MTA and Transportation Appointments Announced

Lhota to be Named as Chairman and CEO of the MTA, Fernandez to be COO, and Rae as Governor's Deputy Secretary of Transportation

Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that he will nominate Joseph J. Lhota to serve as the chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

The nomination of Mr. Lhota was the recommendation of the Governor's MTA Search Advisory Committee. Nuria Fernandez will serve as the Chief Operating Officer of the MTA. The Governor will appoint Karen Rae to serve as the Deputy Secretary of Transportation in the Governor's Office.

"I am pleased to accept the recommendation of the extraordinary search committee and nominate Joe Lhota to be the next chairman and CEO of the MTA," Governor Cuomo said.

"Joe Lhota brings one-of-a-kind managerial, government, and private sector experience to the job and a lifelong commitment to public service that will benefit all straphangers. I look forward to working together as we continue to reform the MTA, reduce costs, and improve service for New Yorkers. I thank the members of the MTA Search Advisory Committee for their diligent work and thorough review."

"Millions of New Yorkers depend on the MTA every day and they deserve the most efficient and effective service. Throughout my career in both the public and private sectors, I have initiated reforms that are performance-based and that cut costs, and I look forward to bringing this same approach to the MTA. I thank Governor Cuomo for this exciting opportunity to serve the people of New York," said Lhota.

The Governor's MTA Search Advisory Committee conducted a national search to find and recommend the most talented candidate to serve as the chairman and CEO of the MTA. The advisory committee was comprised of leading public transportation experts and management professionals in the public and private sectors.

An executive search and recruitment firm, Krauthamer & Associates, was also engaged to assist in the process. The Governor's appointment of an MTA chairman and CEO is subject to Senate confirmation. Lhota is expected to come on as interim CEO within one month. The Governor will recommend reducing the compensation for Mr. Lhota by 5 percent from the previous level.

Lhota served as the New York City Deputy Mayor for Operations under Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, where he oversaw day-to-day management of the City and supervised City agencies. He also served as Budget Director, where he managed the City's $36 billion operating budget and $45 billion capital budget, cut costs, led agency reorganizations and consolidations, and implemented performance-based strategic planning. Lhota also served as the Commissioner of Finance for New York City and has been a Board Member of the MTA.

Lhota currently serves as the Executive Vice President, Administration for The Madison Square Garden Company. His previous private sector experience includes serving as the Executive Vice President of Corporate Administration for Cablevision, the Director of Public Finance for First Boston, and the Managing Director of the Municipal Securities Group for PaineWebber Incorporated.

Lhota received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and graduated cum laude from Georgetown University. He was born in the Bronx, raised on Long Island, and lives in Brooklyn. He is the son of a retired New York Police Department lieutenant and the grandson of a New York City Fire Department firefighter and a New York City taxi driver.

"Nuria Fernandez will bring a wealth of private and public sector experience to the MTA. Throughout her impressive career, she has planned and improved transportation systems all across the globe. I am pleased that her expertise and talents will now benefit New Yorkers through her position on the MTA," noted Governor Cuomo.

Nuria Fernandez will serve as Chief Operating Officer of the MTA. She is currently the Senior Vice President of CH2M Hill, a firm that provides engineering, construction, and operations services for businesses and governments throughout the world. In this position,

Fernandez has been responsible for building the firm's strategic planning and consulting practice focused on urban environments and for developing sustainable solutions for large-scale, mixed-use urban communities.

She previously served as the Commissioner for the Chicago Airport System, where she directed all airport operations, planning, engineering, and management services for O'Hare and Midway International Airports, the second busiest airport system in the world.

Fernandez has also served in executive positions at the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and the Chicago Transit Authority.

"Karen Rae brings nearly three decades of experience with all transportation-related issues to the Executive Chamber. She has worked at all levels of government and knows how to manage transportation systems safely, efficiently, and on-budget. Together we will continue to improve New York's transportation systems so they can better serve the millions of people that rely on them each day," continued Cuomo.

Rae will serve as Governor Cuomo's Deputy Secretary of Transportation. In March 2009, Ms. Rae was named Deputy Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration by the Obama Administration.

In this position, Rae has managed the federal high speed rail initiative as well as comprehensive safety programs and regulatory initiatives, and developed national freight and passenger rail policy. She previously served as Deputy Commissioner of Policy and Planning at the New York State Department of Transportation, where she was responsible for advocacy and finance activities.

Rae has also served as Deputy Secretary for Local and Area Transportation at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, where she created a streamlined, performance-based funding program for transit. She has also served as Director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and as director or general manager of transit systems in Austin, Texas, Glens Falls, New York, and Buffalo, New York.

"Today's nomination of Joe Lhota as Chairman of the MTA comes at a critical time for the MTA, and once again highlights the importance of mass transit in New York City and the entire 12-county service region. The MTA faces significant challenges that need to be resolved, including finding a way to repeal the onerous MTA payroll tax. I, along with Senator Fuschillo, the Senate Transportation Chair, and our other members, look forward to receiving and reviewing the Governor's nomination, and getting to know Joe Lhota better during the upcoming confirmation process," said Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos.

Members of the Governor's MTA Search Advisory Committee expressed their support for the new team to lead the state's transportation initiatives:

"I thank Governor Cuomo for the opportunity to serve on the MTA Search Advisory Committee. Though we reviewed many qualified and impressive candidates, Joseph Lhota demonstrated the depth of knowledge and experience needed to serve as the MTA Chairman and CEO, and we were proud to recommend him." - Mortimer Downey, Former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

"I commend Governor Cuomo for his selection of Joe Lhota as the new chairman and CEO of the MTA. Following an extensive search process, where we reviewed many top public transportation professionals, it was clear that Mr. Lhota was the best candidate for the position. He is a dedicated public servant with unparalleled expertise in business and government who will bring great energy and vision to the MTA. I am also very pleased with the selection of Nuria Fernandez to serve as the COO of the MTA. Ms. Fernandez has vast experience working on complex transportation systems throughout the world. Her background in the public and private sectors will be a valuable asset as the MTA moves forward in serving the needs of the greater New York City area." - Fernando Ferrer, Board Member of the MTA

"With this appointment, Governor Cuomo is selecting a recognized public leader who will work hard to make sure the primary goal of the MTA is to fully serve New Yorkers. In these difficult fiscal times, Joseph Lhota's leadership will be a valued addition as the MTA works to balance budgets and improve service for straphangers." - Denis Hughes, President of the New York State AFL-CIO

"When Governor Cuomo created the MTA Search Advisory Committee, we were charged to search nationally to find the best candidate to take on the monumental task of overseeing the Metropolitan Transit Authority. Joseph Lhota is that candidate and I applaud Governor Cuomo's selection of him as the new Chairman and CEO." - Mitchell Moss, Director of the Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management.

"The ideal candidate to lead the MTA is experienced in finance, business, and government, and cares deeply about public service. Joe Lhota meets all of these criteria, and I can think of no one better suited to this critical position." - Richard Ravitch, Former Lieutenant Governor of New York

"I commend Governor Cuomo for appointing Joseph Lhota to lead the MTA. As an experienced manager and public servant, Mr. Lhota will work every day to keep costs down and revitalize vital infrastructure, while keeping straphangers as a priority. The MTA is relied on each day by millions of New Yorkers, and together with Governor Cuomo and Mr. Lhota, we will continue to improve public transportation here in New York." - Bill Rudin, Chairman of the Association for a Better NY

"Joe Lhota will be taking on one of the toughest jobs in government in one of the harshest economic times in America. The Straphangers Campaign believes that he has the necessary financial, political, and management experience to be a good MTA Chairman and CEO. The riders will be counting on him and will judge him on his accomplishments on their behalf." - Gene Russianoff, Senior Attorney at the NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign

Image courtesy of http://www.nysubway.com.

Cuomo Announces MTA Search Advisory Committee

Members Will Assist with Search for New MTA Chairman

Albany, NY - Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced the creation of an MTA Search Advisory Committee that will assist in recommending and evaluating candidates for the next chairman and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

"This committee will help conduct a national and international search to find and recommend the most talented candidates for the next chairman of the MTA," Governor Cuomo said.

"I am committed to appointing a new chairman who will put straphangers first and who will continue to reform the MTA by reducing costs and waste, while improving efficiency and service."

The advisory committee is comprised of leading public transportation experts and management professionals in the public and private sectors. An executive search and recruitment firm, Krauthamer & Associates, has been engaged to assist in the process. The governor's appointment of an MTA chairman is subject to Senate confirmation.

Mortimer Downey, former Deputy Secretary of U.S. Department of Transportation, said, "This committee will assist with a comprehensive review and evaluation process of top-tier professionals to be considered for next chairman of the MTA. With tight budget pressures and hard decisions ahead, the new chairman must ensure the MTA provides quality service while meeting tough fiscal demands. Governor Cuomo's strong commitment to the MTA is reflected in this committee's membership of experienced civic leaders and public transportation experts."

"The next chairman and CEO of the MTA will shape transportation policies in the New York metropolitan region for millions of daily riders, and I congratulate the governor for putting together a great panel to seek the best possible candidates," said Gene Russianoff, Senior Attorney of the NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign.

Robert Yaro, President of the Regional Plan Association, stated, "Governor Cuomo has charged this committee with assisting in the selection of a new chairman for the MTA and over the next months we will help evaluate and review top public transportation professionals from across the nation. I commend the governor for assembling this committee to assist with finding a new chairman, and I look forward to continuing to work together to revitalize our state's public transportation system."

Members of the Committee include:

Vincent Alvarez, President, New York City Central Labor Council - Alvarez is President of the New York City Central Labor Council, an organization that represents more than one million union members. He is the council's first Hispanic and first full-time president, and previously served as deputy legislative director of the New York State A.F.L-C.I.O, and was former Chief of Staff at the Council.

Lillian Borrone, Board Chair, Eno Transportation Foundation - Borrone currently chairs the Eno Transportation Foundation, a nonprofit organization that partners with government agencies, professional and private organizations to improve the mobility, safety and sustainability of transportation systems. She previously served as the Assistant Executive Director of the Port Authority of NY and NJ, and also held positions as the Director of the Port Commerce Department and Director of Management and Budget.

Stanley Brezenoff, President and CEO, Continuum Health Partners - Brezenoff currently serves as the President and CEO of Continuum Health Partners, a hospital system that includes Beth Israel Medical Center, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Long Island College Hospital and The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. Previously, he served as the Executive Director of the Port Authority of NY and NJ, and was the former Deputy Mayor of Operations, as well as the First Deputy Mayor of New York City, during the Koch administration.

Mary Ann Crotty, Former Director of State Operations - Crotty is the former Deputy Secretary for Transportation and former Director of State Operations under Governor Mario Cuomo.

Beverly Dolinsky, Former Executive Director, Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee - Dolinsky formerly served as the Executive Director Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA for 25 years. She also was the first riders' representative on the MTA board, a non-voting seat that was established in 1995, where she served for 8 years.

Mortimer Downey, Former Deputy Secretary, US Department of Transportation - Downey formerly served as the Deputy Secretary at US Department of Transportation during the Clinton Administration. He is currently Secretary of the Eno Transportation Foundation and a Senior Advisor for Parsons Brinckerhoff. Downey began his career at the Port Authority of NY and NJ, where he held various positions and has also served as the Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of the New York MTA.

Fernando Ferrer, Board Member, MTA - Ferrer formerly served as Bronx Borough President from 1987 to 2001. Upon leaving this post, he ran for mayor of New York in both 2001 and 2005. He is the former director of the Drum Hill Institute, and is a current co-chairman of Mercury Public Affairs.

Howard Glaser, Director of State Operations

Sidney Holmes, Partner, Winston Strawn LLP - Holmes is a corporate partner at Winston Strawn LLP, and has served as bond counsel, underwriter's counsel, and bank counsel in virtually every type of municipal bond financing throughout the United States and its territories. In May 2008, he was appointed by New York Governor David Paterson to serve as a commissioner of the Port Authority of NY and NJ. Mr. Holmes is also a commissioner of the New York State Insurance Fund and is a board member of the New York Urban League, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation.

Denis Hughes, President, New York State AFL-CIO - Hughes is the current president of the 2.5 million-member New York State AFL-CIO. He first became a union member at the age of 16 when he joined the Retail Clerks Union, and later joined the AFL-CIO as Political Director and Assistant to the President. He was first elected as President in 1999, and was subsequently re-elected to three consecutive terms. Hughes has also served as Commissioner of the New York State Insurance Fund, and was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

William Longhi, President & CEO, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. - Longhi has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. since February 2009. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President of Central Operations at Con Edison Company of New York. Since joining Con Edison in 1976, He has held a variety of positions throughout the company, including Vice President of Operations at O&R in 2000 and 2001.

Mitchell Moss, Director, Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management - Prior to his appointment as Director of the Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management, Moss was the Director of NYU's Taub Urban Research Center, where he directed research projects for the National Science Foundation, Charles Revson Foundation, U.S. Department of Commerce, New York State Economic Development Corporation, and leading private corporations. Professor Moss has been on the faculty of NYU since 1973.

Richard Ravitch, Former Lieutenant Governor of New York - Ravitch is a veteran public servant, having worked in both federal and state government for decades. In the late 1960s, Ravitch left his family's construction firm to join President Lyndon Johnson's administration. Under President Johnson, he served as a member of the United States Commission on Urban Problems and was elected president of the Citizens Housing and Planning Council.

Later, under Governor Hugh Carey, he served as chairman of the New York State Urban Development Corporation, rescuing the agency from near-bankruptcy. Ravitch went onto become chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. In 2008, Governor Paterson tapped him to chair a commission charged with restoring the MTA to sound financial footing and he subsequently served as Lieutenant Governor. He is currently a partner at New York-based law firm Ravitch, Rice & Co.

Bill Rudin, Chairman, Association for a Better NY - In addition to serving as the Chair of the Association for a Better NY, Rudin is currently the President of Rudin Management Company, Inc. He also serves as Chairman of the Board for the Battery Conservancy and as a member of the Boards of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Real Estate Board of New York and New York University.

Gene Russianoff, Senior Attorney, NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign - Russianoff is senior attorney and chief spokesman for the Straphangers Campaign for NYPIRG, a Manhattan-based public transportation advocacy group that focuses mainly on subway and bus services run by New York City Transit. He has worked for NYPIRG since his graduation from Harvard Law School in 1978.

Desmond Ryan, Executive Director, Association for a Better Long Island - Ryan is the Executive Director at ALBI. Previously, he worked at Grumman Aerospace handling public affairs issues in both Washington, D.C. and Albany. He has also served as Director of Government Affairs at the Long Island Association, and worked in the Office of the New York State Assembly Speaker in the 1980s where he focused on legislative issues affecting the Long Island region.

Thomas Schwarz, President, SUNY Purchase - Schwarz has served as President of SUNY Purchase since 2003. He is a retired partner from Skadden, Arps, Meagher and Flom, which he originally joined in 1969. At Skadden, he was National Practice Leader of the Litigation Department and the founding partner of the firm's Committee on Diversity. Schwarz served as mayor of the village of Ocean Beach in Suffolk County from 1978 to 1987 and was Special Counsel to the New York State Commission on Government Integrity 1987-1991. He also served as acting president of Hamilton College in 1999.

Rodney Slater, Partner, Patton Boggs - Slater is a partner at Patton Boggs. Previously, he served as Secretary of the US Department of Transportation during the Clinton Administration. He also served as director of the Federal Highway Administration. Slater is also a partner at James Lee Witt Associates and currently serves on the board of directors of Africare and The Dance Theater of Harlem. He is the chair of the Board of Trustees of United Way and serves on the corporate boards of Delta Air Lines and Verizon.

Robert Steel, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development - Steel is currently the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development. He is responsible for the city's five-borough economic development strategy and job-creation efforts, and spearheads major development projects city-wide. Deputy Mayor Steel oversees various agencies including the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Department of City Planning, Department of Small Business Services, NYC Economic Development Corporation and NYC & Company. Previously, Steel was the President and CEO of Wachovia. He also formerly served as Under Secretary for Domestic Finance at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Prior to entering government service, he spent nearly three decades at Goldman Sachs, where he became co-head of the U.S. Equities Division and Vice Chairman of the firm.

Robert Yaro, President, Regional Plan Association - Yaro is currently President of Regional Plan Association, the nation's oldest independent metropolitan policy, research and advocacy group. Yaro also co-chairs the Empire State Transportation Alliance and the Friends of Moynihan Station, and is Vice President of the Forum for Urban Design.

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Author: Ad Meskens

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