CYNTHIA ANN (CINDE) WEATHERBY

Transcription

1 CYNTHIA ANN (CINDE) WEATHERBY PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND/EXPERIENCE Upon retiring from four years ( ) as Director of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute s Strategic Solutions Center in Austin, Texas, Cinde reactivated Weatherby Consulting as its Managing Principal and Chief Happiness Officer (CHO). The Strategic Solutions Center responded to transportation decision-maker requests for assistance in addressing the state s transportation challenges, while also striving to achieve a forward-thinking, strategic vision for the transportation system in Texas and beyond. Weatherby Consulting is taking on consulting assignments that benefit from Cinde s lengthy transportation-related career. Prior experience includes Regional Transportation Coordinator in the Fort Worth City Manager s Office; Vice President and Senior Project Manager, URS Corporation; Executive Director of South West Transit Association; Managing Principal, Weatherby Consulting; Assistant to the Executive Director, Dallas Area Rapid Transportation (DART); among others. Since 1975, Cinde has been in transportation-related public sector positions at regional, municipal, county and state levels; and in small and large private sector consulting firms. Her facilitation and management have led to establishment of three new transportation governmental agencies, including DART; implementation of major infrastructure projects and transportation services, such as Denton County Transportation Authority s commuter rail service; adoption of major plans, and collaborative regional transportation initiatives. Cinde has also led state and national research in transportation-related policies and processes, marketing, public outreach, and public finance. She has a MA degree in urban affairs from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a BA degree from Texas Tech University. DIRECTOR CENTER FOR STRATEGIC TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS Texas A&M Transportation Institute, Austin, TX 9/09 9/13 First director of a new center of excellence to respond to needs of transportation decision makers -- initially concentrating on the needs of Texas Legislators as they address the state s transportation challenges. Working with TTI leadership to develop a program of future-oriented policy research to address big picture challenges affecting multiple jurisdictions/regions. Striving to achieve a forward-thinking, strategic vision for the transportation system in Texas and beyond, by providing transportation, finance, and policy expertise. REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR City Manager s Office, City of Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX 2/07 9/09 Coordinated City s relationships and activities with regional stakeholders and partners in development of major transportation projects in and near City boundaries. Particular attention spent on funding issues, including recent receipt of $80 million to allow freight rail relocation permitting extension of commercial airport and other roadway improvements. Maintained City s involvement with the Metropolitan Planning Organization and its programs. Served on the regional Surface Transportation Technical Committee and supports City s three members of the MPO policy advisory group. Represented the City on the TxDOT I-35 Corridor Segment 1 and Segment 2 Committees, the MPO s Outer Loop Advisory Group and Tower 55 Technical Advisory Group, and The T s Southwest-to-Northeast Program Management Team.

2 VICE PRESIDENT / SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER Transit and Transportation Planning URS Corporation, Dallas, TX 3/02 2/07 Managed and supported transit and transportation planning projects, including day-to-day management of two major regional commuter rail projects. Coordinated transit planning activities in Texas and the southwest. Supported transportation planning programs and projects company-wide, including strategic plan development. Responsible for business development efforts for the URS transit practice, with a focus on rail transit system plans. ASSOCIATE RESEARCH SCIENTIST / PROGRAM MANAGER Institutional Policy Program Texas Transportation Institute Texas A&M University System, Arlington, TX 6/95 3/02 Conducted and supervised transportation-related research. Research topics included public transportation, transportation policy, interjurisdictional and institutional issues, participatory planning and programs, innovative finance, airports and intermodal access, and regulatory compliance issues. Research sponsors included the Texas Department of Transportation, Transportation Research Board (National Academy of Sciences), Federal Transit Administration, and Federal Highway Administration. Also served as the Texas A&M University Associate Director of Research for the Southwest Region University Transportation Center and provided senior TTI management. MANAGING PRINCIPAL Weatherby Consulting, Arlington, TX 5/86 12/88 and 3/90-9/94 Managing principal and owner of a consulting practice specializing in intergovernmental relations, public involvement, communications, marketing, policy development, legislative affairs and miscellaneous public works related activities. Firm managed the public involvement/governmental relations effort supporting a county-wide land use and infrastructure plan in Ellis County, Texas, as part of the development of the Superconducting Super Collider. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR South West Transit Association, Arlington, TX 12/91-1/95 Directed the affairs of a seven-state public transit association. Membership includes public transit agencies, consultants, vendors to the public transit industry. Provided general administration and direction for the association's professional development programs and legislative advocacy. Developed seminar programs in transit law; transit maintenance and operations; planning, scheduling and paratransit; rural and small urban transit operations; and transit marketing and public affairs. INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COORDINATOR City of Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX 12/88-3/90 As the Intergovernmental Affairs Coordinator, was City s staff representative in state capitol. Working with the City staff leadership and a City Council Committee, established legislative policy and programs. Cooperated with lobbyists from other five major Texas cities in promoting legislative initiatives of benefit to Texas municipalities. Provided leadership in various intergovernmental activities such as the proposed Tarrant County Crime Control & Prevention District. Represented the City on the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee. GENERAL PARTNER Weatherby Information Services, DeSoto, TX 5/86-12/88 As General Partner of Weatherby Information Services (WIS), developed and oversaw weekly production of newsletter providing information to the private sector about procurement opportunities in public transit authorities in Texas and

3 surrounding states. Publisher and Editor of Locally Elected Officials of Dallas & Tarrant Counties, a hard-back, quality edition including more than 1,000 entries on the elected officials in the two-county area. SEVERAL RESPONSIBLE POSITIONS Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Dallas, TX 3/84-5/86 As Assistant to the Executive Director (8/84-5/86), reported to Executive Director. Responsible for development of agenda and materials presented to 25-member Board of Directors. Member of senior management team. Responsible for senior staff management and coordination. Provided continuing support to the Board and Executive Director. Responsible for various ad hoc special projects, such as annual budget development, organization and management studies. Supervision of governmental relations at federal, state and local levels. As Acting Director of Administrative Services (8/84-12/84), responsible for personnel efforts, including development of a hiring program that took staff from 14 persons to near 50. Directed administration of DART offices, including word processing, office facilities, purchasing and personnel. As Manager of Governmental Relations (3/84-8/84), responsible for maintaining relationships with local, state and federal governments and other groups and associations. Provided key support to Board and Executive Director. ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Dallas, TX 3/82-12/83 One of three professionals responsible for staffing DART during interim (September August 13, 1983) and interim permanent status. Responsible for local government (21 cities and 1 county) liaison. Directed administration of DART office activities (project budget of $800,000). Participated in Board policy development. Responsible for documentation of DART Service Plan. Sole DART staff professional (January - September 1982), hired by DART Board of Directors as Administrative Director. Responsible for start-up of DART office and administration of the project. PRINCIPAL Government Relations Specialists, Dallas, TX 12/81-3/82 As a principal with a governmental relations consulting firm, opened the firm's Dallas office. Provided assistance to NCTCOG transportation department staff in the initiation of DART (then known generically as the Interim Regional Transportation Authority). ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Dallas County, Dallas, TX 5/81-12/81 As Administrative Assistant to Dallas County Commissioner Roy Orr, provided all administrative support to the Commissioner. Responsibilities included, but not limited to: liaison with County staff, policy and procedure development, speech writing, correspondence, research, assistance in budget development and administration, direction of staff committees. Supervision of office operations. Representative of the Commissioner in his absence at community functions, board and commission meetings. SEVERAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS POSITIONS Transportation Department North Central Texas Council of Governments, Arlington, TX 5/75-5/81 As Community Affairs Coordinator (8/80-5/81), managed the Community Affairs Group. Supervised three professionals and a clerical staff. Monitored federal and state legislation and developed positions for policy makers.

4 Supervised communications / publications; community involvement; public information; intergovernmental relations and policy development; and miscellaneous research. As Assistant Secretary - Lone Star Transportation Authority (9/79-8/80), managed administrative matters of an interim regional transportation authority (LSTA). Position was appointive by LSTA Interim Executive Committee. Responsible for all administrative support; liaison with state and federal agencies and 67 local governments; maintenance of records; coordinator of mechanics of complex regional referendum. Managed active media relations and community information program. Responsible for all board member relations and interface with technical planning staff. As Intergovernmental Coordinator (5/78-8/79), managed effort leading to adoption of state permissive legislation to allow regional transportation authority. Staffed legislative committee of local elected officials. Drafted legislation; organized and participated in information program for local city councils and county commissioners courts; directed contacts with state legislators; developed local information program for disseminating information on approved legislation; worked with city councils and commissioners courts in initiating interim authority. As Intergovernmental Analyst (12/77-5/78), provided administrative assistance to department director. Coordinated production of annual planning document. Provided grant administration (budget of approx. $1 million). Authored policy memoranda. Prepared speeches for local elected officials. Provided liaison with various elected official committees and staff technical committees. Monitored state and federal legislation. As Public Information Specialist (5/75-12/77), supervised production of all technical reports and plans. Edited technical materials and produced a popularly distributed newsletter. Managed all printing operations, including drafting personnel. Assisted in grant administration. Prepared speeches and audio-visual materials. Monitored various local committees and state and federal legislation. Participated in technical planning efforts such as urban opinion research and public involvement strategies. EDITOR / PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR Retail Furniture Association of the Southwest, Dallas, TX 6/74-5/75 Concurrent positions of Editor of Southwest Furniture News, Advertising Director of SFN, Public Relations Director of RFAS. Responsibility for production of quarterly journal for retail furniture dealers. Managed advertising sales and production. Represented association to local, regional media; retail furniture dealers; furniture manufacturers. Developed seminar promotions, media releases, brochures, and audio-visual materials. REPORTER / EDITOR Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Lubbock, TX 8/70-6/74 As Assistant Family News Editor, managed six reporters and responsible for liaison with newspaper management. Responsible for story assignments, editing of all materials for the section, layout, supervision of production. [full-time] As Family News Copy and Layout Editor, edited copy and responsible for layout and supervision of production. [parttime] As General News Reporter, covered wide-range of subjects. [full-time] Education M.A. in Urban Affairs (emphasis on transportation), Institute of Urban Studies, University of Texas at Arlington, 1980 B.A. in Journalism (minor in Political Science), Texas Tech University, 1973 Memberships and Professional Activities Recipient of Heart of Texas Chapter s WTS 2012 Woman of the Year Member - WTS International Board of Directors ( ) Recipient of Greater Dallas-Fort Worth WTS 2008 Woman of the Year Recipient of South West Transit Association Executive Director s Award 2000 Leadership APTA, Class of 2000, American Public Transportation Association (APTA)

5 Leadership Texas, Class of 1997 Institute of Transportation Engineers, Member; ITE Transit Council Executive Committee ( ) South West Transit Association, Board Member, ( ) WTS, Fort Worth Programs Chair ( ), 2006 Annual Meeting Blue Ribbon Committee Chair ( ), D/FW Chapter Appointments Committee Chair ( ), Program Chair ( ), Chair for Networking and Professional Development ( ), Recognitions and Scholarship Committee Chair ( ); WTS National Scholarship Selection Committee ( ) Member, Transportation Research Board (TRB) Strategic Management Committee (A1A07) ( ) ( ) Member, TRB Metropolitan Planning and Policy Processes Committee (A1A03) ( ) Member, Tarrant County Women s Policy Forum