About METRO

Elizabeth has recently been promoted to Vice President, Utility Infrastructure Planning for CenterPoint Energy, where she will support the company’s capital planning needs. She most recently led the company’s business and economic development, energy efficiency programs, and federal utility energy services contracts to support CenterPoint’s electric and gas utility.

She also led regional teams across six states, dedicated to implementing and ensuring regulatory compliance of state programs focused on energy efficiency. Her primary objective in this recent role was to support customers' energy conservation needs and service offerings, enabling them to successfully achieve their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals.

Elizabeth is devoted to aligning customers' needs and aspirations with CenterPoint’s strategic goals through effective business development, major account management, and key corporate, government, and community relationships. She is deeply committed to providing valuable support throughout the regulatory process by enhancing communications with public sector entities and commercial and industrial customers. She has played pivotal roles in spearheading the company's electric transportation and resiliency initiatives.

Prior to her most recent experience, Elizabeth served as the Director of Regulatory and Government Affairs, where she demonstrated exceptional skills in strategy development, negotiation for positive regulatory outcomes, and building effective relationships with key stakeholders. She successfully managed relationships with the City of Houston and over 100 municipalities, collaborating closely with senior leadership to develop strategic solutions for high-priority initiatives such as rate filings, utility code updates, and customer program implementation.

Elizabeth's extensive background also includes serving as a Governmental Affairs strategist for Reliant Energy, Texas Southern University, and the University of Houston. In these roles, she worked closely with leadership to develop and promote impactful public policies, skillfully managing contract lobby teams, facilitating Political Action Committee activities, and organizing grassroots campaigns.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Elizabeth is a passionate advocate for environmental improvement. She founded Evolve Houston, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing air quality through the promotion and adoption of electric vehicles. She serves on the board of directors of Houston First Corporation and held the position of Board Chair for the Greater Houston Area Women's Chamber.

Elizabeth holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Houston. With her extensive experience, strategic acumen, and unwavering commitment to excellence, she continues to make significant contributions to the energy sector and her community.

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
  

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.

Please revisit this page at a later time for bio information.

Please revisit this page at a later time for bio information.

Alexandra (Alex) del Moral Mealer is a wife and mother of two, a combat veteran, a Harvard JD / MBA and a former energy finance executive who is proud to be raising the next generation of Houstonians.

A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Alex served as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer (bomb squad). Through her experience leading soldiers in combat and defusing bombs in Afghanistan, Alex proved she has the skills necessary to lead during times of crisis.

After her time in service, Alex graduated from Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School before moving to Houston to pursue a career in energy finance, where she worked on the execution of billion dollar transactions as a strategic advisor on mergers & acquisitions and capital markets financing for public and private companies.

While raising her young children and trying to navigate Harris County’s COVID-19 response, Alex became increasingly focused on the strengths and weaknesses of local government and ultimately decided to run for Harris County Judge, securing the Republican nomination and building a broad coalition focused on good government during her closely contested general election.

Alex is serving on the board as a representative of the 14 multi-cities in the METRO service areas and is committed to ensuring our region has a best-in-class transit system that is fiscally responsible, safe and efficient.

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

Please revisit this page at a later time for bio information.

Please revisit this page at a later time for bio information.

“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)

“Internal Audit serves as a valuable resource in helping METRO meet our mission of providing clean, reliable and accessible transportation to the Houston Region by helping to ensure METRO’s resources are being utilized efficiently and effectively.

— Andrea Dennis

Andrea Dennis, CIA, MBA, has over 30 years of audit experience in operations, internal audit, and government auditing, along with providing audit reports and recommendations to boards and senior management on various matters such as internal controls, governance, regulatory compliance, and operational processes.

As the vice president and chief auditor, Andrea is responsible for directing and managing the Internal Audit Department which handles a wide range of auditable areas such as compliance with various Federal Transit Administration regulations, Buy America Provisions and internal controls for METRO’s Operations.

The Audit Department helps advance METRO’s mission and strategic initiatives by reviewing/auditing various processes and departments to ensure compliance with internal policy/procedures and federal and state regulations in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.

Andrea has spent her 25-year career with METRO, in various positions within the Internal Audit Department.  Prior to joining METRO, Andrea worked with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as a commissioned bank examiner.

Professional Associations and Activities

• Member – Institute of Internal Auditors
• Member – Association for Certified Fraud Examiners 
• Member – Association of Local Government Auditors (ALGA)
• Member – Regional Training Planning Committee (ALGA)

Civic Activities

• Member, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
• Member, St. John’s Downtown
• Volunteer, Spring Independent School District
• Volunteer, Houston Food Bank 

Education and Certifications

• Certified Internal Auditor
• METRO Leadership Development Program (2014)
• METRO Management Development Program (2018)
• MBA (cum laude), University of St. Thomas
• B.S. (cum laude), Grambling State University

Phone 713-739-6074

“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