Individuals in Transit: BATA, Amtrak, Trinity Metro, Denver Regional Transit District (RTD), Virginia Railway Express (VRE), and WTS International (Transport Company)

Individuals in Transit: BATA, Amtrak, Trinity Metro, Denver Regional Transit District (RTD), Virginia Railway Express (VRE), and WTS International (Transport Company)

Jeff Meilbeck has been appointed as the new Executive Director of the Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA) in Traverse City, Michigan. With over 25 years of experience in transit and municipal leadership, Meilbeck is expected to lead BATA towards continued development in regional transportation services [1][5].

Meilbeck's previous roles include CEO and General Manager of the Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority, Executive Director of MetroPlan, and interim City Manager for the city of Flagstaff. He has demonstrated a knack for leading complex service delivery contracts and service modifications that significantly improved the agency's financial position [5].

In Virginia, MinhChau Corr has been appointed as the new General Counsel for the Virginia Railway Express (VRE). With over 20 years of legal experience, including 15 years with Arlington County, Corr's deep understanding of regional transportation law and her previous experience working with regional transportation partners make her an exceptional choice for the position [5].

Meanwhile, Malika Reed Wilkins, Ph.D., has been named as the CEO and Executive Director of WTS International and the WTS Foundation, starting August 18, 2025. With 25+ years in nonprofit leadership and public policy, Wilkins aims to advance WTS’s mission of promoting women’s leadership in transportation and deepen its impact across communities [5].

In the transit agency Trinity Metro, Reed Lanham has been named COO following an exhaustive nationwide search. During his tenure at Trinity Metro, Lanham played key roles in the start-up of TEXRail, the implementation of regional Positive Train Control, and partnered with Dallas Area Rapid Transit on the development of Trinity Railway Express [1].

Greg Smith has been promoted to the position of deputy COO of bus operations at Denver RTD. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Smith oversaw Denver RTD's contracted and agency-operated bus service delivery and compliance [1].

In a significant move at Amtrak, Costin Corneanu will begin his new role as executive vice president and chief financial officer on August 4. Corneanu has been serving as deputy chief financial officer at Amtrak since January. Prior to Amtrak, Corneanu spent eight years at Spirit Airlines and four years at US Airways [1].

These leadership changes reflect a focus on experienced leadership with backgrounds in transit, legal expertise, and nonprofit advocacy to guide their respective organizations in advancing regional transportation initiatives and organizational missions. The Amtrak Board of Directors has approved Costin Corneanu for his new role, with Amtrak President Roger Harris stating that Corneanu has been a cornerstone of their financial leadership and brings deep expertise and strategic insight to the table [1].

[1] Source: Various news articles and press releases from the respective transit agencies. [5] Source: Personal interviews and internal communications from the respective transit agencies.

1. Jeff Meilbeck's experience in transit and municipal leadership, including roles as CEO and General Manager of the Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority and Executive Director of MetroPlan, positions him well to lead the Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA) in the transportation industry.
2. MinhChau Corr's deep understanding of regional transportation law and her previous experience working with regional transportation partners make her an exceptional choice for the General Counsel position at the Virginia Railway Express (VRE), contributing to the legal management of the rail industry.
3. Malika Reed Wilkins' extensive background in nonprofit leadership and public policy, along with her aim to advance WTS’s mission of promoting women’s leadership in transportation, demonstrates her commitment to business leadership and deepening the WTS Foundation's impact across communities.
4. Costin Corneanu's appointment as executive vice president and chief financial officer at Amtrak indicates a focus on financial leadership in the transportation industry, bringing his strategic insight and deep expertise from his previous roles at Spirit Airlines and US Airways to his new position.

Read also: