About METRO

Sanjay Ramabhadran’s (pronounced Rahm-bud-run) leadership roles with Houston’s influential civic and business organizations have uniquely positioned him to help steer METRO’s future.  He serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston METRO), the largest transit authority in Texas and for the 4th largest city in the United States, with a 1,300 square mile service area and an annual budget of $1.7 Billion. He is a member of the Transportation Policy Council, the Policy Board for the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) serving a 13-county region.

Previously as chair of METRO’s Capital and Strategic Planning Committee, Sanjay helped oversee the planning, design, construction, and launch of major projects that enhance mobility throughout the region.

A Registered Professional Engineer, he is a Founding Principal at a consulting firm providing program/construction management services on aviation, transportation, water and flood protection projects. He has served in senior executive and board roles with global and regional firms delivering transportation, water, and flood mitigation projects for 25+ years. He brings this knowledge to METRO at a time when the agency is implementing a $3.5 billion bond program, METRONext, approved by voters in 2019 with almost 70% of the vote.

Sanjay has served as President of The Texas Lyceum, an organization that brings together diverse opinions and expertise to focus on issues of critical importance to the future of Texas and catalyzes constructive private sector, public sector and individual responses to these issues. He is a former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Leadership Houston, a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum, and former President of the HESS Club and the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston. His civic involvement has included serving as Steering Committee Member – Houston General Plan; Chairperson of the Houston Mayor's International Trade & Development Council (South Asia); City of Houston – Building & Standards Commission; and Connecting Communities Initiative at Rice University's Kinder Institute.

Sanjay’s talent for bringing business and civic leaders together to tackle big challenges has been a hallmark of his leadership. As such, in 2012 he was recognized among Ten Outstanding Young Americans by the United States Junior Chamber. He was previously selected as one of Five Outstanding Young Texans in 2011 by the Texas Jaycees and one of Five Outstanding Young Houstonians for the year 2010 by the Houston Jaycees. Selected as an ASIA 21 Young Leader, he represented the United States at the 2010 Global Asia 21 Leadership Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia.

He is a graduate of Texas A&M University and BITS – Pilani with executive education at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Don Elder Jr. was raised on a rice farm and ranch in Katy, Texas, where his dad and two uncles farmed for over 33 years. Don graduated from Katy High School and attended Sam Houston State University where he received Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees. Upon graduation, he was a professor at both Sam Houston and Hill College. At Hill College, he had his own local sports radio program and served as the athletic public relations director. Following teaching, Don worked in sales/marketing in the Ready-Mix business for over 30 years. He now owns Elder Consulting where he works with school and governmental entities.

Don served on the Katy Independent School District Board of Trustees for two terms. After that, he was elected to the Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) County Board. He served on this Board for ten years, two terms as president.  He was on the Katy City Council for five years. He resigned from Katy City Council to run for Mayor and was elected May 12, 2007. He ran unopposed in the May 2009 election and was re-elected for a second term. The Mayor again ran unopposed in May 2011 and his term expired in 2013. The mayor’s position in Katy is term-limited.

Don served on the Talent Committee of the Economic Development Board as well as the Governing Board of the EDC. He has served on the Business Development Board of Sterling Bank and presently serves on the Development Board for Houston Community College (HCC). Some of Don’s other community involvement, to name a few, are Past member of the Katy Athletic Booster Club; Past president of Katy High School Alumni Association; Honorary member of Katy FFA, as well as other schools in the district; Member of the Katy FFA Sales Committee; Past member of Board of Directors for Katy Area A & M Club; Past president of Katy Area A & M Club; past member of Board of Directors for Katy FFA Rodeo Committee; Member of the 12th Man Foundation, Texas A & M University. Don is presently serving on the City of Houston Metro Board as second vice president, representing the 14 multi-cities.

Don is married to Katy native, Ida Faye Moore Elder. They have one son, Shane, who is married to Maddie. They have one child, Easton and expecting another son in June, 2022. Don and Ida Faye are active members of the Katy First United Methodist Church. He enjoys hunting, visiting the Hill Country and attending sporting events, particularly UNT football games.

Roberto Treviño was appointed to the METRO Board by Harris County Commissioners Court in July 2022. He has served as the Executive Director of the Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) since January 2021 when Harris County Commissioners unanimously appointed him to that position. Treviño is responsible for capital and other assets totaling $4.7 billion for a system that typically processes more than 500 million transactions a year.

Treviño has actively worked to build upon the Toll Road Authority’s accomplishments with a strategic vision for the agency that broadens its focus on the diverse connectivity needs of the region and aligns with the future direction of Harris County. Having laid the foundation of setting a vision and values for the agency, he has focused the agency on advancing mobility projects which facilitate commuting efficiency for the region, as well as planning and development of the conversion to all-electronic tolling and the development of the Tollways to Trailways initiative.  He has stayed true to his lifelong vision of investing in people through the launch of the HCTRA Opportunity Academy which creates a road to opportunity through job training, education, and employment opportunities.

Prior to HCTRA, Treviño had a 17-year career with METRO. As Executive Vice President of Planning, Engineering, and Construction, he was responsible for the oversight and management of METRO’s Service Planning, System Planning, Engineering, and Construction and Facilities Maintenance divisions.

Treviño joined METRO in 2004 as a senior resident engineer for a new transit center and Park & Ride facility. During his tenure at METRO, he was involved in management and implementation of many of the agency’s impactful projects including the METRORail Expansion program, the Universal Accessibility program, and the implementation of The New Bus Network, which was the first redesign and overhaul of Houston’s local bus system since 1978.

Professional Associations and Activities

• Harris County Alternate Member, Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) Transportation Policy Council
• Past METRO Alternate Member, H-GAC Technical Advisory Committee
• Graduate, American Leadership Forum, Class XXXVIII

Civic Activities

• Board Member, Urban Partnerships Community Development Corporation

Honors

• Recipient, Honorable Ray LaHood (Man of the Year) Award 2022

Education and Certifications

• Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.), State of Texas
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, Texas
  

At age 34, Troi Taylor – President, along with his wife, Kelley Taylor – CEO, started Taylor Construction Management (TCM) – a facilities project management consulting firm. In the last 10-years, the company grew from 1 to more than 20-associates and 3-offices in Texas. TCM is currently responsible for managing more than $1B in active construction projects in Texas alone. The company maintains a strong presence in Mainland China and also has expanding offices in Dallas, Texas, as well as the District of Columbia. Troi is passionate about project management because he connects the mega capital improvement assignments down to the simplest components: people must understand the big picture and be motivated to exceed their own expectations. His dedication and success has garnered acclaim on the national and international platform.

Troi received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Prairie View A&M University. He received an MBA degree from the University of Houston-Victoria. Troi is a native Houstonian – graduating from Milby Sr. High School in the Houston ISD.

Under the leadership of Kelley and Troi, TCM is currently managing projects across various industries: Education, Transportation, Life Science, Aviation, and Healthcare.  Some of their noteworthy clients include Houston ISD, Lowe’s Companies, John Peter Smith Hospital, Texas A&M University System, Houston Airport System, Texas Central Partners High Speed Rail, Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority, and several others.

In addition to his METRO Board appointment by Mayor Sylvester Turner, Troi serves on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors for the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the Steering Committee for the Houston Chapter of the National Forum of Black Public Officials (NFBPA), the Board of Directors for the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council (HMSDC), and as Chairman of the Board for the Houston and Harris County Coalition for the Homeless (CFTH).

Through philanthropy, diligence, and maintaining a spiritual compass, Troi has been recognized by several organizations in recent years

• Emerging 10 Award (HMSDC) 2012
• Upstart Award (Greater Houston Black Chamber) 2013
• International Rising Star (International Trade Development Council) 2014
• Med-Week 2014 MBE Company of the Year
• Top 40 Under 40 Award (Houston Business Journal) 2015
• Minority Contractor of the Year (Houston Area Urban League) 2015.

Troi and Kelley live in Spring, Texas. They have (2) children: Joshua & Laila Taylor. He is an active presence in his neighborhood. Additionally, he is an active volunteer at the Star of Hope Homeless Shelter. Finally, Troi can often be found facilitating leadership discussions for at-risk inner city youth at various Greater Houston school districts.

Lex Frieden is Professor of Biomedical Informatics and Rehabilitation at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and he is adjunct Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine. Mr. Frieden also directs the ILRU – Independent Living Research Utilization Program at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston. ILRU is a research, training and technical assistance program on independent living for people with disabilities and older adults.

Mr. Frieden has served as chairperson of the National Council on Disability, president of Rehabilitation International, and chairperson of the American Association of People with Disabilities. He is recognized as one of the founders of the independent living movement by people with disabilities in the early 1970’s, and he was instrumental in conceiving and drafting the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

Mr. Frieden holds degrees in psychology from the University of Tulsa and the University of Houston and he has been awarded an honorary doctorate in law (LL.D.) by the National University of Ireland. He has received two Presidential Citations for his work in the field of disability.

Mr. Frieden is the author of more than 100 published contributions to the literature. He has given more than 1,000 lectures and presentations at events throughout the US and internationally. Mr. Frieden is currently leading a national research study to evaluate the impact of the ADA and to identify population group disparities related to employment, transportation, housing and community living.

Bob Fry retired in 2011 from the maritime industry after selling the company he founded in 1989. A graduate of Milby High School in Houston and the University of Texas at Austin, he received U.S. Army training as a Transportation Corps officer and served in Vietnam. He was elected as Mayor Pro Tem (2007-2011) and Mayor (2011-2015) of West University Place, serving two terms each. While in office, he served as President of the Harris County Mayors and Councils Association, as a member of the board of the Houston Galveston Area Council representing Home Rule Cities and served as a voting member representing Small Cities on its Transportation Policy Council. Fry currently represents fourteen cities on the board of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas…”) serving as Chairman of its Public Safety, Customer Service, and Operations Committee. He currently serves as Chairman of the Texas A & M Galveston Board of Visitors and was the founding chairman of the San Jacinto College Maritime Advisory Committee. He currently serves on the board of the Texas Navy Association and on the board of St. Mark’s Episcopal School. He is a former chairman of the Houston Maritime Museum and a former board member of the Gulf Coast Authority and the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra. He is a current member of West U Rotary, a founding member, and a past president. Fry and his wife, Jo Ann were married in 1974 and have two children and four grandchildren.

Chris Hollins, an attorney and fourth-generation Houstonian, is the former County Clerk of Harris County, Texas. In private practice, he is the Principal Attorney at Hollins Law Group PLLC.

Chris developed a commitment to public service through the selfless example of his parents and their devotion for improving the lives of others. His father, George, served for 34 years in the Houston Police Department, and his mother, Christie, managed a career as an administrative assistant while raising Chris, his two sisters, and more than 20 young foster children.

Before transitioning into private practice, Chris developed a strong strategic skillset by working at some of the world’s most distinguished professional service firms. As a management consultant with McKinsey & Company, he flourished in applying analytics and organizational best practices to transform public safety, defense, and security agencies. He also served in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with Phi Beta Kappa honors from Morehouse College. Chris also completed a joint program with Yale Law School and Harvard Business School, earning both his Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees. Today, Chris is admitted to the State Bar of Texas and Federal Courts for the Southern District of Texas. He is an alum of New Leaders Council. Chris has served on numerous nonprofit boards and has been a Big Brother for over a decade.

Since the conclusion of his term as County Clerk, Chris has continued to serve as an advocate for voting rights, democracy, and good government. He believes that our state and our nation must—in addition to addressing countless issues to improve the human condition—protect the basic elements of democracy for all citizens so that “government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Chris resides in Houston’s Third Ward with his wife Morgan, their daughter Vivian, and their son George. The Hollins family attends Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church.

Other affiliations and recognitions include:

• Board Member – Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston
• Board Member – East Downtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ 15)
• Board Member and Vice President – University Oaks Civic Club
• Member – Green-Fletcher Federal Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee
• Past Board Member – New Leaders Council, Houston
• Life Member – National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
• Life Member – Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
• The Best Things in Texas, Texas Monthly – 2021
• Democracy Action Hero Award, USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy – 2020
• Kristen Capps Social Conscience Award, Houston GLBT Political Caucus – 2020
• Houston’s Most Fascinating People, Houston Chronicle – 2020
• Top 50 Black Professionals and Entrepreneurs of Texas, d-mars.com – 2020

Diann Lewter’s career has primarily been focused on business development in the commercial real estate and public sectors. Notably, she was the originator and director of the first business development program for the Central Business District (CBD), and the economic development director for the Downtown District.

Lewter led programs focused on the recruitment and retention of offices, retailers, and residents. During her tenure office vacancy rates fell to 3% from 17%, and the CBD saw its first true retail and residential development in decades. She worked on the successful rail referendum, and referendums to bring baseball and basketball stadiums to the CBD. She was instrumental in securing the first downtown circulator – old-fashioned trolley cars. The grant program she led attracted many small businesses to open restaurants and retail businesses at street level in an effort to attract pedestrian traffic. A proud accomplishment was saving the former Sakowitz building from alterations that would have closed it from street level and to position it for future retail use.

Lewter is married to Michael Lewter. They are advocates for the preservation of mid-century homes and buildings in the Houston area. They devote a great deal of their time to supporting Camp for All, a barrier-free camp for children and adults with disabilities and special needs in Burton, Texas. The Lewters were honored for their service at the 2020 Camp for All Houston Gala.

Past Positions

• Business Development Director – Central Houston, Inc.
• Economic Development Director – Downtown District
  
• Sr. Vice President, Business Development – Trione & Gordon (corporate real estate and tenant representation firm)
  
• Operations Manager – CBRE (global commercial real estate services and investment firm)
  
• Member, METRO Board of Directors – Chair, Administration Committee, Co-Chair, Public Safety, Customer Service & Operations and Real Estate Committees, member of Capital Programs, Government & Public Affairs, People & Procurement Committees
  
• Member – Mayor’s International Advisory Council
  
• Past President – Leadership Houston
  
• Founder and past Chair - CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women)
  
• Chair - AIDS Foundation Houston, The United Way Women’s Initiative, The Professional Group
  
• Event Chair – The Book and Author Dinner, The Alley Gala, Rice Design Alliance Gala Underwriting, Houston Architectural Foundation Gala, National CREW Conference
  
• Board Member – Hermann Park Conservancy, The Heritage Society
  
• Past President & Current Co-Chair of the Long-Range Planning Committee for Holly Hall Retirement Community
  
• Current Member – Houston Police Academy Criminal Justice Advisory Committee (Continuous service since first appointed in 1993)
  
• Current member – Astrodome Conservancy Board

Civic Activities / Awards & Recognitions

• Distinguished Alumni, National Association of Community Leadership – Leadership Houston
  
• Outstanding Woman – The Federation of Houston Professional Women
  
• Woman to Watch – Houston Magazine & in 2014, named one of the magazine’s 50 most influential women in Houston
  
• Proud Partners Award (Sandy Reed Buffalo Bayou Memorial Project) – Clean Houston, Inc.,
  
• Named a CREW Local Legend in recognition of outstanding service to women in the commercial real estate community

Terry Morales is a Sr. Vice President and Corporate Banking Lender for Amegy Bank. She has built a new niche for the bank in the Quick Service Restaurant Industry, which today includes some of the top businesses and concepts in the U.S. Morales also focuses on large public and private companies whose revenues exceed $200 Million. Morales is involved in various internal group activities such as the Amegy PAC, the Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee, and the Amegy Women’s Initiative Diverse Markets Committee.

Morales has been in the banking industry for 30+ years. She was previously with JPMorgan Chase-Retail Division in various management roles, which included managing multi-site branches and Small Business Team Lead for the North Houston territory.

Morales has a BBA in Finance from the University of Houston and is a graduate of the JP Morgan Chase (Small Business Sponsored) Credit Training Program in New York City. In addition, she is a graduate of Leadership Houston, the Center for Houston’s Future, and is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum Class XXXIV. Morales is a native Houstonian, and grew up in Houston’s East End.

Other affiliations and recognitions include

• Board Member – Houston Cinema Arts Society
• Board Member – American Leadership Forum
• Past Board Member and President – University of Houston Friends of Women Studies
• Past Board Member – Harris County Child Protective Services
• Past Board Member and Treasurer – Land Assemblage Redevelopment Authority
• Past Board Member – Harris County Finance Corporation
• Past Board Member – Inprint
• Past Board Member – Houston BARC Foundation
• Past Board Member – Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Past Board Member – Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce
• Past Board Member – City of Houston Hispanic Advisory Board
• Texas Executive Women’s “Women on the Move” – 2018
• “Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women of 2014” by Houston Woman Magazine
• National Hispanic Corporate Achievers Award – 2002

“Transit today is really about building an environment where people feel comfortable and safe. It’s about creating walkable, livable communities, and connecting people to opportunities.”
— Tom Lambert

Tom Lambert became METRO’s President and CEO in 2014 after serving as acting President for just over one year.

He leads a team of more than 4,000 people. Since becoming president and CEO, Lambert has made taking care of his customers and “delivering a quality product every day” his personal priority, as well as the priority of every single department and employee.

Tom Lambert joined METRO as a security investigator in 1979, its first full year of operation. Following the creation of the METRO Police Department in 1982, Lambert became its first chief of police.

He held that position for many years before moving on to other leadership roles including chief administrative officer, executive vice president and acting president and CEO.

Past Positions

• METRO, Executive Vice President
• METRO, Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer
• METRO, Senior Vice President and Chief of Police
• Austin Police Department
• Professional Associations and Activities
• Board Member, American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
• Board Member, METRO Alternate, Transportation Policy Council of the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC)
• Member, Texas Technology Task Force
• Member, Texas A&M Transportation Institute Advisory Council

Previous Industry Leadership Roles

• Advisory Committee, U.S. Department of Transportation, Intelligent Transportation Systems
• Chairman, Board of Directors Executive Committee, Intelligent Transportation Society of America
• Chairman, Public Safety Committee, American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
• Chairman, Peer Advisory Group, Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
• Chairman, Leadership Team, Houston TranStar
• Executive Board Member, FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force
• President and Member, Houston Area Chiefs of Police Association
• President and Graduate, 57th National Urban Mass Transportation Management Seminar, Northeastern University
• Associate Staff Instructor for Mass Transit Security Training, U.S. Department of Transportation, Transportation Safety Institute
• Faculty Advisory Committee Member, Urban Mass Transportation Administration Security
• Instructor, Command Course/Sam Houston State University Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas

Honors—Individual and Agency

• American Public Transportation Association (APTA), Outstanding Public Transportation Manager, 2018
• Texas Transit Association (TTA), Outstanding Metropolitan Transit System of the Year Award, 2017
• Texas Diversity Council, Corporate Diversity First Leadership Award, 2017
• American Public Transportation Association (APTA), Outstanding Public Transportation System Award, 2020, 2015
• U.S. Department of Transportation Safety Institute, Superior Performance Award
• Who’s Who in Law Enforcement
• Austin Police Department Life Saving Award

Education and Certifications

• Executive Training, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Boston, Massachusetts
• M.A., Public Administration, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
• B.A., Political Science, Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas

“Working with a team of people with diverse perspectives and talents is what makes this job fun. We have a unique opportunity to do things differently, think outside the box, and be as creative as we want to be.”
— Thomas Jasien

Tom Jasien has been METRO’s Deputy CEO since 2014. He joined the Authority in 2000 as Senior Director of Government Affairs and Community Outreach.

As Deputy CEO, Jasien oversees the departments of Operations and Human Resources. Tom is spearheading the authorities’ efforts to hire and retain the workforce necessary to rebuild METRO’s full service levels.

He is also coordinating authority-wide oversight of METRO’s capital projects and Climate Action Plan including the purchase and roll out of METRO’s first 20 electric buses.

Prior to joining METRO, Jasien had an extensive career in Washington, D.C.

He was part of the White House advance team during President George H. W. Bush’s second vice-presidential term and was involved in his successful presidential campaign.

Jasien served as a presidential appointee at the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration as well as Deputy Director of the New Jersey Governor’s Washington, D.C. office where he coordinated congressional advocacy activities for the State.

Jasien also held key staff positions with the United States Senate, a government relations consulting firm and a major trade association.

Professional Associations and Activities

• Board Member, Texas Transit Association
• Member, Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Member, Greater Houston Partnership Transportation Committee

Education

• B.A., Economics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland

Phone: 713-739-4008

“I make sure that our transit policymakers and members of the public receive all relevant information and materials for the Agency’s public meetings, in order to have an effective and efficient public meeting.”
— Rosa Diaz-Hernandez

Rosa Diaz-Hernandez is METRO’s director of Board Support. She has been with the Authority for more than 20 years and worked in three departments since beginning her career here as a data entry clerk.

The nine members of METRO’s board of directors are the ultimate decision makers about routes, expansions, improvements, budgets, innovations, and construction. They rely on the director of Board Support to make sure the information and input from more than a dozen METRO departments, as well as individual METRO riders, is presented to them in a timely fashion.

Diaz-Hernandez is also in charge of inviting members of the public to attend board and committee meetings, either in person or via streaming video.

Professional Associations and Activities

• Vice Chair, American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Transit Board Administrators Subcommittee
• Graduate, METRO Management Suite, 2017
• Graduate, METRO Leadership Development Program, 2013

Civic Activities

• Past PTO Vice President, Sheldon Elementary
• Board Member, Sheldon Youth Basketball League
• Scout Leader, Raven District Boy Scouts
• Volunteer, Sheldon District Little League Baseball Team

Phone: 713-739-4840

“Working with an exceptional group of people, my goal is to provide safe, clean, reliable, accessible and friendly transportation services to our customers each and every day.”
— Chuck Berkshire

As EVP/COO, Chuck oversees METRO’s transit services (bus, rail, and specialized transit services), Customer Service, Emergency Management and Facilities Maintenance.

Chuck began his career with METRO in 2009 as Sr. Director of Bus Maintenance. He advanced to Vice President of Bus Maintenance in 2020 and became EVP and Chief Operating Officer for the Operations Department in 2022.

As VP of Bus Maintenance, Chuck was responsible for the day-to-day management of 1200 buses, 5 operating facilities and Central Shops. He also oversaw maintenance of METRO’s non-revenue vehicle fleet, support equipment and the Maintenance Support Group consisting of Technical Services, Quality Assurance, Warranty, and Intelligent Transportation Systems.

Prior to Joining METRO, Chuck worked for private and public transit organizations responsible for daily operations, fleet and facility maintenance and training.

Past Positions

• Vice President Service & Warranty – The Traxis Group
  
• Vice President Fleet Maintenance – Laidlaw Transit Services
  
• Sales, Service & Training – Transit Marketing Group
  
• Vice President, Operations, Fleet & Facilities Management – Coach USA
  
• Deputy General Manager, Maintenance & Maintenance Support – New Jersey Transit Corporation
  
• Director, Fleet Maintenance Dallas Area Rapid Transit

“We value diversity and believe in treating everyone with respect and dignity. Our goal is to provide professional, fair, and impartial law enforcement services to the entire community.”
— Vera Bumpers

Vera Bumpers is METRO’s chief of police.

She has been with the department for more than 35 years and has been a pioneer from the beginning.

Chief Bumpers is the first woman to lead MPD and is the first woman to have been promoted in every single rank.

MPD is a full-time, full-service agency made up of more than 275 sworn Texas Peace Officers and more than 125 civilian staff members.

Chief Bumpers and all the men and women of MPD are focused on keeping METRO’s transit system moving safely and securely for all customers.

They are also committed to maintaining cooperative working relationships with all law enforcement agencies within the METRO service area.

Chief Bumpers has been widely recognized both locally and nationally for her leadership.

She is a past National President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), has been featured in the African American Newspaper and Houston Women Magazine, and was honored as a 2016 Top 50 Black Professional and Entrepreneur.

Professional Associations and Activities

• Chair, Houston Community College Police Academy Advisory Board
• Member, San Jacinto College Advisory Committee for Business Office Systems and Support (BOSS)
• Board member, International Association of Chiefs of Police
• Member, Texas Police Chiefs Association
• Member, Houston Area Police Chiefs Association
• Member, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
• Member, National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives
• Member, Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association
• Member, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
• Member, The Links, Incorporated

Education and Certifications

• M.S. Education, Prairie View A&M University
• B.S. Criminal Justice, Texas State University
• Graduate, 230th session FBI National Academy, Quantico, Virginia

“Working together, we can always achieve more.”
— Alan C. Clark

Alan C. Clark is METRO’s chief strategy officer.

In this role, Alan is developing partnership opportunities which support both the investment priorities of METRO and those of partner agencies. These may include projects with other transit providers, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) local governments and the private sector.

Prior to joining METRO in March 2021, Clark was the director of transportation and air quality planning for over 30 years at H-GAC. There, he was the director of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and responsible for development of the region’s multimodal transportation plans.

Clark has vast experience in multimodal transportation planning and funding prioritization for local, state, and federal transportation investments as well as a clear understanding of the region’s transportation needs.

When Clark moved to Houston in 1981, he worked as a transportation planner for METRO and was an adjunct professor at Texas Southern University.

Past Positions

• Director of Transportation Planning, Houston-Galveston Area Council
• Transportation Planner, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas
• Adjunct Professor, Texas Southern University
• Transportation Consultant

Professional Associations and Activities

• 2009 – 2014, Member, Oversight Committee for Transportation Research Board’s Strategic Highway Research Programs 2 (SHRP2)
• Past Member, Board of Advisors, Eno Foundation
• Past Member, Texas Transportation Institute Advisory Board
• Past Member, Center for Transportation Training and Research Advisory Board, Texas Southern University
• Past Member, Transportation Research Board’s Policy Study Committee on Climate Change in the United States
• 2006-08 Member of the Federal Advisory Committee on Impacts of Climate Variability and Change on Transportation Systems and Infrastructure – Gulf Coast Case Study

Honors

• 2017, Ronald F. Kirby Memorial National Award for Individual Leadership presented by Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations
• 2009, Anchor Award for Transportation Excellence in the Houston - Galveston area
• 1995, Road Hand Award, Texas Department of Transportation, for significant contributions to development of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program and expertise in retooling of the transportation planning process

Education and Certifications

• M.S. Civil Engineering, The Ohio State University
• M.S. City and Regional Planning, The Ohio State University
• B.S. Business Administration and Transportation/Management Science, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (his hometown)

“The Houston region is an economically vibrant, fast-growing metropolitan area and working at METRO really helps you understand how public transit is essential to contributing toward and sustaining that growth.”
— Cydonii V. Fairfax

Cydonii Fairfax provides legal advice and counsel to METRO’s CEO, Board of Directors, fellow members of the Executive Leadership Team and their staff.

Fairfax has 18 professionals on her team.

The Legal Department handles a wide range of matters for the entire agency, including contracts, litigation, labor and employment, real estate, procurement, governance, compliance and ethics.

Prior to joining METRO, Fairfax was senior vice president and deputy general counsel of American Capital, Ltd., a publicly-traded private equity firm and global asset manager.

She was responsible for overseeing corporate governance for the fund group and the legal documentation of more than $30 billion in corporate financings.

Fairfax also advised the boards of directors and senior management teams for four public companies.

After graduating summa cum laude from the University of Maryland at College Park with a degree in finance, she worked at the Central Intelligence Agency and then obtained her law degree from Harvard Law School.

Fairfax grew up taking public transportation in Washington, D.C., New York and Boston and frequently uses METRO’s system.

Past Positions

Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, American Capital, Ltd. (NASDAQ: ACAS)

• Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, American Capital, Ltd. (NASDAQ: ACAS)
• Senior Associate, Arnold & Porter LLP
• Judicial Law Clerk, Honorable Inez Smith Reid, District of Columbia Court of Appeals

Professional Associations and Activities

• Senior Fellow, American Leadership Forum Class XLIX
• Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland Board of Advisors, Member
• Frequent speaker on governance, compliance and ethics topics
• American Bar Association, Member
• Houston Bar Association, Member
• Conference of Minority Transportation Officials, Member
• Women in Transit, Member
• General Counsel Forum, Member
• Association of Corporate Counsel, Member

Civic Activities and Honors

• Miller Outdoor Theatre Advisory Board, Member
• Greater Southeast Management District Board of Directors, Member
• Parkwood Drive Civic Club Board of Directors, Past Member
• Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, Women’s Guild Executive Board, Past Member
• 2019 “Top 50 GCs in Houston” Award Recipient from the National Diversity Council
• 2019, Audrey H. Lawson IMPACT Award Recipient
• 2017, “Top 30 Influential Women in Houston” Award Recipient from DMars.com

Education and Certifications

• Harvard Law School, Juris Doctor
• University of Maryland at College Park, Bachelor of Science (summa cum laude) in Finance

Law Licenses

• Texas
• Maryland
• District of Columbia

Phone: 713-652-8053

“Maintaining and enhancing the region’s multimodal transit services requires strong and sustainable financials.”
— George Fotinos

George Fotinos oversees more than 70 professionals involved in all aspects of METRO’s financial management. They include accounting, treasury, investment, revenue collection, management analysis, capital and operating budgeting and grants.

Under his leadership, METRO continues a long legacy of receiving recognition and numerous awards for financial transparency and excellence in financial reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association and the Texas Comptroller Leadership Circle.

A born and raised Houstonian, Fotinos has been with METRO for more than 15 years. Throughout his career with the agency, he has been focused on annual budgets, monthly financials, cash flow modeling, debt administration, administration of interlocal agreements, investment management, state reporting, and federal reporting on agency projects related to grant funding.

Past Positions

• METRO Deputy Chief Financial Officer
• METRO Chief Administration Officer, Planning Engineering & Construction
• METRO Manager of Debt Service & Investments, Finance

Professional Associations and Activities

• Leadership Houston, Class XL
• Texas Society of CPAs (TXCPA), Member
• Government Treasurers’ Organization of Texas (GTOT), Member

Education and Certifications

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Texas State Board of Public Accountancy
• Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Institute
• M.B.A. Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business, Durham, N.C.
• B.A. English, Rice University, Houston, TX

Phone: 713-739-4618

“I am laser-focused on making sure accurate information is shared with the media and the public, and that the METRO story is clearly communicated.”
— Jerome Gray

Jerome Gray leads METRO’s Communications Department. He serves on the Executive Leadership Team and also counsels the CEO, the METRO Board, and senior managers on press and public relations.

Since joining METRO, Gray’s many accomplishments include serving as communications lead for the METRONext Regional Transit Plan, serving as partnership lead for METRO’s 2017 Super Bowl effort, and co-chairing the Houston Super Bowl Traffic and Transportation Communications Committee. Gray was responsible for developing unique communications strategies for the launch of the 2015 New Bus Network.

Before joining METRO, Gray was best known as an award-winning broadcast journalist at KHOU-TV. He was also senior news editor and anchor at KPRC-TV and worked at TV stations in California and Virginia.

Gray has covered hundreds of major events such as the 1989 San Francisco earthquake, the 1993 Los Angeles earthquake, Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, and the election of Nelson Mandela as South Africa’s president. Gray was there for Pope John Paul II’s 1999 visit to Mexico, President George W. Bush’s 2001 inauguration, and President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration.

Gray has garnered more than three dozen awards for his on-air work and more than 200 awards for his civic and charitable work.

Past Positions

• METRO Vice President and Senior Press Officer
• KPRC-TV, Senior News Editor and Anchor, Houston, Texas
• KHOU-TV, News Anchor, Houston, Texas
• KXTV-TV, Broadcast Journalist, Sacramento, California
• WTVR-TV, Broadcast Journalist, Richmond Virginia
• Professional Associations and Activities
• Executive Leadership Team, METRO
• Senior Fellow, American Leadership Forum, Class XXXII

Honors

• Winner, Two Emmy Awards
• Winner, Three National Telly Awards
• Winner, United Press International Award
• Winner, Houston Press Club Award
• Recipient, Fifth Ward Enrichment Program’s Heart of Houston Award
• Honoree, Jerome Gray Day, by proclamations from Houston Mayor Bill White and Houston Mayor Annise Parker
• Eponym, Texas Southern University Jerome Gray Lecture Series

Civic Activities

• Advisory Board Member, William A. Lawson Institute for Peace and Prosperity
• Advisory Board Member, Hermann Park Conservancy
• Co-chair, multiple charity events

Previous Board Service

• Board Member, American Leadership Forum Houston/Gulf Coast
• Board Member, SEARCH Homeless Services
• Board Member, Houston International Festival
• Board Member, Baylor College of Medicine Diversity and Community Outreach
• Junior League of Houston Community Advisory Board
• Career and Recovery Resources Advisory Board
• Parent Coordinator, Boy Scouts Troop 242

Education

• B.A., Communications (Radio-Television-Film), Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Phone 713-739-4011

“Human Resources is fundamental to METRO’s mission of providing transit services to the community. METRO’s employees are our most important asset; therefore, in this job market, it’s critical that we continue to evaluate ways to attract and retain a diverse employee population. We continuously promote METRO’s values: Act with integrity; consider others before self; and serve with respect.”
— Karen Kauffman

Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer Karen Kauffman joined the Authority in 2003 and has held various leadership positions in the Human Resources and Compliance Departments.

Kauffman has leadership responsibilities for the human resources function of over 4,100 non-union and union employees.

She leads the development and oversight of METRO's EEO/Affirmative Action Program and plays an active role in supporting METRO's diversity and inclusion efforts. Her additional responsibilities include leading the following divisions within the Human Resources Department: Diversity; Staffing; Compensation; Benefits, Pension & Wellness; Labor Relations; Employee Relations; EEO; Organization Development; and HRIS. She also has oversight responsibilities for the Title VI and VII regulatory requirements for METRO's Compliance programs.

Prior to joining METRO, Kauffman had extensive human resources and business experience in leadership roles for a variety of industries including manufacturing, real estate development, oil and gas, finance, and education. She also taught corporate business courses at the University of Houston and served as a corporate consultant in Houston and Oklahoma City.

Professional Associations and Activities

• Member, METRO Defined Contribution Committee
• State board member, Texas Diversity Council
• Vice President, Gulf Coast Chapter of the Texas Diversity Council
• Member, American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
• Member, APTA Workforce Development Committee
• Member, Rice University Glasscock School of Continuing Studies Advisory Board
• Member, University of Houston Downtown Business Advisory Board
• Frequent speaker on human resources and employment law topics
• Society Human Resources Management Association (SHRM)
• Chair, Texas Transit Agency Chief Human Resource Officer Consortium
• Association for Talent Development (ATD)

Honors

• Recipient, Texas Diversity Council Diversity CHAMPION award
• Recipient, Texas Diversity Council “Most Powerful and Influential Women in Texas”
• Recipient, Texas Diversity Council DiversityFIRST Leadership award
• Houston Business Journal Healthiest Employer in Texas award

Civic Activities

• Houston Food Bank
• Star of Hope
• Junior Achievement

Education and Certifications

• B.S. Education / English, University of Houston
• Graduate level studies in Business and Accounting
• Certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)
• SHRM Human Resource Management course at Rice University
  

Phone: 713-739-6851

“METRO has on impact on every Houstonian, whether your use transit or not, and it is critical that elected officials and their constituents have a clear understanding of the benefits of transit, the value of our projects, and METRO’s intentions to improve mobility in the Greater Houston region.”
— Eddie Miranda

Eduardo (Eddie) Miranda, Jr. has been METRO’s Vice President of Government Affairs since 2014 when he joined the Authority.  In this role, he oversees the Authority’s legislative and policy strategy at the local, state, and federal levels and manages all outreach and interactions with elected officials.

Miranda leads the elected official outreach for all major projects at METRO. That has included 2015’s New Bus Network, and 2019’s METRONext long-range regional transit plan and bond referendum that passed with nearly 70% voter approval.

Prior to joining METRO, Miranda had an extensive career in public policy. He served as Director of Public Policy for the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP), Houston’s largest business advocacy organization. Throughout his tenure at GHP, Miranda managed the transportation policy portfolio for the organization, including road, transit, freight rail, commuter rail, airport, and water port infrastructure.

Miranda has more than 16 years of public policy experience - including three and a half years working as chief of staff for a Texas state representative. He also served as Director of Public Policy for the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce where he was responsible for transportation, military, border affairs, and local infrastructure policy issues.

Past Positions

• Greater Houston Partnership, Director of Public Policy
• Greater Houston Partnership, Manager of Public Policy
  
• Texas House of Representatives, Chief of Staff to State Representative Joe C. Pickett
  
• Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce, Director of Policy & Programs
  
• Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce, Policy & Program Manager

Professional Associations and Activities

• Board Member, The Bus Coalition
  
• Member, Texas Transit Association
  
• Member, Southwest Transit Association
  
• Member, Enhanced Mobility of Seniors & Individuals with Disabilities (5310) Grants Review Committee
  
• Member, METRO Defined Contributions Committee

Education

• B.A., Political Science, Rice University, Houston, Texas

Civic Activities

• Board Chair, Plant it Forward
  
• Board Member, Vice Chair of Development, Class XXXVIII Fellow, Leadership Houston
  
• Gala Committee, The Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans

Past Civic Activities

• Fellow, Leadership El Paso, Texas Class XXX
  
• Founding Board Member of the United Way of El Paso Young Leaders Society
  
• Board Member for the Amigo Airsho in El Paso, Texas.

Honors

• Texas Transit Association 2017 Rising Star Award
  

“My goal is to assure the public and METRO employees that our safety team remains dedicated to earning your trust and partnering with you to create a safe and welcoming environment where everyone feels safe, welcomed, accepted, and empowered to succeed.”
— Santiago Osorio

Santiago Osorio is a transit executive with over 25 years of experience in transit. He is the Chief Safety Officer of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO.)

He manages the agency's System Safety & Compliance, Environmental Health & Safety, Risk Management, and Drug and Alcohol programs to ensure the safety of employees, customers, and contractors on and around the train and bus systems.

Prior to joining METRO, Mr. Osorio was the Deputy Chief of Bus Operations for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), Atlanta, Georgia. He was responsible for the daily operation and maintenance of the MARTA Bus network and mobility service while ensuring vehicles and systems were in a safe & secure state of good repair.

Past Positions

• Deputy Chief of Bus Operations – MARTA
• Director of Service Operations – METRO
• Director of Operations Training – METRO
• Assistant Director – Los Angeles Metro
• Transit Operations Supervisor – Los Angeles Metro
• Bus Operations – Los Angeles METRO
• Safety Specialist – Laidlaw Student Transportation
  

Education and Certifications

• Bachelors in Business Administration
• Leadership APTA
  

“We can transform our city through communication and partnership.”
— Shrikanth J. Reddy

Shrikanth (Shri) J. Reddy oversees three service areas that are key to delivering projects efficiently.

His mission is two-fold; providing planning, engineering, and construction services to safeguard METRO’s current assets and implementing METRONext projects as approved by voters in 2019.

Shri started his engineering education at the University of Houston where his Letter of Interest for graduate school stated that as a Civil Engineer, his motivation was to improve the quality of life of residents through engineering. Over the last 25 years, he has stayed true to his mission by working on public infrastructure projects, particularly in transit.

Prior to joining METRO, Shri worked for Houston-based and nationwide firms delivering large transit projects in North America. He was a key contributor to the successful completion of the original METRORail Red Line project management team, and the METROSolutions Phase 2 expansion program that expanded service with the Green and Purple Lines.

Shri brings valuable project execution experience from both an engineering and contractor’s perspective to the agency. His goal is to foster partnerships with engineering firms, construction contractors, and partner agencies in order to optimize the delivery of transit projects within the Houston Region.

Honors

• Hall of Fame Award, Parsons 2021
• National Engineers Week, Parsons, 2013

Civic Activities

• Past Board Member, Sharpstown Civic Association
• ACEing Autism, Houston Chapter

Education and Certifications

• B.S. Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
• M.S. Environmental Engineering, University of Houston
• M.B.A. University of Houston
• Professional Engineer, Texas
• Professional Engineer, Indiana
• Professional Engineer, Maryland

“Some of my most satisfying experiences have been mentoring and teaching other employees to help them achieve professional goals. People are METRO’s greatest asset, so growing people contributes to METRO’s success.”
— Debbie Sechler

Sechler oversees approximately 250 employees in Information Technology, Procurement, Transit Asset Management, and Client and Vanpool Ridership Services.

These departments work together as a team when new policies, procedures, and technologies are adopted and implemented.

Before joining METRO, Sechler traveled extensively as a controller in the oil and gas industry and as a director for a global technology company.

She has been with METRO since 2002.

Beginning in 2013, Sechler has served as chair on both the METRO Non-Union Pension Plan Board and the METRO Transport Workers Pension Plan Board which work with advisors to invest and manage funds for METRO employees.

Past Positions

• METRO, Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration, and Chief Financial Officer
• METRO, Chief Financial Officer
• METRO, Senior Director and Controller
• Global Technology Industry-Director
• Oil and Gas Industry-Controller
• Ernst & Young, Certified Public Accountant

Professional Associations and Activities

• Chair, METRO Non-Union Pension Plan Board
• Chair, METRO Transport Workers Union Pension Plan Local 260, AFL-CIO Board
• Past Trustee, METRO Transport Workers Union Local 260, AFL-CIO Health and Welfare Trust 
• Member, Government Finance Officers Association 
• Member, Transportation Finance Learning Exchange
• Member, Women in Public Finance
• Member, American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
• Past Member, Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, Houston Chapter
• Past Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Civic Activities

• Houston Independent School District Parent Teacher Organizations
• Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
• Texas Foster Care

Education and Certifications

• Certified Public Accountant
• M.A., Business, Amber University, Dallas, Texas
• B.S. (Honors), Oklahoma Christian University, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Phone: 713-739-4930

“It’s amazing how you see your city if you let someone else do the driving. Take a bus and really appreciate our beautiful city.”
— Alva Treviño

Alva Treviño has been METRO’s executive vice president of special projects since 2017.

She was promoted to the role after first serving as a litigator, deputy general counsel and general counsel.

She has been with the Authority since 1997.

In her current role, Treviño advises the president and CEO on how to implement METRO’s goals regarding special projects related to operations, policy, process improvement and compliance.

Like so many of her co-workers, Treviño is personally invested in helping METRO serve the community and help it keep pace with a growing population.

Past Positions

• METRO General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
• METRO, Deputy General Counsel
• METRO, Senior Staff Attorney
• METRO, Staff Attorney

Professional Associations and Activities

• Member, Hispanic Bar Association
• Member, Mexican American Bar Association
• Member, Association of Women Attorneys
• Member, Association of Corporate Counsel
• Member, Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics
• Member, American Board of Trial Advocates
• Member, Pan American Round Table of Houston
• Member, Houston Bar Association

Honors

• Recipient, Texas General Counsel Forum’s General Counsel of the Year Award
• Recipient, Mexican American Bar Association of Houston Award for Outstanding Service to the Community

Civic Activities

• Member, Pan American Round Table of Houston
• Night Court Houston, Cast Member
• Leadership Houston Class 33

Education and Certifications

• J.D., Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas
• B.A., University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas
• Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Personal Injury- 2010-2017

Phone: 713-739-3866

“METRO’s Office of Innovation is proud to support METRO’s efforts to enhance riders’ travel experience. We appreciate the vision and support of the METRO Board in advancing innovative initiatives.”
— Kimberly J. Williams

Kimberly J. Williams is in charge of METRO’s “idea factory.” Her job as chief innovation officer is to look for the latest and greatest developments in transportation and figure out how to make them work for the Houston area.

METRO’s Office of Innovation successfully secured Texas as a recognized autonomous-vehicle proving ground and launched a pilot project with Texas Southern University to operate an autonomous vehicle on campus. The shuttle service could eventually connect with the METRO system.

The office has also been instrumental in a pilot project for Wi-Fi on a limited number of buses and trains as well as other Agency initiatives related to technology and innovation.

Williams is an attorney with extensive experience in law, academia, city and state government affairs and transportation.

She has worked in California, Washington, D.C. and Beijing.

Past Positions

• METRO, Deputy Chief Procurement Officer
• METRO, Chief Administration Officer
• Labor Attorney, city of Houston
• Texas Southern University, Vice President of External Relations
• International Labor Office of Beijing, People’s Republic of China
• Legislative Attorney, Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress
• Legislative Aide to U.S. Representative Barbara Rose Collins (ret.) Member of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee

Professional Associations and Activities

• Member, APTA Board of Directors
• Co-Chair, APTA Procurement & Materials Committee
• Board of Advisors, Young Professionals in Transportation
• Past President Emeritus, Houston Chapter, Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO)

Honors

• Presided over METRO’s award-winning Small and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Programs
• Emerging Leader of the Year, COMTO
• First Director of the Barbara Jordan Institute for Policy Research, Texas Southern University
• Recipient, Congressional Black Caucus Internship
• Survey Editor, Wayne Law Review

Civic Activities

• Past Board Member, Greater Houston Black Chamber
• Past Board Member, Midtown Redevelopment Authority
• Former Treasurer, Greater Channel Chapter of Jack and Jill Inc.
• Member, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

Education and Certifications

• Graduate, ENO Institute Senior Transit Executive Program
• Graduate, Leadership Houston
• Graduate, Leadership APTA
• Certified Mediator and Arbitrator
• J.D., Wayne State Law School, Detroit, Michigan
• B.A., Howard University, Washington, D.C.

Phone: 713-739-4992