Calif.’s Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) named Jennifer L. Bergener, a veteran of the agency and the transportation industry, to serve as deputy CEO.

Bergener, who has served in a variety of management roles at OCTA and most recently as COO, takes over for Kenneth G. Phipps, who retired earlier this month after nearly three decades at the transportation agency.

Bergener will work directly with CEO Darrell E. Johnson toward fulfilling OCTA’s mission of keeping Orange County moving through a balanced and sustainable transportation system.

In addition to Deputy CEO, Bergener will continue her role as COO, responsible for all transit operations, including bus operations and maintenance, rail operations, OC Streetcar operations and maintenance, Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency (LOSSAN) oversight, paratransit, microtransit, and contracted services.

In her first weeks on the job, Bergener has played a critical role on OCTA’s task force responding to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. She’s helping lead the committee of executives from across divisions and overseeing enhanced cleaning and continued operations of Orange County’s essential public transit service for those who rely on it.

She has more than 20 years of experience as a transit professional, holding a broad range of positions in transportation programming, finance, project development and delivery, as well as governmental affairs.