People on the move: St. Louis Metro, WYDOT, city of Hoboken, Avail Technologies Inc.

The Bi-State Development Agency of the Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan District (St. Louis Metro), Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT), city of Hoboken, N.J., and Avail Technologies Inc. have each made new appointments to their respective leadership teams. 

St. Louis Metro 

St. Louis Metro Transit has brought on Lewis Lowry III to lead the St. Louis Metro Call‑A‑Ride paratransit team as the agency’s general manager of paratransit. Lowry was selected for the position following a national search. 

Lowry brings more than 30 years of transportation experience to St. Louis Metro Transit. He began his public transit career at Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) in 2013, managing mobility service contracts before being promoted to the chief transportation officer position. He left KCATA in 2023 to serve as the transportation director for the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority. Prior to KCATA, he managed school bus transportation contracts for many years. 

In Lowry’s new position at St. Louis Metro Call‑A‑Ride, he leads a team of managers, supervisors, support personnel, nearly 200 professional van operators, call center reservationists and dispatchers. He plans to implement new customer service protocols and advanced training to enhance the Call‑A‑Ride customer service experience in St. Louis and St. Louis County. 

Lowry currently serves as secretary for the American Public Transportation Association Mobility Management Committee. He earned a bachelor’s degree in management and human relations from Mid-America Nazarene University. 

WYDOT 

Keith Fulton has been named chief engineer of WDOT and will assume the position Feb. 1. As chief engineer, Fulton will be responsible for overseeing transportation planning, highway design and operations for WYDOT statewide, including highway construction projects, winter maintenance, highway safety, highway and bridge design, as well as WYDOT’s equipment fleet, buildings and more. 

Fulton was promoted to this position after serving nine years as assistant chief engineer for engineering and planning for WYDOT. In that role he oversaw the bridge, contracts and estimates, geology, highway development, materials, planning and right-of-way programs. 

“Keith has a vast level of experience and expertise within WYDOT and will be a great addition to our executive team,” said WYDOT Director Darin Westby. “I look forward to continuing to work with him in his new role.” 

Fulton first started his career with WYDOT’s predecessor agency, the Wyoming Highway Department, as a summer temporary employee based in Laramie.  

He joined the department on a permanent basis as an engineering analyst in the Bridge Program at WYDOT Headquarters in Cheyenne. Fulton later served as a principal bridge engineer, assistant bridge engineer and then as the state bridge engineer from 2010 to 2016 before his promotion to assistant chief engineer. Altogether, he has more than 38 years of experience with the state. 

A Riverton native, Fulton earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from the University of Wyoming. 

“I would like to thank Director Westby and the commission for the opportunity to become the next chief engineer,” Fulton said. “I am excited to take on this new role and look forward to continuing to work with the great folks at WYDOT to implement our mission.” 

Fulton will succeed Mark Gillett, who is retiring from WYDOT at the end of January after more than 44 years of service to the state. 

City of Hoboken 

The city of Hoboken has named Steven Weber as its new director of transportation and parking. Weber joins the city’s administration with more than two decades of experience in transportation planning and public policy. His career includes senior management roles for large cities, nonprofit organizations and international consulting firms. 

“Steven brings a wealth of experience and creativity to Hoboken, making him the ideal leader to guide our city’s transportation and parking initiatives,” said Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla. “His track record in enhancing mobility, sustainability and infrastructure will be critical as he provides safe and efficient transportation options for our residents. I am excited to welcome Steven to our team, and I look forward to working with him as we continue to improve micromobility and infrastructure across Hoboken.” 

Previously, Weber served as assistant commissioner for strategic planning and project development at the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT), where he led key initiatives to expand bus rapid transit programs, optimize parking and reduce congestion. He also led the transportation team for PlaNYC, New York City’s comprehensive sustainability plan and established the Office of Freight Mobility to enhance deliveries while minimizing community impact. 

During his time at NYC DOT and as a lower Manhattan borough commissioner, Weber managed multimillion-dollar infrastructure projects, including the revitalization of Lower Manhattan following 9/11, overseeing $138 million in street reconstruction efforts and coordinating public infrastructure and utility construction with private commercial and residential development projects. 

“I am honored to join the city of Hoboken and excited to work with Mayor Bhalla and his administration to advance safe and sustainable transportation initiatives,” Weber said. “Hoboken’s commitment to innovation and mobility is inspiring and I look forward to contributing to projects that enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.” 

Following a nationwide search that garnered over 40 applicants, Weber began on Jan. 21. The administration will seek the advice and consent of the city council at the Feb. 5 council meeting. 

Weber holds a master’s degree in city and regional planning from Rutgers University and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Certificate in Environmental Studies from Dickinson College. 

Avail Technologies Inc. 

For the past two years, Avail Technologies Inc. has been planning for the retirement of Dorsey Houtz (co-founder with David Matta and Mike Lynn, now both retired) and has promoted Rick Spangler to president and CEO, effective as of Jan. 1, 2025. This promotion is a part of the company’s efforts to become an employee-owned establishment. 

In 2009, Avail took the first step towards employee ownership with the retirement of David Matta and subsequent retirement of Mike Lynn, making Avail 67 percent employee owned. By creating a fully employee-owned organization, Avail Technologies says it aims to further strengthen its culture of collaboration, innovation and accountability. This transition will also help to provide employees with increased financial benefits, ensuring that the company’s success is shared by those who have contributed to its growth and achievements. 

“For the past 24 years, Rick has been by my side demonstrating an unwavering passion and 
commitment to serving our customers, our public transit industry and our people and I have every confidence in his ability to lead Avail Technologies into its next phase of growth,” Houtz said. 

Houtz will continue as part of the Avail team throughout 2025 in a support and advisory role to ensure the successful transition, while also serving as chairman of the board of directors. On Dec. 31, 2024, Houtz officially retired from all day-to-day activities but will remain 
chairman to ensure long-term success and continuity. 

“This transition allows me to step back from the day-to-day operations while still supporting the company I founded,” Houtz said. “I am especially proud to be part of Avail’s journey toward becoming 100 percent employee owned. 100 percent employee ownership is a goal I’ve had for the past 15 years and now it is finally coming to life. This will not only empower our dedicated team of employee-owners and ensure the long-term success of the company, but also ensures our customers continue being served with the same old-fashioned values that have always been the cornerstone of Avail.”  

Spangler has been a core member of the Avail team since joining in 2000, serving in numerous roles. As chief technology officer, Spangler played a major role in advancing the solutions portfolio of product and service offerings.  

“I’m honored to take on the role of president and CEO and continue working with the incredible team at Avail Technologies,” Spangler said. “Dorsey has laid an extraordinary foundation for the company and we will build on that success. Our focus will continue to be on providing the highest levels of premier service to our family of customers, evolving our product and service offerings to provide even greater value for our customers and the communities they serve and strengthening our support of the public transit industry. As we work toward becoming 100 percent employee owned, I look forward to continuing to foster a culture of ownership and shared success for every member of our team.”