Mario Zavala Jr.

project communications manager in the Development Department for Dallas Area Rapid Transit. 

Mario Zavala serves as the project communications Manager for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). He oversees communication efforts for all current and future DART projects under development, including the Silver Line Regional Rail project.  Zavala brings more than a decade of experience in public engagement, marketing and communications, having served in leadership roles with the Denton Independent School District and CoServ, the third-largest electric co-operative in the country.

He is a former journalist, having worked with the Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Fox Sports, among many media outlets. Prior to joining DART,  Zavala worked in corporate public relations, handling several high-profile restaurant and hospitality clients. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, he holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and is a longtime DFW resident.