Columbia, S.C.’s Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) named Jackie Bowers as its new director, operations.

In this position, Bowers will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the prime contractor to ensure service is being delivered every day and she will continue to direct the customer experience department. She will report to LeRoy DesChamps, Chief Operating Officer.

In her previous role at The COMET as customer experience and contract compliance manager, Bowers was responsible for providing oversight to the customer service call center along with activities at COMET Central and monitoring contracted transit operations acting as a liaison between the agency and the customer facing contracts held by the organization to identify actions needed to improve overall service quality.

“Ms. Bowers brings much value and experience to the work we do at The COMET,” said Interim CEO/Executive Director Derrick Huggins. “This position is key for establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other transit agencies, municipalities, and the public to help promote and maintain an effective and efficient public transit system for the people of the Midlands. I am pleased to have Ms. Bowers fulfilling this role as a new director on our team.”

Bowers brings more than 20 years of transportation, operations, and customer service experience. She worked at The COMET for 12 years under Transdev Services Inc., a prime contractor, as the operations manager and assistant GM. Her responsibilities included managing the bus operators, supervisors, and dispatchers, preparing route changes and run assignments, and assisting with the negotiation of union contracts.