People on the Move: VIA Metropolitan Transit, Virginia DRPT, Houston Metro, UZURV

New appointments and changes in leadership have been made by VIA Metropolitan Transit (VIA), the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston Metro) and UZURV. 

VIA 

The VIA Board of Trustees has appointed Jon Gary Herrera as the agency’s new president and CEO. Herrera will succeed Jeffrey C. Arndt, beginning Jan. 4, 2025. Arndt is retiring after 40 years in the transportation industry and 13 years at VIA. 

Herrera, a San Antonio native, has served as VIA senior vice president of public engagement since 2017, overseeing efforts to deliver major milestones, including the 2020 initiative to secure additional funding for the agency’s Keep SA Moving plan. 

“The board chose from among three impressive and capable internal candidates, who have each demonstrated a passion for their work and a commitment to carry us forward to the future,” said VIA Board Chairman Fernando Reyes. “Every member of the team is part of Jeff’s legacy here. He will leave VIA stronger than he found it and with the board’s sincere thanks for a job done well and always done with heart.” 

Herrera will be VIA first Latino president and CEO.  

“I applaud the board’s selection and congratulate Jon Gary, who will be a strong and visionary leader for the agency and the people at VIA who keep San Antonio moving every day,” Arndt said. “Choosing from within the VIA family speaks to the strength of our leadership and the entire team, who together will continue to accomplish great things for the community we serve.”  

In 2025, the agency will break ground on the region’s first Advanced Rapid Transit corridor, the VIA Rapid Green Line, connecting major job centers and neighborhoods from the San Antonio International Airport area through downtown and to the neighborhood near San Antonio’s historic missions. A second VIA Rapid line, designed to connect the East and West sides, is set to begin construction in 2027. 

A fifth VIA Link zone opened downtown this fall, offering new and affordable on-demand options in the city center. A Better Bus Plan to improve frequency and reliability on the agency’s core service routes will roll out next year. 

“I’m honored to be chosen to lead VIA at a time of great progress and change for the city I was born and raised in and where I have worked to support its continued growth and prosperity,” Herrera said. “Our board and longtime CEO have charted a path toward a more mobile future for our region. I’m proud to be part of that mission and vision and introduce new, innovative ways we can get there together.” 

Virginia DRPT  

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has appointed Tiffany Robinson as the new director of the Virginia DRPT. Virginia DRPT notes Robinson brings nearly 15 years of distinguished experience in state and local government, with a proven track record of leadership in strategic policy development, public administration and community-focused initiatives. 

“I am very excited to welcome Tiffany Robinson to lead DRPT,” said Virginia Secretary of Transportation W. Sheppard Miller III. “Her extensive background in public policy, strategic operations and community development fully equip her to advance Virginia’s rail and public transportation goals. We look forward to the energy and experience she will bring to the department and to the continuation of her distinguished track record of success.” 

Transitioning from her most recent role as deputy chief of staff in the governor’s office, Robinson has been a partner to the transportation team since September 2023. In addition to transportation, Robinson’s portfolio in the governor’s office has spanned critical areas, including labor, administration, health and human resources and agriculture. 

“I am honored to join the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and am excited to lead such an important agency that plays a vital role in connecting communities and enhancing mobility across the commonwealth. I look forward to collaborating with our partners and stakeholders to build on DRPT’s strong foundation and to drive forward initiatives that improve the quality of life for all Virginians,” Robinson said. 

Prior to her tenure in Virginia, Robinson served as the secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor, where she managed a workforce of more than 1,800 employees and an operating budget of $1.7 billion during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Robinson's career also features impactful roles as a deputy chief of staff in the Maryland Governor’s Office and as assistant secretary in Maryland’s Department of Housing and Community Development.  

A graduate of the University of Maryland Baltimore County with a bachelor’s degree in political science, Robinson also earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore School of Law. 

Houston Metro 

Houston Metro has appointed Ban Tien as the new chief of the Houston Metro Police Department. 

Tien currently serves as the executive assistant chief of police for the Houston Police Department, the first Asian American to hold the rank. He will become the first Asian American to lead the department. Tien has also served as a special agent for the United States Drug Enforcement Agency and for 32 years in the United States Army and Army Reserve, including three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

The appointment coincides with the authority’s commitment to growing ridership by making the system safer, cleaner, more reliable and accessible for all. Growing security presence, more strategic deployment of officers, adding police substations and upgrading camera technology, lighting and security fencing are all part of the agency’s approach to a better customer experience. 

"This appointment reaffirms that [Houston] Metro is no place for crime and Chief Tien is the proven leader we need to safeguard the system,” said Houston Metro Board Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock. “The decision to entrust him with this role furthers [Houston] Mayor John Whitmire's mission of better coordination between MPD and HPD. This departmental alliance is a huge step forward for a safer Houston and a safer region.” 

Tien succeeds Chief Vera Bumpers, who has served in the role since 2014. Chief Bumpers is the first woman to lead the Houston Metro Police Department and the first woman to have been promoted in every single rank. 

“It has been an honor to work alongside Chief Bumpers,” said Houston Metro Executive Vice President of Safety, Security and Facilities Santiago Osorio. “We are grateful for her 43 years of dedicated service to the [Houston] Metro Police Department and wish her the best in her next chapter.” 

Houston Metro police officers are licensed by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and patrol area streets, roadways and Houston Metro facilities. They also provide assistance in the field on fare-related issues, trip planning and general customer needs. 

UZURV 

UZURV has named Ned Freeman its new CEO. Freeman succeeds John Donlon, the founding CEO, who will continue his role as a member of UZURV’s Board of Directors and serve as UZURV’s president. 

“The board conducted an extensive national search for our next CEO, seeking the right person to continue to build on UZURV’s significant positive momentum and growth trajectory,” said Gary LeClair, chair, UZURV Board. “It became clear through this process that Ned’s extensive experience, mission focus, deep understanding of this business and support from the team made him the best choice for UZURV’s next phase of growth. Ned has been instrumental in helping build the collaborative, mission-driven culture of this team and the board is confident that UZURV’s exceptional growth trajectory will continue to accelerate with his strategic leadership. As we make this change, the board, on behalf of UZURV’s full team and investors, would also like to thank John Donlon for his vision and leadership in founding UZURV and for the continuing relationship-building and advocacy efforts planned in his new role as president.”  

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with this exceptional team as our CEO,” Freeman said. “Mobility independence is for everyone but every single day, one in four people find it difficult to get where they want to go and it just doesn’t have to be that way. UZURV’s innovative technology platform and service save communities millions of dollars while radically improving quality and reducing the cost of mobility for people with disabilities, older adults and others who need assistance to move about their community. This entire team is committed to making mobility independence as easy as it should be for everyone across this country. It’s hard, it’s fun, and even with the exceptional growth we’ve experienced over the past few years, we’ve just barely scratched the surface of what’s possible.” 

Freeman joined UZURV in 2019 as executive vice president of marketing as the company began its national expansion. In 2021, he became the company’s COO and UZURV notes the company has since grown to provide assisted community mobility in more than 20 regions across the country. Freeman brings 30 years of organization-building executive experience in marketing, product development and operational leadership to the CEO role – with a team-first, results-focused leadership style.