16
March
2023
|
09:00 AM
America/Los_Angeles

Metrolink Adds Technology and Customer Experience Executives to Leadership Team

Elisa Cunningham and Lisa Bahr join agency as chief technology officer and chief customer experience officer

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LOS ANGELES – Metrolink CEO Darren Kettle announced today the addition of Elisa Cunningham as the agency’s chief technology officer and Lisa Bahr as the chief customer experience officer. With these appointments, Kettle completes the executive team of Southern California’s premier passenger rail service.

“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,” Kettle said. “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,” Kettle added.  

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, a leading integrator of payment and information technology and services for intelligent travel solutions. 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 earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations from Alliant International University and studied at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. 

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About Metrolink (metrolinktrains.com)

Metrolink regional passenger rail service offers reliable, safe, affordable and environmentally sustainable transportation throughout Southern California. Metrolink has 545.6 total service line miles and 66 stations across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and San Diego counties connecting people, communities, and businesses and is an essential link in the region’s mobility network. Metrolink’s Arrow service, which launched in October 2022 with nine miles of track and four new stations between San Bernardino and Redlands, provides greater local and regional rail connectivity.

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