People News: Virginia DRPT, LRW/NS, NYMTA, Trinity Metro, Ports of Indiana, HNTB
Virginia DRPT
Mariia Zimmerman has been named Director of Virginia DRPT, leading the agency’s continued efforts to plan, fund, and deliver rail and public transportation initiatives.
With more than 30 years of experience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, she served most recently as Founder and Principal of MZ Strategies, a Richmond, Va.-based planning and policy firm that is described as working with with states, regions, and organizations nationwide “to advance transit-oriented development and implement transportation projects that improve mobility, access, and community outcomes.”
Zimmerman previously held senior leadership roles at the U.S. Department of Transportation, where she was a member of Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s executive leadership team. She served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy and as Co-Director of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Implementation Team, helping to guide the rollout of federal investments in rail and public transportation through major discretionary grant programs and policy initiatives led by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Federal Highway Administration, and Federal Railroad Administration.
Earlier in her career, Zimmerman’s work spanned housing, transportation, and community development at both the federal and national nonprofit levels. She served as Deputy Director of Sustainable Housing and Communities at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Vice President for Policy at Reconnecting America and the Center for Transit-Oriented Development; and Co-Founder of the national nonprofit Transportation for America. She began her public service career at the FTA following early work in transportation planning and engineering.
Zimmerman has served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, Arlington Transportation Commission, and Shared Use Mobility Center. She earned advanced degrees from Pennsylvania State University and the University of Minnesota ,and has served as a Visiting Fellow with Virginia Tech’s Metropolitan Institute.
“I am excited to welcome Mariia Zimmerman to lead DRPT,” Virginia Secretary of Transportation Nick Donohue said. “Her leadership and vision for transportation will help the department deliver innovative, reliable, and accessible solutions for Virginians, ensuring the Commonwealth [of Virginia] remains at the forefront of public transit and rail development.”
“I am honored to lead such a talented team and excited to head an agency that connects Virginians to opportunity through affordable transportation options,” Zimmerman said. “I look forward to collaborating across the Commonwealth to strengthen rail and public transportation systems that support vibrant communities and long-term economic growth.”
DRPT Executive Director Jennifer DeBruhl retired in 2023.
Further Reading:
- Virginia DRPT Now Accepting Grant Applications
- Virginia DRPT Breaks Record in Truck Diversion Via Freight Rail Programs
- Virginia DRPT: $7B SYIP
LRW / NS
“Dianne Barnett has spent her career proving that strong leadership in rail is built on credibility in the field, disciplined execution, and a genuine investment in people,” NS reported Jan. 19 in the Story Yard section of its website. That leadership, the railroad said, is now being recognized across the industry: Barnett is LRW’s 2025 Railway Woman of the Year. She is the first NS recipient of the annual award, which “honors a woman who establishes a strong vision and a culture of continuous improvement and creativity, bringing excellence to her organization and community, all while supporting the personal and professional growth of others in the rail industry.”
A second-generation railroader, Barnett began her career at NS more than 27 years ago as a stenographer clerk in Birmingham, Ala. She later moved into operations, managing craft employees and gaining firsthand field experience that the railroad said continues to shape her leadership approach today. Now, as Assistant Vice President Mechanical, “she leads with a focus on safety, accountability, and transparency, emphasizing that leadership is defined as much by example as by results,” according to NS. “Under Dianne’s leadership, the Mechanical team has adopted a rigorous, data-driven, and collaborative approach to problem-solving, including the use of ‘war rooms’ that focus on root-cause analysis and continuous improvement. These efforts have delivered meaningful results across the network, including:
- “Reduced wayside stops by more than 30% through improved operations and technology applications.
- “Expanded deployment of machine vision capabilities across Digital Train Inspection (DTI) portals, innovative wheel defect detection systems, and tailored algorithms to catch issues before they become larger problems.
- “Drove a substantial reduction in bad orders and running repairs by implementing advanced, proactive car maintenance processes.
- “Achieved industry-leading locomotive availability and fly rate, as well as improvements in locomotive productivity through deeper defect analysis and corrective action.
- “Notable improvements in reportable injuries and mechanical-caused derailments, reinforcing the team’s commitment to safety, precision and the communities they serve.”
NS reported that Barnett has led modernization efforts at legacy facilities such as Sandusky Yard in Ohio and Lamberts Point Coal Terminal in Norfolk, Va., “helping teams replace manual, paper-based processes with real-time digital tools that improve coordination and reduce delays.”
Beyond operational performance, NS said, Barnett is “widely respected for her commitment to developing people, particularly women entering and advancing within the rail industry,” as she “actively encourages women to pursue field experience, new roles, and leadership opportunities.” Additionally, she remains connected to those she has mentored; many of her mentees now serve in supervisory and management positions across rail.
“Dianne’s leadership reflects the best of Norfolk Southern,” said Brian Barr, Vice President and Chief Mechanical Officer at the Class I. “She combines operational discipline with a people-first mindset, and her impact is felt across our Mechanical organization. We are proud that she received this very deserving honor.”
In 2024, LRW named Amtrak Corporate Secretary and Ethics Officer Eleanor “Eldie” D. Acheson as Railway Woman of the Year.
Separately, late last year Sarah Yurasko was named LRW’s 2025 Member of the Year.
MTA
MTA has appointed Sergio Penque as Chief Procurement Officer. With decades of experience leading procurement operations for some of the largest public-sector organizations in the country, he has held the Chief Procurement Officer role on separate occasions at the New York City Housing Authority and the State of New York. For the State, he managed more than 1,400 contracts valued at $16 billion-plus. He has also held senior procurement leadership roles with New York City and the State of Michigan, “where he drove initiatives that reduced procurement cycle times, strengthened compliance, improved transparency, and delivered measurable cost savings across complex public portfolios,” according to MTA.
Paneque will report to MTA Chief Administrative Officer Lisette Camilo.
MTA is North America’s largest transportation network, serving 15.3 million people across a 5,000-square-mile travel area surrounding New York City, Long Island, southeastern New York State, and Connecticut. The MTA network comprises the nation’s largest bus fleet and more subway and commuter railcars than all other U.S. transit systems combined.
Further Reading:
Trinity Metro
Mike Brennan is the new Vice President of Economic Development for Trinity Metro, the operator of TEXRail between Fort Worth and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B; Trinity Metro Bus; Trinity Metro Bikes; and Trinity Metro On-Demand; and the co-operator with Dallas Area Rapid Transit of Trinity Railway Express, which runs between Fort Worth and Dallas. He will plan, direct, and manage the agency’s economic development activities, including advancing economic growth and maximizing the value of real estate assets. Additionally, he will work with the business community, developers, property owners, and other stakeholders to implement the agency’s economic development goals and objectives.
Brennan served most recently as President of Near Southside, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing Fort Worth’s Near Southside neighborhood, following six years with the City of Fort Worth’s Planning Department. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and a Master in Urban Planning from Harvard University Graduate School of Design, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.
“We are pleased to welcome Mike to Trinity Metro,” said Richard Andreski, the agency’s President and CEO. “He brings pioneering leadership in economic development and is widely respected by our Fort Worth community. Mike will be a key strategic leader as we unlock the full potential of transit-oriented development to drive regional growth, strengthen communities, and maximize the long-term value of our transit investments.”
“I feel great about the next era of leadership at Near Southside, Inc., and I am extremely excited about this opportunity with Trinity Metro,” Brennan said. “We have such great potential around Trinity Metro’s stations. So many people wish to live or work in close proximity to convenient transit. Meeting that demand always requires collaboration among private- and public-sector partners, and I look forward to that work. I’m honored to join this wonderful Trinity Metro team and excited to collaborate with communities in station areas to pursue great projects.”
Separately, Trinity Metro last summer named Reed Lanham as Chief Operating Officer.
Further Reading:
Ports of Indiana
Brady Jacoba has been selected as the first Chief Commercial Officer at Ports of Indiana, a statewide port authority that operates three ports—Jeffersonville, Burns Harbor, and Mount Vernon—on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan. He brings three decades of experience in real estate, sales, marketing, and economic development to the port authority, which manages 2,800 acres of multimodal property across Indiana and generates $8.7 billion annually for the State economy.
Burns Harbor Railroad, Mount Vernon Railroad, Evansville Western Railway, CSX, Louisville & Indiana Railroad, and NS are among the railroads serving the Ports.
Jacoba worked previously at Volumod Indy as Vice President of Sales and Marketing; Lauth Group as Senior Vice President of Business Development; Indy Chamber in leadership positions; and Keller Williams as a real estate broker. He is a Certified Commercial Investment Member and received an MBA from Ball State University and a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University.
“Brady’s extensive experience in business, real estate, and economic development is a tremendous asset for our organization as we assemble a growth-oriented team,” said Jody Peacock, CEO at Ports of Indiana. “Our ports offer unique competitive advantages for companies, from multimodal real estate and foreign-trade zones to barge shipping and ocean containers. Brady will help us expand our programs to grow business and increase our contributions to Indiana’s economy.”
“I am truly excited to join Ports of Indiana at this critical junction in its strategic growth planning,” Jacoba said. “The organization’s forward-thinking approach and commitment to both expanding existing business and pursuing new initiatives drew me to this role.”
Separately, Ports of Indiana last summer appointed Dexter Salenda to the newly created role of Foreign Trade and Economic Development Director.
Further Reading:
- IRRT Boosts Capacity at Rail-Served Ports of Indiana-Jeffersonville
- Ports of Indiana Secures FEMA Grants
HNTB
Peter Zuk has joined HNTB as Senior Project Advisor and Vice President in the firm’s Oakland, Calif., office. He will focus initially on supporting the BART Silicon Valley Phase 2 project, “leveraging his experience with single bore tunnel approaches and stakeholder engagement to advance the project into the execution phase and prepare for the Full Funding Grant Agreement,” according to HNTB.
Throughout his more than three-decade-long career, Zuk has led London Underground’s “Transforming the Tube” capital program; Toronto’s Metrolinx capital delivery program; and the Boston Central Artery/Tunnel Project. His expertise spans all phases of project delivery, from feasibility and stakeholder engagement to execution and asset management, HNTB reported.
Zuk served previously as Chief Capital Officer for Metrolinx, overseeing a $100 billion capital program that included the Eglinton-Crosstown Light Rail Transit Project and the GO Expansion P3 Project. He also held senior leadership roles with London Underground Limited, where he directed a £30 billion capital upgrade and initiated the organization’s ISO 55000 asset management certification. In the U.S., Zuk’s tenure as Project Director for the Boston Central Artery/Tunnel Project saw the completion of the Ted Williams Tunnel and the Leonard Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge, both honored by the American Society of Civil Engineers for outstanding engineering achievement.
Zuk holds a Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School and a Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University. He is a member of the National Academy of Construction and has served as a lecturer at MIT’s Department of Environmental and Civil Engineering.
“Peter’s unparalleled technical expertise and proven leadership in delivering complex infrastructure projects make him an invaluable addition to our team,” said Shannon Gaffney, Oakland Office Leader and Vice President at HNTB. “Equally significant is his experience in advising programs with complex management and governance structures. His commitment to innovation and stakeholder collaboration aligns perfectly with HNTB’s mission to advance mobility and improve communities.”
Separately, HNTB earlier this month named Mike Inabinet as President, Markets and Services; Chris Gale as Chief Operating Officer; and Michelle Dippel as Region President of HNTB’s newly expanded West Region.
