriano has joined the firm as Senior Vice President and National Director of Zero Emissions Mobility.
In this newly created role, Cipriano will advise STV clients on practical solutions and strategies to “deliver sustainable, equitable, carbon-free transportation systems,” the firm said.
Cipriano brings more than 33 years of experience planning and executing large-scale, multi-dimensional fleet and infrastructure programs for public transit systems. Prior to joining STV, he served as President of New York MTA’s Bus Company, leading the nation’s largest bus transit agency through the pandemic and setting its strategy to a zero emissions fleet by 2040. He has also served as Acting President of New York City Transit (NYCT), leading 50,000 employees at the largest public transportation agency in North America with an operating budget of $13 billion.
Cipriano earned a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Stony Brook University and a Master of City and Regional Planning degree from Rutgers University.
“STV is proud to welcome a national thought leader of Cipriano’s caliber to lead the Zero Emissions Transformation national advisory practice within our Centers of Excellence,” said STV Executive Vice President Marcos Diaz Gonzalez. “Combining Cipriano’s vast and distinguished experience in fleet operations with our industry-leading national practices will help advance our clients’ decarbonization and fleet transformation goals through our strategic and equitable approach to zero emissions mobility.”
“Decarbonizing our transportation systems is a top societal challenge of our time,” said Cipriano. “I have seen both the technical complexity and organizational change management necessary to deliver an equitable, resilient, zero-emissions fleet transformation, and I am eager to provide that perspective to STV’s deep bench of industry expertise.”
WSP USA
WSP USA announced Feb. 13 that it has hired Matthew Sibul as Transportation District Business Line Lead for the firm’s Southwest Mountain District.
In this role, Sibul is responsible for leading operations, project delivery and client success to help grow WSP’s transportation business in a five-state district that includes Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
Sibul has 29 years of transportation experience both for public agencies and in the private sector. His most recent role was Head of Sales and Business Development for an international train manufacturer with U.S. operations based in Salt Lake City.
Prior to that, Sibul served with the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) as Director of Government Relations, Chief Planning Officer and a Senior Program Manager. He also has additional experience in corporate consulting.
Sibul is a licensed professional engineer and a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.
“Matt is a proven and effective leader with decades of professional experience in the transportation industry,” said WSP Senior Vice President and Southwest Mountain District Lead Shaun Grimm. “He is excellent at managing teams and mentoring young professionals, and I’m very excited for his leadership to bolster our operations in this district.”
According to WSP, a few of the firm’s top projects in the Southwest Mountain District include lead design as part of Connect 202 Partners for the Arizona Department of Transportation’s 22-mile Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway in Phoenix; program management for Denver International Airport’s Concourse Expansion Program; design for UTA’s FrontLine program to bring its TRAX light and commuter rail to the Salt Lake City region; and prime designer for Utah’s first wildlife overpass.
Cardinal Infrastructure
Cardinal Infrastructure, a federal advisory firm focused on transportation and infrastructure related issues, announced Feb. 13 that Auke Mahar-Piersma has joined as Senior Advisor.
In this role, Mahar-Piersma will “help transit clients navigate the federal government, IIJA implementation and achieve their mission of delivering robust public transit service,” the firm said.
Mahar-Piersma retired from the federal government after 23 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, including the last eight years on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. During that time, he served as the Staff Director of the Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee and as Deputy Staff Director of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee.
“We are excited to bring aboard Auke, a tremendous asset with decades of legislative and transportation policy experience,” said Cardinal Infrastructure Partner Anja Graves.
“Auke will work with our team to develop legislative, regulatory, and business strategies that produce tangible results for our clients,” said Cardinal Infrastructure Founder and Partner Sherry E. Little.
“I am excited to advocate for transit systems,” said Mahar-Piersma. “I like the challenge of meeting the diverse needs of both small and large agencies and helping them grow along with the communities they serve.”
Right Track Public Affairs
Former CSX and Brightline Executive Bob O’Malley has founded Right Track Public Affairs, a consulting firm that aims to “provide public affairs, business development and strategic communications support to clients throughout Florida.”
Right Track Public Affairs will be based in the Orlando area. Through the new firm, O’Malley, who is accredited in public relations (APR) and has three decades of experience in community outreach, corporate communications and public affairs, will continue to provide consulting services for the development of the Sunshine Corridor, the proposed expansion of passenger rail from Orlando International Airport to Central Florida tourism areas. O’Malley will also continue to provide business development support to Railroad Consultants, PLLC, and public affairs support to other railroad clients.
While transportation is an obvious target industry for new business, O’Malley says he is confident the firm will serve other industries: “My experience in transportation has exposed me to many adjacent industries, including land development, utilities, engineering, construction, and public safety,” O’Malley said. “Any company or organization dealing with a complex, high-profile issue is the ideal client for Right Track Public Affairs.”
