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    1. Management

    Sound Transit selects new deputy CEO and chief administration officer

    Dec. 4, 2019
    Mary Cummings has been chosen for the role.
    Related To: Sound Transit
    Sound Transit
    Mary Cummings 5de7ec2966ae1

    Mary Cummings has been selected by Sound Transit to be the chief administrative officer where she will play a vital role in expanding regional transit services across the Central Puget Sound region.

    "Mary has an extensive record of driving business transformation in times of growth, experience that will serve us well as we complete and begin operating five new light-rail extensions in the next five years," said Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff. "She is a strong leader, known for building inclusive and collaborative teams. I am confident Mary will bring her many talents to bear to help lead Sound Transit during this crucial time of rapid expansion."

    Cummings will work alongside Deputy CEO and Chief System Officer Kimberly Farley.

    "I am excited to join Sound Transit at this important time of rapid growth and regional transit expansions," Cummings said. "It will be an honor to work with an impressive and mission-driven team to ensure people throughout the Puget Sound region have equitable access to public transportation."

    For the first part of her career, Cummings held a few executive roles at Verizon during the company's major startup and growth periods. She created a program office that led the successful launch of a new line of business that generated over $200 million in revenue in its second year of operation. As vice president for Verizon Wireless Latin America, she oversaw the company's largest international investment. In other leadership positions, she oversaw operational improvements and customer service in Mexico, the Czech Republic, Greece, Slovakia, Indonesia and Italy.

    Cummings made her transition to higher education as an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University. She served as program director of the Carnegie Bosch Institute where she designed, marketed and coordinated the delivery of executive education leadership programs for international executives and Carnegie Mellon University MBA students. In 2012, she joined Waynesburg University, a private university near Pittsburgh, Penn., as vice president of student services. She held several vice president and senior vice president roles at the university and served as interim CFO. 

    She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Pittsburgh and her Master of Business Administration at the University of Pittsburgh's Katz Graduate School of Business. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Business at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She also holds numerous certifications in organizational leadership.