People on the Move: November 2025

VENTURA COUNTY, CA—Martin Erickson, executive director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC), has been named Transit Professional of the Year by the California Transit Association’s Small Operators Committee. The committee presented the award to Erickson Nov. 5 during the association’s 60^th annual Fall Conference & Expo in Long Beach.

Erickson was recognized for his leadership and oversight as VCTC implemented programs to simplify and improve the transit experience for passengers. In June, the agency launched Tap2Ride, a contactless payment system that allows Intercity passengers to pay fares using contactless debit and credit cards, mobile wallets, and smart watches. Also, this year, the agency added several new Intercity buses with features to improve accessibility and safety for people with disabilities.

Erickson has been instrumental in the success of VCTC’s free-fare programs, including Youth Ride Free and College Ride. In addition, he has helped expand the agency’s role in emergency response in Ventura County. After the Thomas Fire and Montecito debris flow disrupted travel in January 2018, Erickson and several regional agencies collaborated to create the Transportation Emergency Preparedness Plan. VCTC now holds a seat in the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Operations Center, and just in the past year, Intercity buses have helped residents evacuate during wildfires and transported passengers to safety after rail incidents.

For APTA, Erickson serves on the Rail Transit CEOs Committee.

LOS ANGELES, CA—Metrolink has promoted Tom Schamber to the role of chief financial officer. A seasoned leader with nearly three decades of strategic management experience in accounting, audit, and financial operations, Schamber has been at the agency since 2016 and has led the department in an interim capacity since April 2025. As CFO, he will oversee all aspects of Metrolink’s financial operations, including accounting, budgeting, contracts, procurement, grants, payroll, and reporting. After joining Metrolink as a general accounting manager, Schamber was then promoted to the position of controller. He was named director of grants in 2020. Schamber previously held progressively senior roles across several public, nonprofit, and financial institutions, including the City of Santa Monica and Lane Transit District, OR.

COLUMBUS, OH—The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) has announced Earl Jackson as chief financial officer, assuming responsibility for financial strategy, accounting, procurement, and financial strategic planning initiatives. Jackson previously was CFO for the City and County of Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. His career in financial management and planning includes a leadership role at the Chicago Transit Authority, where he oversaw budget development, oversight, and financial planning, and leadership roles at BNSF Railway, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and Bank of America.

DENVER, CO—The Regional Transportation District (RTD) announces the appointment of Patrick Preusser as chief operations officer. Preusser brings more than 28 years of experience at major U.S. transit systems and in cities around the world. He most recently served as COO of the Utah Transit Authority and has held senior leadership roles with the City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services, the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet), and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro). He also managed national passenger rail programs for FRA and contributed to international transportation projects in the cities of Riyadh and Kabul.

In 2022, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg appointed Preusser to the Transit Advisory Committee for Safety, which provides strategic safety guidance to the USDOT and FTA. Preusser has also participated in the Eno Center for Transportation’s Multi-Agency Exchange Program, collaborating with peers at RTD, LA Metro, Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority, and Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. Honors include the U.S. Secretary of Transportation’s Foreign Service, Excellence, and Team Awards; and FRA’s Meritorious Achievement and Excellence Award. For APTA, Preusser is a member of the Operating Practices Working Group and serves on the Bus Operations and Rail Transit committees.

ATLANTA, GA—Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) has promoted Rhonda Allen, chief customer experience officer, to the position of deputy general manager. She will oversee several departments, including customer experience and technology, operations and urban planning, capital programs, engineering and infrastructure, administrative services, as well as the department of police services and emergency management. Allen began her 25-year career at MARTA as an engineering intern. Her career path included stints in engineering, construction management, project management, and strategic planning roles. Most recently, she oversaw the successful implementation of plans for Super Bowl LIII in 2019 and FIFA Club World Cup games in 2025. She is a member of the Eno Center for Transportation’s Board of Regents and a graduate of Eno’s Senior Executive Program. For APTA, she is a member of the Strategic Engagement Council and serves on the Marketing, Communications, and Customer Experience Committee. She is a graduate of the Leadership APTA Class of 2020.

PORTLAND, OR—The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) announces Inessa M. Vitko as chief operations officer and Mary L. Hill as executive director of transportation. Both Vitko and Hill began their professional careers with TriMet, with Vitko joining in 2006 as a training services administrator and Hill beginning her in 2003 as a bus driver. Both left TriMet to gain additional experience at C-TRAN, before returning in the 2020s.

Formerly TriMet’s senior director of operations command center and rail operations, Hill joins TriMet’s executive leadership team in her new role, assuming the position previously held by Vitko. For APTA, Vitko serves on the International Bus Roadeo Committee, is an Emerging Leaders Program Alum, and a graduate of the Leadership APTA Class of 2024. Hill is a member of APTA’s Elevators/Escalators Working Group and Operations Control Center Technical Forum and serves on the Bus Operations Committee. She is a graduate of the Leadership APTA Class of 2025.

DALLAS, TX—MV Transportation, Inc. has appointed Stephanie Maher as a regional vice president of operations. Maher brings more than 16 years of experience in global operations, with expertise in route optimization, regulatory compliance, and organizational growth. Most recently, she served as vice president of operations at WeDriveU (formerly National Express Transit), where she oversaw a broad portfolio of transit contracts and led initiatives to enhance performance, safety, and customer service. Earlier in her career, she held leadership roles with National Express Transit in both the U.S. and UK, where she managed operations, spearheaded new business start-ups, and introduced process improvements. For APTA, Maher serves on the Bus Operations Committee.