The Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD)’s board, along with executive search firm Krauthamer & Associates, narrowed down the field of candidates to three finalists in their search for the agency’s CEO/GM.  

The three finalists being considered are:

• Debra Johnson - Johnson is a transit executive with over 25 years of diversified, progressively responsible experience leading and managing business processes for public transit agencies. She has held executive positions at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Currently, she is the deputy CEO at Calif.’s Long Beach Transit.

• Adelee Le Grand - Le Grand has two decades of experience in utilizing mobility as a tool to create and sustain vibrant equitable communities. Her area of specialty is developing and communicating strategies into actionable plans that will guide the implementation of business solutions and innovations. Through contract agreements with Transdev North America, Le Grand has served as a member of the executive team for two transit agencies. She has served as the chief mobility officer for the Atlanta‐region Transit Link Authority, and also served as the chief strategy officer in service to the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority where her responsibilities included developing the first Strategic Mobility Plan for the New Orleans Region and rebuilding the Planning Department.

• Tina Quigley - Quigley served as CEO for the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada until her retirement in November of last year. She began her career as a planner at McCarran International Airport, one of the nation’s busiest airports. Quigley is also an active on several boards including the Desert Research Institute Foundation, Waycare Technologies, Vegas Chamber, Nevada Institute of Autonomous Systems, International Women’s Forum, Neon Museum Steering Committee, and the Fulfillment Fund of Las Vegas.

Later this month, the public and RTD employees will have the opportunity to learn more about each finalist and provide feedback after hearing their vision for the agency in taped video presentations. The presentations by each of the finalists and an online survey will be available Aug. 19 to 23 on the RTD website. 

The nationwide search began in May and garnered more than 58 applicants. The Board Executive Search committee interviewed six candidates earlier this week and narrowed down the field to three finalists. A final selection is expected to be made by the end of August.

RTD is currently led by CEO/GM Paul J. Ballard, who assumed the role for an interim period starting in February after Dave Genova retired in January.