People on the move: JTA, Spring Bird

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) and Spring Bird have made new appointments to their respective leadership teams.    

JTA 

JTA has named Andrew C. Rodgers vice president – chief infrastructure officer. Rodgers returns to the JTA, as he previously led the design and construction of the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center, a regional multimodal transportation hub, along with the relocation efforts from four facilities to the newly constructed center. Rodgers also led the JTAMobilityWorks Program, which includes 13 roadway projects and improvements on 14 mobility corridors, with program costs of $160 million.  

In this new role, Rodgers will oversee the JTA’s capital program, including multimillion dollar programs such as the MobilityWorks 2.0 Program funded by the local option gas tax, the Emerald Trail projects and the infrastructure support for the later phases of the Ultimate Urban Circulator.  

“It is my pleasure to welcome Andy back to the JTA team,” said JTA CEO Nat Ford. “I look forward to working with him once again, and I am confident that the JTA and our entire region will benefit from his deep knowledge and experience here in Northeast Florida and throughout the Southeast.” 

Rodgers has more than 20 years of experience in the transportation industry, including his service as JTA’s assistant vice president of construction and engineering until December 2021, when he took a position in the private sector. During the past few years, Rodgers has led major infrastructure projects, including efforts in Broward County and on the First Coast. He earned his Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Auburn University and his Master of Business Administration from the University of North Florida. Rodgers holds a professional engineer’s license in both Florida and Alabama. 

Spring Bird  

Spring Bird has appointed Thomas Hoskins as its new director of operations. With more than two decades of experience in transit operations, fleet management and manufacturing process improvement, Hoskins will play a critical role in optimizing Spring Bird’s operational strategy and driving continued growth. 

Spring Bird notes Hoskins brings a wealth of expertise to his new role, having served eight years as director of operations at Complete Coach Works, where he led fleet modernization efforts and oversaw large-scale production improvements. His career also includes 13 years as an operations manager at Motor Coach Industries, where he gained extensive experience managing complex transit manufacturing and service operations. 

“Spring Bird is growing rapidly and having an experienced, forward-thinking leader like Thomas at the helm of our operations is part of our long-term growth strategy,” said CEO and Founder of Spring Bird Elliott Carson. “Tom’s history of driving efficiency and innovation aligns perfectly with our mission to provide safe, high-quality transit solutions. We are excited for his leadership and enhance will drive our operational excellence and benefit our customers.” 

In his new role, Hoskins will oversee production processes, fleet operations and strategic planning, ensuring that Spring Bird continues to meet and exceed industry standards. His leadership will support the company’s ongoing efforts to expand its offerings, enhance efficiency and deliver reliable, sustainable transit solutions. 

“I am honored to join Spring Bird at such a pivotal time in its growth,” Hoskins said. “The company’s commitment to quality, innovation and customer service is truly inspiring. I look forward to working with the team to refine processes, improve efficiency and continue delivering exceptional transit solutions that keep our customers moving.”