People on the move: IntelliTrans, Island Transit, port of New Orleans, city of Asheville

New appointments and changes in leadership have been made by IntelliTrans, Island Transit, Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) and the city of Asheville, N.C. 

IntelliTrans 

IntelliTrans has named Mayank Sharma as its new chief product officer. Sharma will work to drive product strategy and direction, guiding the development and improvement of IntelliTrans’ product lineup to deliver smarter, simpler solutions for customers. With over 20 years of experience in product innovation and leading global teams, Sharma brings forward-looking insights into the company’s growth and commitment to making complex logistics easier. 

Sharma has a strong background in creating innovative products across different sectors. Most recently, he led the launch of a top-rated dash camera and safety solution at Teletrac Navman, which helped transportation customers improve safety and efficiency. He also worked on strategic partnerships to develop solutions for customers transitioning their truck fleets to cleaner energy options like electric, hydrogen, and CNG/RNG, supporting their shift towards sustainability. 

“We are excited to welcome Mayank to the IntelliTrans team,” said IntelliTrans President and CEO Chad Raube. “His vast experience in product management and innovation will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen our product portfolio. Mayank’s unique approach to developing market-leading solutions, commercial focus, and fostering agile teams will help propel IntelliTrans forward in achieving our long-term goals.” 

Sharma holds a master’s in business administration from the Kellogg School of Management and has multiple advanced degrees in engineering, design and anthropology, which has given him a well-rounded approach to product development and leadership. 

Sharma will work to reinforce IntelliTrans’ efforts to product innovation and growth. 

“I’m thrilled to join the IntelliTrans team and work on delivering high-value solutions that address the real-world challenges our clients face in their supply chains,”  Sharma said. “I see a great opportunity to use emerging technologies to make our products smarter and more user-friendly, simplifying how our customers manage their operations. I look forward to enhancing the overall experience for IntelliTrans customers and driving innovation in our product suite.” 

Island Transit 

Island Transit has appointed Melinda Adams as its new executive director, effective Nov. 18, 2024. Adams brings over 15 years of dedicated service with the city of Everett, Wash., and Everett Transit, where she has held key leadership positions, including program manager, transportation on systems manager and most recently, transportation services manager. From March to June 2024, Adams served as acting director of Everett Transit, where she demonstrated strong leadership and commitment to the region.  

As a resident of Island County, Wash., Adams is invested in serving her community and enhancing the quality of public transportation. In addition to her professional achievements, she has actively participated in several regional committees, including the Regional Transportation Operators Committee, the Snohomish County Public Informa on Officer Group and Transit Executives Mobility Partnerships.  

Her experience in transportation management, combined with her bachelor of science in business management from the University of Phoenix, will help to guide Island Transit through its next phase of growth and service to the community.  

“I feel so humbled and privileged to have been selected to work alongside the Island Transit employees and board of directors,” Adams said. “Together, we will restore trust and elevate service delivery to the Island County community. There is a great deal of work ahead and I am confident we will achieve great things together.”  

Island Transit Board Chair Craig Cyr expressed his confidence in Adams' leadership, stating, “With her deep commitment to the community, Melinda will reestablish timely, reliable and consistent transit services while fostering a positive work culture. Melinda will restore trust with Island Transit staff and the board. I look forward to working with her as the agency not only continues its commitment to transition on to zero emissions but also progressing toward a more resilient, sustainable future for our community.”  

Port NOLA 

The Port NOLA Board of Commissioners has appointed global maritime expert Beth Ann Branch as president and CEO of Port NOLA and CEO of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB), effective Dec. 1, 2024. Branch is a commercial strategist with more than 20 years of experience in the transportation and logistics industry.  

Branch will be taking over for Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Ronald Wendel Jr., who served as Port NOLA’s Acting President and CEO/Acting CEO of NOPB and moved key strategic initiatives like the $1.8 billion Louisiana International Terminal forward during this transitional period. 

"After a comprehensive national search, it became clear that Beth Ann Branch is the visionary leader needed to help move Port NOLA and Louisiana forward," said Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry. "Her deep understanding of the commercial landscape and her track record of fostering rapid economic growth will ensure that our state remains a critical player in the global supply chain. With Beth at the helm, we’re poised to strengthen our state’s role as the premier trade and commerce gateway to the nation.” 

Branch joins Port NOLA from the Alabama Port Authority in Mobile, where she has served as chief commercial officer since 2021. Prior to that role, she led business development and international marketing for the Port of Oakland's maritime division. Throughout her tenure at both locations, Branch spearheaded strategic initiatives that resulted in record container volumes, significantly boosting throughput and operational success. 

"Beth Ann Branch is exactly the kind of leader we need to guide our next phase of growth," said Mike Thomas, chairman, Port NOLA and NOPB. "Her extensive experience, strategic mindset and proven ability make her uniquely qualified to take on this critical role. As we continue to advance transformative projects, Beth's leadership will be essential in positioning the Port as a leading force in international trade and a key driver of economic prosperity for our region." 

Additionally, Branch worked in various leadership positions at Maersk for 18 years in the company’s U.S. regional headquarters outside New York and global headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark. 

In addition to her experience in the maritime industry, Branch has 10 years of experience in program development and administration in the nonprofit sector, including location oversight of a U.S. Agency for International Development grant in Eastern Europe.  

Branch received a bachelor of arts from Duke University and a master of business administration from the University of North Carolina. 

City of Asheville 

Ashley Haire has been named as the city of Asheville’s next transportation director. Asheville City Manager Debra Campbell announced that Haire will officially begin her duties with the city on Nov. 12, 2024. 

Haire is a native of North Carolina and earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from the University of Arizona and her doctorate in transportation engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.  

Her 24-year career has spanned the transportation realm, including complete streets planning and design, highway design, transit operations and climate adaptation. She is a licensed professional engineer in North Carolina and six other states. 

As transportation director, Haire will oversee all transportation functions, including transit, parking, transportation planning and traffic engineering, 

“On behalf of the city, I am thrilled to welcome our new Transportation Director, Ashley Haire,” Campbell said. “I look forward to her leadership and the knowledge she will bring to our community.”  

“I am grateful to return home to North Carolina,” Haire said. “I look forward to working with the community to rebuild, equitably addressing the city’s transportation and mobility needs, and doing so in a way that is conscientious of Asheville’s future resilience.”