RNL, an international architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, planning and urban design firm, is please to announce the addition of Fred Gilliam, a 48-year transportation-industry veteran, to our transportation market group.
"We are thrilled to have Fred on our team," said Dick Shiffer, AIA, LEED AP, principal and transportation market lead for RNL. "His vast experience managing and operating public and private transit systems provides an additional layer of expertise that will further RNL's ability to successfully serve our clients. As a retired transportation executive, Fred has a proven track record of reducing agency costs, increasing operation efficiencies, reducing accidents, and improving employee performance. These skills will positively inform the planning and design of transportation projects entrusted to RNL."
Fred M. Gilliam retired as president/CEO of Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority in Austin, Texas, in October, 2009. Prior to his position with Capital Metro, Gilliam was the executive vice president for Chance Coach, a bus and trolley manufacturer in Wichita, Kan., and served as executive vice president/COO for Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) in Houston. He began his career in the transit industry as a traffic checker for the Memphis Transit Management Company in 1961. He quickly rose through the ranks, and in 1972 he joined the Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority, in Tulsa, Okla., as the operations manager and, one year later, was named executive director. Gilliam returned to Memphis twice to serve as general manager of the Memphis Area Transit Authority. He has also served in leadership positions at transit agencies in New Orleans and Denver.
Gilliam's leadership, operations experience and depth of knowledge in the transit industry have lead to several elective officer positions on the American Public Transportation Association (APTA)'s Executive Committee. He has also served as president of the South West Transit Association (SWTA). Additionally, he participated in the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) and held leadership roles in several state transit associations. Gilliam continues to be active in APTA, SWTA and TCRP. He chaired the Texas Department of Transportation's Public Transportation Advisory Committee and served on the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) Advisory Council. During the last decade, Gilliam has been honored with the Texas Department of Transportation's "Friend of Texas Award," and The Texas Transit Association's "Outstanding General Manager" award as well as the organization's "Lifetime Achievement Award."
