People News: MARTA, Ports of Indiana, North American Rail Solutions

MARTA

The MARTA Board of Directors on Aug. 14 appointed MARTA Chief Legal Counsel Jonathan Hunt as interim General Manager and CEO, following the retirement of Collie Greenwood on July 17, 2025.

“I am honored by this appointment and grateful to the Board for this opportunity,” said Hunt. “My experience at MARTA, the respect I have for public transit and understanding of what this Authority is capable of, along with the relationships I’ve built in metro Atlanta put me in a prime position to serve in this interim role. With the support of MARTA’s executive team and staff, I intend to immediately get to work addressing service issues and advancing projects ahead of the World Cup.”

The Board also named a strategic operational advisory group to support Hunt in his interim role. The group will be led by former MARTA General Manager and CEO Keith Parker, and its members include Metro Atlanta Chamber CEO Katie Kirkpatrick, Atlanta Regional Commission Executive Director & CEO Anna Roach, and City of Atlanta Chief Strategy Officer Peter Aman.

“We understand that selecting an internal candidate for this interim position may appear to be more of the same from MARTA and that we are content with the status quo. That could not be further from the truth,” said MARTA Board Chair Jennifer Ide. “An internal candidate with institutional knowledge, combined with the counsel and support of the advisory group will result in strategic decision-making and guidance on the search for a permanent leader, ensuring alignment in the short and long term.”

The MARTA Board of Directors has also formed a search committee that will work with an executive search firm to select a permanent GM/CEO. The ad hoc committee consists of Chair Jennifer Ide, Valencia Williamson, Al Pond, Rita Scott, and Sagirah Jones.

Hunt has worked in MARTA’s Legal Department for almost 12 years and was named Chief Legal Counsel in 2024, bringing with him decades of experience in transit, real estate, finance, corporate law, and construction management. Prior to joining MARTA, he served as Assistant City Attorney for the City of Atlanta, representing among other entities, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Hunt also serves as President of the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Legal Affairs Committee and sits on the national board of APTA.

Chief Customer Experience Officer Rhonda Allen served as acting GM/CEO since June 18, 2025. “She is an invaluable member of the MARTA team and will continue to focus on a broad range of initiatives on improving the customer experience, including delivering MARTA’s new Breeze system,” the agency said.

Ports of Indiana

Global logistics industry veteran Dexter Salenda has joined Ports of Indiana as the organization’s first Foreign Trade and Economic Development Director. This position was created to expand Ports of Indiana’s Foreign-Trade Zone program and offer new services for companies dealing with challenges related to international trade and tariffs, supporting Indiana’s economic growth.

Salenda brings nearly 15 years of experience in transportation, supply chain and Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) sales and operations from positions with DHL Global Forwarding, DB Schenker and INzone—the Greater Indianapolis Foreign-Trade Zone operated by the Indianapolis Airport Authority.

In his most recent role, as Director of Business Development/Key Account Management for DHL’s Life Science, Healthcare and Chemical sectors, Salenda “drove significant new business growth and spearheaded multinational account strategies to enhance efficiency in temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical supply chains,” the organization said.

“Bringing Dexter on board marks a strategic expansion for Ports of Indiana in the supply chain services we provide to international businesses and the state,” said Ports of Indiana CEO Jody Peacock. “Dexter’s logistics and foreign trade industry knowledge will be essential to our organization as we try to create new value for Indiana companies through foreign-trade zones and international container shipments. His efforts will help us establish long-term partnerships with Indiana customers that are doing business all over the world—especially those that can benefit from the cost savings and operational efficiencies related to tariffs and container services.”

All three Ports of Indiana facilities are designated Foreign-Trade Zones and the organization can support the creation of FTZs at individual businesses around the state.

“It’s an exciting time to join the Ports of Indiana team and I’m looking forward to playing an important role in the organization’s overall growth,” said Salenda. “Priority number one is creating awareness and aligning customers with our FTZ benefits and expertise to grow containerized cargo business through the ports. With developable land and a growing portfolio of services, the ports are attracting interest from potential long-term partners, and I’m eager to leverage those assets and contribute to our state economy.”

Salenda is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and has been an active member of various regional economic development committees, including the Indy Chamber’s Foreign Direct Investment Steering Committee and the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee.

North American Rail Solutions

North American Rail Solutions on Aug. 14 announced that Wyatt Cox has joined the company as General Counsel, bringing extensive experience in both private practice and corporate legal environments and will play a key role in supporting the company’s continued growth and operational strategy.

“Cox is a growth-minded, solutions-oriented legal leader with a strong record of developing and scaling legal and risk functions to support organizational expansion,” the company said in a press release. “Known for his strategic approach, he has consistently implemented legal frameworks that balance risk and reward while aligning with business needs. He thrives in fast-paced, evolving environments and is recognized for his high emotional intelligence, clear communication skills, and ability to build trusted relationships across all levels of an organization.”

“We’re excited to welcome Wyatt to the team,” said Tom Lucario, CEO of North American Rail Solutions. “His ability to align legal strategy with operational goals, along with his collaborative leadership style, will be a tremendous asset as we continue to grow across North America.”

Prior to joining North American Rail Solutions, Cox served as Vice President of Legal and Compliance at BluSky Restoration Contractors. During his nearly seven years with BluSky, he played an integral role in the organization’s growth and expansion to one of the largest, most respected restoration contractors in the country. Cox led BluSky’s legal, risk, and compliance functions, as well as several other key initiatives related to M&A, ESG, the company’s charitable foundation, licensing, and corporate governance.

“North American Rail Solutions is at an exciting and transformative point in its growth, and I’m thrilled to join the team at such a pivotal time to continue driving innovation in the railroad services industry and shape the next chapter of company’s already remarkable story,” Cox said. “I look forward to working alongside our talented people to build on the company’s strong foundation and help position the business for long-term success.”