The following is a press release from Metra about the appointment of a replacement for Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano:

Metra names new Chief Executive Officer

Alex Clifford

CHICAGO (Feb. 1, 2011) – The Metra Board of Directors has selected Alexander D. Clifford, an executive with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, to be the commuter rail agency’s Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer.

The appointment was made Tuesday in a unanimous vote by the 11-member Metra board after a nationwide search conducted by Slavin Management Consultants, a government executive search firm.

“His experience as a big-picture policy-maker and a day-to-day operations manager make him uniquely qualified to lead Metra,” Metra Chairman Carole R. Doris said. “It is my belief that he is the right man for the job at the right time.”

Mr. Clifford said he is coming to Metra with a reform agenda. “The Metra Board has tasked me with restoring public confidence in our agency by instilling strong financial and management controls and inspiring Metra employees to meeting these important challenges,” he said. “We will also continue to modernize our operation including incorporating new technology for better customer communications.”

Mr. Clifford, 51, most recently served as Executive Officer, High-Speed Rail, for Metro, working as an ombudsman with the California High Speed Rail Authority to help facilitate the integration of high-speed train service into existing transportation corridors in Los Angeles County. He was responsible for making sure the interests of the county, various municipalities and other stakeholders were represented and that the potential impacts of the project were properly addressed.

Mr. Clifford also oversaw Metro’s interest in the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink commuter rail) as well as its interests in the Los Angeles-San Diego Rail Corridor Agency (LOSSAN).

From February 2004 to August 2009, Mr. Clifford oversaw all aspects of bus service in 26 cities in southeast Los Angeles County as the General Manager of the Gateway Cities Service Sector, one of five Metro service sectors. The sector, with an annual budget of $128 million, operated two bus divisions with a fleet of 457 buses and 1,040 employees. Mr. Clifford worked with a nine-member governance council composed of elected officials and citizen transit members that was responsible for bus service in the sector.

As Managing Director, Operations, from January 2003 to February 2004, Mr. Clifford managed the bus operation control center, the bus regional rebuild center and served as the executive lead for the installation of a Universal Fare System and the Advance Transportation Management System on all Metro buses. He was on the 2003 and 2008 transit community policing contract negotiations team. He also served as the Executive Administration Manager (April 2002 to December 2002), where he managed various performance and budgetary functions, and as a Senior Administrative Analyst (July 2001 to March 2002).

Mr. Clifford also held various positions in the private sector. He was Vice President of Marketing & Operations for Vista Innovations Inc. (1999 to 2001), a Realtor and sales associate at Trademark Realtors (1984 to 1999) and an electronic test equipment specialist at Hughes Aircraft Company (1982-1984). He was in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1978-1982.

From 1991 to 2000, Mr. Clifford was elected to two terms as a City Councilman for the city of Riverside, California. In addition to helping to make policy decisions for the city, he formed the Arlington Community Committee to create and promote redevelopment, affordable housing and economic activity in that community. He also represented the city of Riverside as a Commissioner on the Riverside County Transportation Commission and as a board member on the Riverside Transit Agency. He represented Riverside County as a board member on the Southern California Regional Rail Authority, which operates Metrolink, and served as Chairman of the Board for two consecutive years.

Mr. Clifford has a Master of Business Administration degree from California Baptist University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from California State Polytechnic University. He is married with two adult children.

= = = = =

On Linken, he writes,

Alex Clifford

Alex Clifford’s Summary

Curriculum Vitae
Alexander D. Clifford

Alex Clifford has been with the MTA since 2001, having come to the MTA from his former job as Vice President of Operations and Marketing with a small start-up company. He currently serves as the Executive Officer of High Sped Rail, overseeing Metro’s interest in LOSSAN and Metrolink and facilitating the arrival of high speed trains in Los Angeles County. Prior to this position, he served for a little over five years as the General Manager for the Metro Gateway Cities Service Sector. The Gateway Cities Service Sector consists of two bus Divisions and a Sector administrative office. The Gateway Cites Service Sector operated about 470 buses with a Sector budget of over $127 million, and employing over 1,100 full time and part-time contract and non-contract team members.

Mr. Clifford received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Marketing, from Cal. Poly. Pomona and his MBA from California Baptist University.

His prior transportation experience extends from eight years of service as a Riverside City Councilman. During his tenure as a City Councilman he represented the City of Riverside eight years on the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) and eight years on the Riverside Transit Agency (RTA). He also represented the County of Riverside on the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA or Metrolink).

Mr. Clifford’s other transportation experience includes the Intercity Rail Joint Powers Authority, the RCTC/SANBAG California High Speed Rail Subcommittee and the California/Nevada Super Speed Train Commission.

Mr. Clifford also proudly served our nation four years in the United States Marine Corps.

Alex Clifford’s Experience

• Executive Officer, High Speed Rail, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Government Agency; Civil Engineering industry) September 2009 — Present (1 year 6 months) Overseeing at a staff level all of Metro’s interests in the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink); the LOSSAN corridor; and functioning as an ombudsman within Los Angeles County to help facilitate the arrival of high speed train service in the County.
• General Manager, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Government Agency; Civil Engineering industry) February 2004 — September 2009 (5 years 8 months)
• General Manager of all bus operations in the southeast parts of Los Angeles County. Overseeing a budget of $127 million; 1,100 employees; two bus Divisions; and 470 buses.
• Board Member, SCRRA (Transportation/Trucking/Railroad industry) 1991 — 2000 (9 years )
• City Councilman, Riverside City Council, (Transportation/Trucking/Railroad industry) 1991 — 2000 (9 years )
• Board Member, RTA (Transportation/Trucking/Railroad industry) 1991 — 1999 (8 years )

Alex Clifford’s Education

• California Baptist University, MBA , Business Administration , 1996 — 1998
• California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, BS, Business Administration – Major in Marketing , 1982 — 1986