MY WORK

1994-1995
4th Grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School

Fresh out of college, I couldn’t land a job in the golf industry and found myself back in Porterville with my young family (Monica was a toddler and Molly was pregnant with Megan). My dad was kind enough to rent us a home that he owned for a couple hundred dollars a month. Through a contact with my mother-in-law, I was approached by Lincoln Elementary School in Lindsay to teach a fourth-grade class composed of about 30 children who spoke little to no English. I accepted the job. It was a great moment in my career where I was able to teach and mentor. I saw a lot of students living in difficult circumstances during that time period and worked hard to both help them academically, and to create a classroom where they could smile and enjoy their learning.

1994-2000
General Manager of Sierra Management

While teaching school, my father and I put in a bid to run the City of Porterville’s public transit system. We were awarded the contract, which is still held by Sierra Management today, and I have enjoyed helping others with transportation needs ever since. During my time at Sierra Management I enjoyed helping the system grow from a few dial-a-ride cars, to a fixed route system of buses with a fleet of paratransit vehicles for senior and disabled.

1996-1999
Founder and CEO of Global Drug Testing

While working at Sierra Management I began a business that evolved into Global Drug Testing. The business specialized in drug and alcohol testing programs for the employers of commercial drivers. It also supported the drug testing services for local court systems. The company grew quickly from just a few clients to well over 50 in the first two of years. Wanting to focus on faith and family and my career in public transportation I made a difficult decision to sell the company after several years to a business partner. The company continued to grow and was bought out several years later by a large firm.

2000-2006
General Manager of the Morongo Basin Transit Authority

After completing my graduate degree in Transportation Management from San Jose State I became the General Manager of the Morongo Basin Transit Authority, an agency serving several communities east of the Palm Springs area. The agency was growing quickly and within a few years we had built a new campus that included an administrative and operations building and a new maintenance facility in Joshua Tree. The agency also converted its fixed route fleet to natural gas, and built ridership as it upgraded bus stops and developed two new transit centers.

2006-2010
City Manager of the City of Twentynine Palms

For a few years I left public transportation and worked for the City of Twentynine Palms. This was a real departure from public transit, but gave me very valuable experience that would serve me professionally for the future. During my time at the City the economy was booming and development was in full swing, with several subdivisions being approved and built, several hotels being constructed and many public works projects being completed. I enjoyed having a full plate each day that ranged from issues with public works to animal control, to parks and recreation, to planning and engineering to fire and police.

2010-2014
Executive Director of the Missoula Urban Transportation District

After several years as City Manager, Molly and I decided to get back into public transportation where I felt my true professional calling. At the Missoula Urban Transportation District in Montana we had an incredible four years. With the encouragement of the Mayor and City Council and transit board we redesigned the bus system to be very easy to use, creating the first BOLT! route with 15-minute all-day service. We also went to the residents with a significant mill levy increase for public transit and implemented additional BOLT! service in the city. Other fun accomplishments to the growing ridership and unique culture of the system included the assembly of key business partnerships to initiate fare free service, and engaging with the bicycle community to install a downtown bike station and several bike amenities at key transit stops.

2014-2022
Executive Director of the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority

The award-winning Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority is an incredible transit agency.  During my time at the agency we have doubled the amount of Rapid service (15-minute all day service), partnered in moving and the renovation of a historic train depot, initiated a shared autonomous vehicle program, established a successful partnership with Uber and Lyft, started a pass program with middle and high schools in the area where students ride free thanks to Measure BB, and started a successful pass program at Las Positas College where students ultimately voted to fund an ongoing transit pass.  Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, ridership was experiencing double digit growth.

The agency and I have been honored by recognition. Here’s a few of those honors:

2016    Transit Manager of the Year by California Association of Coordinated Transportation

2017    Transit Manager of the Year by the California Transit Association

2018    Transit Agency of the Year by the California Association of Coordinated Transportation

2019    Transit Agency of the Year by the California Transit Association

2020    Transit Agency of the Year by the American Public Transit Association

2018-2022
Executive Director of the Tri-Valley - San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority

As Executive Director of the Tri-Valley - San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority I had the privilege of working with policy makers and community leaders on the vision and planning of the Valley Link passenger rail project that in the future will operate from the planned ACE N Lathrop station to the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station, a 42-mile, seven station phase 1. Initially work on this project was performed through an informal group of political and business leaders. Eventually, through AB 758 (Eggman/Baker) in 2017, the working group grew into a public agency with a 15-member board. I was privileged to be the Executive Director for the agency, and over a five years we completed a Feasibility Report for the project, the environmental work, and 15% design. This great project has identified more than $800 million in funds towards completion.

2022-2024
CEO of the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transportation District

In 2022 I began my tenure as the CEO and General Manager of the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transportation District (Santa Cruz METRO). Santa Cruz METRO provides high quality public transportation to the communities in Santa Cruz County, including Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz, Capitola and Watsonville. Riders on the system enjoy connectivity with UC Santa Cruz, Cabrillo College and many other popular destinations, including express bus service to San Jose for commuters. Current projects at the transit district include the recovery of ridership from COVID, the transition of METRO’s fleet from CNG technology to zero emission battery electric and hydrogen buses, and multiple transit oriented development projects delivering over 175 units of affordable housing on Santa Cruz METRO property.