Adrienne Johnson on Jan. 6 signed on as Human Resources (HR) Director for California’s North County Transit District (NCTD), which operates Coaster commuter rail, Sprinter hybrid rail, Breeze bus, Flex on-demand, and Lift paratransit services.
Johnson has more than 15 years of experience in HR across Fortune 100 and 500 companies, leading and managing change in global environments. Most recently, she served as HR Director at Airgas, where she led strategic initiatives in talent management, organizational design, and regulatory compliance. She has also held leadership roles at CVS Health, managing talent reviews and succession planning, and resolving complex employee issues, and at Starbucks, leading and implementing programs focused on employee performance and engagement.
Johnson earned a Bachelor of Science in speech pathology and is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management and Association for Talent Development.
In her new role at NCTD, Johnson is now responsible for managing and overseeing day-to-day operations, including employee relations, recruitment, labor relations, organizational development, and compliance. She is also focused on supporting broader NCTD goals and fostering an inclusive and collaborative workforce, the agency reported.
“The Human Resources Director position is integral to maintaining NCTD’s people-first mentality by fostering opportunities for growth and implementing human resources strategies,” said NCTD Chief People Officer Joy Freeman, who joined the agency in early 2024. “Adrienne brings a wealth of knowledge to this position that will be key to promoting organizational culture and supporting employees while ensuring accountability and compliance.”
