The Comet announces organizational changes

The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The Comet) has announced the following organizational changes, with the individuals reporting to John Andoh, executive director and CEO.

LeRoy DesChamps has been named the director of administration and operations/COO. In this role, he oversees and directs all administrative and operational programs at The Comet, including contracted transit operations, customer service, human resources, marketing and public information, general office administration, planning, development and scheduling.

In his previous roles at The Comet, DesChamps has held the positions of director of administration/human resource administrator and transit development manager where he focused on the supervision of finance, human resources/benefits administration and development of partnerships with community stakeholders. DesChamps brings more than 25 years of leadership and entrepreneurial business acumen. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, College of Business Administration.

Rosalyn Andrews has been named director of finance/CFO. Andrews is responsible for managing and directing The Comet’s financial and executive administrative activities, goals, objectives, policies and procedures. Her role encompasses providing oversight to the areas of budgeting and accounting, financial grant and insurance administration, payroll, property management of leases, asset accountability and audits.

Andrews joined The COMET in 2013 as a staff accountant. She was previously a CBIC project supervisor with Blue Cross Blue Shield. Andrews holds a Master of Science degree in accounting from Strayer University and a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Arcadia University.

Arlene Prince, Ph.D., has been named director of regulatory compliance and civil rights officer. In this role, her responsibilities include ensuring adherence of The Comet’s policies and procedures, as well as the required local, state and federal guidelines and regulations. She oversees grants, regional coordination and mobility management activities and functions as the civil rights officer of The Comet regarding Title VI, Americans With Disabilities Act, Equal Employment Opportunity, Environmental Justice and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise. In this position, Prince also ensures The Comet’s compliance with other Federal Transit Administration programs related to the National Transit Database, Drug and Alcohol testing, Safety, Fixed Assets and Security.

Prior to joining The Comet, Prince spent more than 30 years with the South Carolina Department of Transportation. Prince holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in public administration with a minor concentration in transportation from the Union Institute & University Graduate School, a Master of Arts degree in business from Webster University and a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics with a minor concentration in computer science from South Carolina State University. Other learning experiences include statewide leadership institutes through the South Carolina Budget & Control Board, national leadership programs through Indiana and Duke Universities and an international transit study mission in Germany and the Netherlands.

“We are fortunate to have such a talented team of individuals in these key positions helping to fulfill The Comet’s vision of providing a high-quality public transit service that contributes to economic development, environmental sustainability and mobility solutions throughout the Midlands,” said Andoh.