People on the Move: April 2026

PORTLAND, OR—TriMet has named Jamie Snook executive director of capital project delivery. A TriMet employee since 2019, Snook brings nearly three decades of transportation experience in the Portland region. She will oversee capital improvement and maintenance projects, ensuring the agency’s systems, equipment, and facilities remain in a state of good repair. Snook previously served as TriMet’s major projects director and interim executive director, spent 14 years at Oregon Metro, and six years with a private engineering and design firm. Snook is a member of APTA’s Legislative, Planning and Program Development, and Rail Transit committees.

FORT WORTH, TX—Trinity Metro hired Mike Brennan as the agency’s vice president of economic development. Brennan recently served as president of Near Southside Inc. and served for six years with the City of Fort Worth’s Planning Department. Brennan will plan, direct, and manage Trinity Metro’s economic development activities, including advancing economic growth and maximizing the value of real estate assets. He will work closely with the business community, developers, property owners, and other stakeholders to implement the agency’s economic development goals and objectives.

COLUMBIA, SC—HDR announced the promotion of Brian Buchanan as its new transit program management lead, supporting the delivery of complex bus and rail programs. With more than 25 years of experience in the transit industry, Buchanan has led major capital transit initiatives across the nation, including Austin’s first light rail program, Project Connect, and Phoenix’s $1.4 billion Light Rail New Starts project. He brings extensive knowledge of federal and local funding requirements, governance structures, and managing large, multi-jurisdictional programs.

WASHINGTON, DC—Transit leader and project delivery manager David Carol has joined HDR as a principal consultant, where he will help guide global transit clients on funding, finance, and investment strategy. Most recently, Carol was chief operating officer at APTA, where he supervised staff experts across various transportation modes, assisted in development of national transit and engineering standards, and provided advisory services to transit agencies on project implementation and capital cost containment. Previously, Carol spent nearly 20 years with Amtrak as an attorney, director of government and congressional affairs, and vice president of high-speed rail.

NORFOLK, VA—Hampton Roads Transit has appointed Karen Kitsis to its executive team as the new chief planning and development officer. Kitsis oversees the department responsible for the planning and scheduling of transit services, the long-range development of high-capacity systems, customer service, and data analytics. Kitsis previously served as deputy commissioner for Connecticut DOT and had 10 years of experience at Sound Transit in Seattle, WA, including as deputy executive director for capital project development.

ATLANTA, GA—Gresham Smith has announced Jeremy Busby as the new Georgia state transportation leader. In his new role, he will support and advance the firm’s work in Georgia through consultancy, workforce development, technology, and innovation. With the firm since 2014, Busby most recently served as consultancy services practice leader. Busby started his career at the Georgia Department of Transportation, serving as a roadway designer. He teaches a course on scheduling in partnership with Atlanta Technical College and is active with groups such as the American Council of Engineering Companies, the National Society of Black Engineers, and the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials. Busby is a member of APTA’s Legislative Committee.

SEATTLE, WA—Sound Transit has named Jessyn Farell as executive director of government and community relations, Marshall Foster as chief planning and development officer, and Brooke Belman as deputy CEO

Farell brings experience across the public, private, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors, including service as a Washington State legislator for the 46^th District, executive director of Transportation Choices, and most recently deputy mayor for the City of Seattle. In her Sound Transit role, Farrell will lead the agency’s legislative engagement and partnership strategies with local, state, and federal stakeholders.

Foster has more than 25 years of experience in large-scale project planning and development. In his new role, he will lead the newly established office of planning and development within Sound Transit’s executive department. “We are building a light rail system that will reshape our region, which brings with it unparalleled opportunities to create vital public spaces and connected communities around the new system,” said Foster.

Belman formerly served as the interim CEO and deputy CEO of system expansion at Sound Transit. She led the development of the agency’s first equitable transit-oriented development policy. In her new role, Belman will support strategic planning, build relationships with the FTA, and co-lead the Senior Leadership Team.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA—Onward announced the appointment of Dmitriy Vanchugov as the company’s first chief revenue officer. Vanchugov will lead Onward’s strategy and revenue growth as the company expands its geographic footprint to meet growing demand for high-quality, assisted rides for older adults and individuals with mobility challenges. Vanchugov remarked, “Transportation is one of the most critical layers of community infrastructure.” Before joining Onward, Vanchugov served as global head of transit at Uber and led transit software sales teams at Trapeze Group.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN—Metro Transit promoted Katie Roth to assistant general manager of planning and project delivery and hired Miles Turpin as deputy chief operating officer-transportation.

In her new position, Roth will lead the teams that expand and improve service, advance arterial BRT projects, support transit-oriented development, and maintain and improve public facilities. With the agency since 2012, she recently served as director of arterial BRT, successfully bringing projects such as the METRO E Line, METRO B Line, and METRO D Line to fruition. Roth is an alum of APTA’s Leadership Class of 2024.

In his new role, Turpin will lead and direct the agency’s bus and rail transportation departments and grow the Transit Rider Investment Program. Turpin brings more than 20 years of industry experience to the role, having previously held leadership positions at CapMetro in Austin, TX, MARTA in Atlanta, GA, and RTD in Denver, CO. Turpin has served on APTA’s Mobility Management, Access, and Bus Operations committees.

BOSTON, MA—Keolis has appointed Matthieu Lonchamp as executive vice president, finance. In this role, he will join the North American Executive Committee and lead the company’s financial strategy across operations in the U.S. and Canada. Lonchamp has extensive global financial expertise, most recently serving as chief financial officer for North America low voltage transformer and global field devices at Schneider Electric. He has held various finance roles including credit manager, controller, business partner, and CFO.

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Virginia Railway Express (VRE) selected Chris Henry as chief operations officer, transiting from his current position as director of rail operations. In his new role, he will ensure operational readiness to increase service in accordance with the agency’s recently adopted System Plan 2050. He will also be responsible for the delivery of safe and reliable commuter service, day-to-day rail operations, mechanical operations, and customer experience. Henry joined VRE as director of operations in 2010 and brings more than 40 years of experience in providing multi-site operations management and customer support.

TOLEDO, OH—Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) has promoted Kattie Bond to chief capital officer. In this role, she will oversee capital programs and TARTA’s Facilities, Buildings and Grounds Department, placing all capital and facility-related functions under a single leadership post. Bond joined TARTA in 2024 as director of capital projects, helping to elevate the long-term viability of TARTA facilities and customer experience.