MTA
Effective Sept. 18, Tina Vaz will become Director of MTA Arts & Design, responsible for leading the agency’s range of visual and performing arts programs. Her oversight will include Poetry in Motion, MTA Music, digital art, photography, and the Permanent Art Program, which comprises work commissioned by more than 400 established and emerging artists and has distinguished New York’s transit system with one of the world’s largest and most diverse collections of site-specific contemporary art, according to the agency.
Vaz served most recently as Deputy Director, Chief Brand and Communications Officer for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, leading communications, marketing, design, digital, and external affairs for Guggenheim New York while overseeing brand strategy for the Guggenheim’s international constellation of museums in Bilbao, Venice, and Abu Dhabi. Under her leadership, the Guggenheim established its first true logo: a bold, dynamic “G” symbol based on the museums’ architectural forms. Vaz initially joined the Guggenheim in 2011 and led communications strategy for a range of Guggenheim global initiatives until 2019.
From 2019 to 2023, Vaz led Meta’s Open Arts program, which commissioned contemporary artists, collaborated with cultural institutions, and integrated art into Meta’s physical spaces and digital platforms. During her tenure, the program delivered more than 600 physical and digital commissions, programmed 13 million square feet of physical space, including the James A. Farley Building in New York City, and reached 8 million Meta users through digital artwork and strategic communications supporting company initiatives on vaccine awareness and voting.
Vaz serves on the Boards of The Municipal Art Society of New York and Williamstown Theatre Festival and is a member of the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York. She holds a degree in journalism from Boston University.
“For 40 years, MTA Arts & Design has been bringing world-class art, musical performance and poetry to millions of transit riders,” MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said. “We are excited to have Tina’s creative expertise to help us reach even more New Yorkers and visitors with art that reflects the dynamism of New York and the transit system.”
“I am thrilled to have Tina join the MTA,” MTA Chief of Staff & Strategic Planning Juliette Michaelson said. “Her vision and leadership align with our mission at the MTA to connect with riders in new and inspiring ways.”
“Art has the power to transform everyday experiences, and I can’t imagine a more extraordinary canvas than the transit system, where millions of New Yorkers and visitors live out their daily stories,” Tina Vaz commented. “I’m honored to become part of the MTA, an organization central to the culture of New York and recognized around the world. I look forward to collaborating with our talented team, artists, and communities to create work that resonates with riders and reflects the energy and diversity of New York.”
OPW
David Malinas is the new President of OPW, a supplier of fluid-handling solutions, including loading and unloading systems for high-value hazardous and non-hazardous bulk products; railcar and transport tank-truck valves, gauging devices and tank-monitoring systems; automated storage-terminal controls and systems; and regulators, fittings, valves, vaporizers, vacuum-jacketed piping and gas-handling systems for the safe handling and distribution of cryogenics and industrial gases. He succeeds Kevin Long, who spent 11 years with Dover, parent company of OPW, including serving as President of OPW since 2017.
Malinas brings more than 20 years of operational leadership experience to his new role. He was most recently Chief Operating Officer of Duravant, a global automation equipment company headquartered in Chicago. He has also served as President of the Industrial Process segment at ITT, and held senior executive roles at Thermo Fisher Scientific and Danaher Corporation.
Malina first joined Dover in 2019 as Senior Vice President of Operations, a role he held for nearly four years. During that time, he led the development and execution of Dover’s manufacturing strategy, with a strong focus on footprint optimization, continuous improvement, supply chain efficiency, and quality enhancement. His efforts were instrumental in driving profitable growth across Dover’s operating companies. He holds a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering and a Master of Science in manufacturing engineering from Case Western Reserve University, as well as a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
“OPW has always represented innovation, quality, and a commitment to operational excellence,” Malinas said. “I’m thrilled to rejoin the Dover organization and work alongside our talented OPW team, building on this strong foundation to accelerate growth, drive performance, and deliver long-term value for our customers.”
RPM
Binu Panicker is the new Chief Technology Officer at RPM, a service aggregator for finished vehicle logistics and value-add interconnected services that offers clients a sophisticated network covering over-the-road, rail, port, and sea. He brings 26-plus years of technology and executive leadership experience to the role, including time at Covisint, Dassault, and a significant tenure as Chief Technology Officer at FreightVerify.
Panicker will lead the product and engineering teams to ensure the seamless integration of innovative technology solutions across all business verticals for RPM’s accelerated business growth strategy.
“Binu’s leadership and deep expertise in scalable cloud architecture and AI are crucial as we expand our technological capabilities,” said John Perkovich, President of RPM North America. “His strategic vision will ensure we continue to provide our partners with unparalleled logistics solutions that are both data-driven and forward looking. We are excited to see him join the leadership team, enhancing RPM’s market position as a leader in automotive logistics.“
“RPM has a fantastic reputation for its innovative culture and cutting-edge technology platform,“ Binu Panicker said. “Their commitment to digitizing the automotive logistics domain sets them apart from a typical 3PL. The logistics industry is undergoing a massive digital transformation, and RPM is perfectly positioned to lead that change. I’m grateful to join such a forward-thinking company and leverage my broader industry expertise in AI and scalable cloud-platforms to build the future of mobility.“
HDR
HDR Global Transit Director Matt Tucker has been named to the Board of Trustees for the Mineta Transportation Institute for a three-year term.
Founded in 1991 by former Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, MTI is a university transportation center funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the California Department of Transportation, and public and private grants. MTI is well known and respected in the transportation industry as a leading research center that advances transportation innovation and provides practical solutions for transportation officials and practitioners. It emphasizes policy and management research, particularly in the fields of project financing, intermodal connectivity, safety, sustainability, pedestrian issues, land use and transportation planning.
The research institute seeks to increase mobility for all by improving the safety, efficiency, accessibility and convenience of the U.S. transportation system. It is affiliated with San Jose State University’s Lucas College and Graduate School of Business.
Tucker joins a group of 24 nationally recognized transportation leaders in helping to steer the future of MTI. Among the institute’s trustees are the president or executive director of many leading industry groups, including the leaders of the Association of American Railroads, American Public Transportation Association, Conference of Minority Transportation Officials, and American Association of State Highways and Transportation Officials.
As a Board Member, Tucker will help shape MTI’s research portfolio, guide the institute’s education curriculum, and participate in workforce development events. He will draw on his executive-level public sector experience advising transit agencies on industry trends and best practices to enhance transit service, safety, and operation.
“I have really enjoyed my career journey and love the rail and transit industry,” Tucker said. “I value opportunities that allow me to continue to contribute to the industry, especially in support of workforce development and research. I look forward to collaborating with the other members of the Board of Trustees to share insights and perspectives on what is happening within the industry.”
