Metro News Release

For immediate release: March 12, 2007

Metro Reshapes Executive Leadership Team

Metro General Manager John Catoe has started to reshape his team of top advisors and has appointed Gerald C. Francis as new Deputy General Manager, Suzanne J. Peck as the new Chief Information Officer, and Sara P. Wilson as Chief of Staff. In addition, two other advisors have resigned to pursue other opportunities.

Francis, 53, has more than 28 years of experience in rail freight and mass transit. As Deputy General Manager of Metro, he will oversee all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the transit authority.

Peck, Metro’s new Chief Information Officer, has more than 25 years of experience working for Fortune 500 companies. As Chief Information Officer, she has direct responsibility for the day-to-day functions of Metro’s infrastructure technology department and is responsible for a budget of $31 million. She replaces Roderick Burfield, who is retiring later this month.

Wilson, Metro’s new Chief of Staff, has more than 15 years of transportation, public policy and project management experience. She replaces Emeka Moneme, who resigned to take the position of Director of Transportation for the District of Columbia.

Francis began his transportation career with Union Pacific Railroad in 1979, where he held positions as Manager of Safety, Manager of Terminal Operations and Manager of Yard and Industry Operations. In 1993, Francis joined Bi-State Development in St. Louis, MO, as a Transportation Supervisor/Controller for its Light Rail Start-up Team. He supervised daily central control operations and was responsible for movement of all rolling stock and mainline activities.

In 1995, Francis joined Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), where he moved up the ranks to the position Vice President, Rail Operations in 1999. In this position, he was responsible for the overall operation of the light rail system.

In 2002, Francis joined the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). During his tenure as Metro Rail General Manager, Francis oversaw the startup of the Metro Gold Line, a track reconstruction project on the Metro Green Line, and multi-million dollar upgrades of radio communications, surveillance and security equipment on the rail system and at the Rail Operations Center. He also instituted express service on the Metro Gold Line and increased late-night service hours on all rail lines.

Francis is a graduate of Creighton University in Omaha, NE, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

Prior to her appointment, Peck was the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for the District of Columbia. She also served as senior technology and operations executive for several Fortune 500 companies. In the private sector, she expanded and strengthened existing businesses and established technology start-ups. As Chief Technology Officer of the District of Columbia Government, she transformed the District from a technology-deficient enterprise in 1999 to a technology best-practice leader and multi-award winner in 2005.

Peck’s expertise is in the conception and implementation of large-scale technology operations. Her decade-long service with the Student Loan Marketing Association (Sallie Mae) as Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer, and Chief Servicing Centers Officer helped transform the $46 billion corporation into one of the nation’s largest wholesale credit providers. She was a Senior Vice President with Corestates Financial Corp. (now Wachovia) and Chief Executive Officer of its start-up subsidiary, Transys. Previously, she served as a technical director with Honeywell Information Systems and as a technology Vice President with Bankers Trust New York Corp.

Peck graduated from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland and received a Masters in Business Administration from the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania.

Wilson, joined Metro in 2002 and has been a key player in a number of high-profile initiatives, including the funding of Metro’s Capital Programs and the ongoing efforts to secure dedicated funding. Most recently, Wilson was a candidate in Metro’s Senior Succession Planning Program and worked with staff from the operations planning, plant maintenance, engineering and communications departments on the Yellow Line extension to Fort Totten. She earned her Master of Science degree and her law degree from Rutgers University and her bachelor’s degree from the Catholic University of America.

Two other members of Metro’s Executive Leadership Team, Steven Yaffe, Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Community Transportation Services, and Edward L. Thomas, Assistant General Manager, Planning and Information Technology resigned.

Christian Kent, 39, has been appointed to the Executive Leadership Team as Acting Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Community Transportation Services. Nat Bottigheimer, 42, will join the Executive Leadership Team as the Acting Assistant General Manager of Planning and Joint Development.

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News release issued at 12:00 am, March 12, 2007.