Julie Timm will begin in her new role as Sound Transit CEO on Sept. 26, 2022, following the unanimous appointment from the Sound Transit Board of Directors. Brooke Belman, who has served as interim CEO, will continue to fill the role until September.
Earlier this month, Timm was recommended as the next CEO of Sound Transit by the Sound Transit Board of Directors CEO Selection Committee. Timm currently serves as the CEO of Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) in Richmond, Va., and will relocate to the Seattle area.
“In hiring Julie Timm, the Sound Transit Board chose an accomplished CEO who offers the right mix of skills and knowledge to guide our transit system forward,” said Sound Transit Board Chair and University Place Council Member Kent Keel. “It’s no easy task to plan, build and operate the largest transit expansion in the nation. Julie brings the leadership and collaborative approach to ensure our successful work continues.”
Sound Transit calls Timm a highly collaborative leader who forges strong relationships with community groups and partners and says she is known for building an agency culture focused on dedication to public service and equity.
“Over the next few years Sound Transit is poised for transformational growth, and Julie Timm is the right choice to lead the agency as we deliver the largest, most ambitious expansion of transit in the nation,” said Sound Transit Board Vice Chair and King County Executive Dow Constantine. “I know that Julie will collaborate with our partners and earn the trust of the people we serve, and I look forward to working with her as we usher in this new era of high-capacity, zero-emission transit in the Puget Sound region.”
Sound Transit Board Vice Chair and Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers added, “The entire Puget Sound region is counting on Sound Transit to deliver ambitious projects that will give commuters options, move us toward a more sustainable future, and keep our economy growing. Julie Timm has the experience to ensure we are maximizing federal funding opportunities, meeting our deadlines, and speeding mass transit to Everett, Paine Field, and the rest of the system.”
Timm’s previous work experience includes serving as the chief development officer for WeGo Public Transit in Nashville, Tenn., transit development officer and Title VI and Environmental Justice Compliance officer for Hampton Roads Transit in Norfolk, Va., and senior positions with Moffatt and Nichol, Carter and Burgess and URS Corporation.
Timm earned a Master of Business Administration from Vanderbilt University, as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology from Old Dominion University.
“I am profoundly grateful to join the Sound Transit team’s work to transform lives across the Puget Sound region for generations to come. Together, we will continue to show what is achievable when we prioritize the health of our people and our planet,” Timm said. “More than doubling the reach of light rail in the next few years represents a historic level of investment. We will keep these and further projects rolling through strong partnerships and innovative solutions that benefit our parents, our children and our children’s children. It will not be easy or comfortable to complete this vision. I am truly humbled to become part of such a tremendous effort.”
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
