Bus Stops Here: Two Finalists for Top Spot

After narrowing candidates from about a dozen to a secret six, Capital Metro's board of directors announced Tuesday the two finalists for its president/CEO position: Linda S. Watson of Orlando, Fla., and Deborah Wath­en Finn of New York. Asked if the elimination of interim CEO Doug Allen as a candidate reflected a desire for a fresh start for the troubled transit agency, board member Norm Chafetz, the chair of Cap Metro's national CEO search committee, said: "That really didn't enter into it. ... Really, just looking at the backgrounds of the candidates, we just felt ... these candidates provided the better fit with their experience and where they've been. ... It was a very tough decision and a very close decision, but we have to make tough decisions sometimes."

Nonetheless, the board wanted somebody "to take us in a new direction," Chafetz said, "to make Capital Metro an agency that the city of Austin and the community can be proud of, and run a first-class and cost-effective bus operation and rail operation."

Watson is currently the CEO of the Central Florida Regional Transportation Author­ity, which serves Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties, a position she has held since 2004. She was previously general manager of Corpus Christi's Regional Transportation Authority and an assistant general manager of the Fort Worth Transportation Authority.

Wathen Finn is currently president of the Wathen Group, a consulting firm in the transportation industry. She has previous experience as senior vice president and global director for transit and rail at engineering and construction firm CH2M Hill; officer-in-charge of the New York office of HNTB, a similar firm; and executive positions with the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, NJ Transit in New Jersey, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, and the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

In a press release, Allen said, "Capital Metro has made significant progress since I was appointed interim President/CEO last October. ... While I am disappointed that I will not have the opportunity to continue to lead that effort, I trust that the Board of Directors will make the best possible decision for Capital Metro and the region."

Allen came to Capital Metro in 2008 from Dallas Area Rapid Transit and moved into the interim CEO position after Fred Gilliam retired in September 2009, ending Gilliam's stormy seven years at the helm. "Doug took over the agency last fall at arguably its most difficult hour," said board chair and Austin Mayor Pro Tem Mike Martinez. "He took the reins and ran with them and made some very difficult decisions immediately. I would argue today that they were some of the best decisions he could have made to move forward with getting the Red Line up and running and getting the agency back on track.

"But," he continued, "the committee went through a process and interviewed six finalist candidates. They came to a consensus on the final two, and we will respect the work of the committee." Martinez said he hopes Allen will stay at Cap Metro.

Martinez said on Monday, May 17, the full board will interview the candidates in executive session at City Hall, followed by a closed-door session with selected community stakeholders. Then, from 3 to 5pm, the public can meet and question Wathen Finn and Watson at a forum in IBC Bank's conference room, 2817 E. Cesar Chavez. Those unable to attend may submit questions for the candidates via the Internet: E-mail capmetroblog@capmetro.org, tweet it with the hashtag #capmetCEO, or post it as a comment at www.capmetroblog.com.

DEBORAH WATHEN FINN

President, the Wathen Group LLC (2009-present)

Past Experience:

• CH2M Hill (2005-2009): senior vice president and global director for transit and rail

• HNTB Corporation (2001-2005): vice president and officer in charge

• Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (1998-2001): director of Surface Transportation

• NJ Transit (1990-1998): chief of staff for rail operations, superintendent of the Raritan Valley Line

• The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (1982-1990): manager of environmental scanning, chief administrative officer

• New Jersey Department of Transportation (1979-1981): executive assistant to the commissioner

LINDA S. WATSON

CEO, Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (2004-present)

Past Experience:

• Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority (1996-2004): general manager

• Fort Worth Transportation Authority (1982-1996): assistant general manager, manager of development, deputy manager of administration, administrative assistant for the general manager