Metrolink Chief Executive Officer Darren Kettle and Chief Strategy Officer Paul Hubler visited local public transportation stations during their trip to the 2025 Commuter Rail Summit in Washington, D.C.
Metrolink executives have been out and about this fall, sharing insights, learning from peers, and representing the agency at major regional and international transportation and technology events. These engagements highlight Metrolink’s commitment to innovation and advancing the customer experience for current and future riders.
Connecting Nationally at the 2025 Commuter Rail Summit
From Nov. 3-5, Metrolink CEO Darren Kettle and Chief Strategy Officer Paul Hubler attended the 2025 Commuter Rail Summit in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Commuter Rail Coalition. The annual event brought together agency leaders, policymakers and industry stakeholders from across the country for collaborative discussions, fireside chats and technical tours hosted by Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) Rail and the Virginia Railway Express (VRE).
Darren, who serves as Secretary of the Commuter Rail Coalition Board of Directors, joined peers to exchange ideas and explore innovative solutions to strengthen our nation’s passenger rail networks. The summit offered a valuable platform to collaborate on shared challenges and shape a stronger, more sustainable future for the commuter rail industry.
Reinforcing Global Touchpoints at UITP Authorities Division Meeting
On Oct. 20, Darren and Chief Customer Experience Officer Lisa Bahr attended the 15th International Association of Public Transport (UITP) Authorities Division Meeting, hosted by Los Angeles Metro. The two-day hybrid event connected transit authorities from six continents to discuss governance, service quality and sustainable mobility.
That same evening, Darren joined Nadine Lee, CEO of Dallas Area Rapid Transit, and Debra Johnson, CEO of Denver’s Regional Transportation District, as a featured speaker for “Made in LA: CEO Journeys in Transit,” an event co-hosted by UITP North America and Young Professionals in Transportation (YPT). The panel brought together transit leaders to share personal stories, leadership lessons and career advice with emerging professionals in the industry. The event provided a space for the next generation of transit professionals to connect with executives shaping the future of mobility across North America.
Senator Bob Archuletta, City of Pico Rivera Mayor John R. Garcia, and a delegation of Pico Rivera and Anaheim city officials, along with regional transportation leaders, tour the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC), served by Metrolink’s Orange County Line.
Supporting Regional Collaboration in Orange County
On Friday, Oct. 24, Metrolink Chief Strategy Officer Paul Hubler joined State Senator Bob Archuletta, Pico Rivera officials, and regional transportation leaders on a tour of OCVIBE, the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center, and the OC River Walk project. The visit showcased how Orange County integrates housing, entertainment and recreation with accessible transit. Attendees began the day on board a Metrolink Orange County Line train from Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs to Anaheim, where Paul highlighted the agency’s role in connecting communities, promoting sustainable mobility and supporting regional development that benefits riders and local economies alike.
Kilroy Realty Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Jon Crosier (left) and Metrolink Chief Technology Officer Kevin Gray discuss Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategies as panelists during last month’s Southern California C-Level Technology Leadership Summit.
Exploring the Future of AI
Metrolink Chief Technology Officer Kevin Gray has been a sought-after speaker at events throughout the fall. On Oct. 9, he participated in an executive panel at the 16th Annual Southern California C-Level Technology Leadership Summit focused on “Preparing the Workforce for AI Integration—Reskilling and Upskilling for the GenAI-Powered Enterprise.” The panel examined how Generative AI is transforming enterprise operations and skill sets, while presenting strategies to integrate AI alongside human workers.
Kevin also featured at CoMotion LA ’25 on Nov. 13, joining tech sector colleagues on an engaging panel titled “Intelligence: Cross-Market Integration." As a visionary leader in this space, Kevin continues to promote the smart use of emerging resources, sharing how Metrolink is leveraging technology to empower employees, enhance performance and prepare for the future of intelligent mobility with customers at the center. In another forward-thinking session at CoMotion LA, Darren served as a panelist for “Beyond Boundaries: Expanding Regional Mobility & Access,” which examined the collaborative regional approach underway to build a more resilient and integrated transit network.
Collectively, Metrolink executives continue to pursue thought leadership opportunities that underscore the active role agency officials are taking in shaping transportation policy, pioneering new technologies and elevating the customer experience. These engagements also plug Metrolink into broader industry conversations, offering critical insights and ideas that can inform improvements here at home.