Metrolink appoints Elisa Cunningham chief technology officer and Lisa Bahr chief customer experience officer

Metrolink has appointed Elisa Cunningham as the agency’s chief technology officer and Lisa Bahr as the chief customer experience officer.

“We have ambitious plans to transform Metrolink into the backbone of the region’s transportation system – one that enables people to connect to opportunity, family and fun across all six counties,” said Metrolink CEO Darren Kettle. “Achieving our vision as we emerge from the pandemic and plan for a bright future will require a strong leadership team that brings both technological innovation and a focus on our customers. Elisa and Lisa bring extensive experience in both these areas, and together their talents – along with those of the entire Metrolink team – will ensure our agency is prepared to meet the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.”

Cunningham is responsible for overseeing the agency’s digital strategy, directing the agency’s information technology, fare collections and Positive Train Control (PTC) systems divisions.

Cunningham brings more than 30 years of experience in technology and leadership of multidisciplinary teams enabling business transformation and deploying new technologies in public and private organizations across various industries, including aerospace and defense, gas and utilities, state and local government and public transit. She has held leadership roles at the county of Riverside, city of Dallas, L3Harris, EDS and Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART).

Before coming to Metrolink, Cunningham was the assistant vice president of technology at DART, where she implemented an agency-wide enterprise asset management program, data science/intelligence, governance models and web/mobile product development to enhance business operations and customer strategies.

Cunningham has a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Louisiana State University, and a Master of Business Administration, with an information systems concentration from the University of Redlands. She is currently a Doctor of Philosophy candidate at the University of Denver, focusing on strategy and innovation.

Bahr will be responsible for leading Metrolink’s customer relations, customer and market insights, communications, public relations, marketing, and social media teams, along with the agency’s corporate partner program.

A long-time public transportation advocate, Bahr is passionate about delivering technology and service solutions that benefit customers from all backgrounds and abilities. She is a strategic leader, with more than a decade of experience driving stakeholder engagement, building partnerships and fostering cross-team collaboration to improve mobility in some of the world’s largest cities.

Bahr comes to Metrolink from Cubic Transportation Systems. During her tenure at Cubic, she held various marketing, communications and customer experience roles. Most recently, she was Cubic’s global director of marketing, communications, and customer experience, leading the company’s strategic initiatives in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Australia.

Bahr has a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations from Alliant International University and studied at the University of Minnesota’s Marshall Goldsmith School of Management.