The newly organized San Francisco Bay Area Water Transit Authority (WTA) has hired its first staff members. Here they are:
Published: April, 2001
The newly organized San Francisco Bay Area Water Transit Authority (WTA) has hired its first staff members. Here they are:
Thomas G. Bertken, Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Bertken has 46 years of experience in the planning, engineering, and management of major transportation projects, including rail, rapid transit, ports, airports, highways, roads, and bridges. He most recently fulfilled dual roles, as program manager for the $2.5 billion Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Extensions project, and as a market sector manager in Bechtel’s Surface Transportation Group. Mr. Bertken has worked extensively with local, state, and international government agencies to create, improve, and expand transportation systems worldwide. He supervised the development and implementation of a strategic plan for the Santa Clara County Highway Improvement, Measure A, Program, which was completed years ahead of schedule with cost controls that resulted in savings of over $116 million. Before joining Bechtel, he worked for the California Department of Transportation and local port and airport authorities for 26 years.
Lisa Klairmont, Secretary to the Board and Executive Administrator
Ms. Klairmont was Assistant to the Chair and the Management Team of the Blue Ribbon Task Force and was involved in practically all facets of the two-year study. Prior to that she was a Consultant to the GGNRA in planning a water shuttle system to link all of the key parklands and the waterfront. Lisa has also been active in SPUR serving on the Board of Directors and as their Assistant Director. She has a B. S. degree from the Univ. of Illinois and a Masters degree from Brandies University.
Veronica Sanchez, Manager, Community and Governmental Relations
Ms. Sanchez has been the Manager of Governmental Affairs for the Port of San Francisco for the last 12 years. In that position she has had broad responsibilities in legislative affairs, public finance and project management. Prior to that she served as an administrative assistant in the Mayor’s Office of Business and Economic Development and in the Office of Assemblyman Art Agnos. She has a BA from the University of San Francisco and a law degree from Boalt Hall.
Mary Frances Culnane, Manager, Marine Engineering
Ms. Culnane is a graduate of Kings Point Maritime Academy and was the first woman to hold the position of Chief Engineer with the Exxon Shipping Company. As Chief Engineer she would be the ranking officer on a ship "below deck.." Her recent experience has been with Chevron Shipping Company where she has been a project manager for the construction of two new LPG carriers and serves as Chevron’s representative on the Western States Petroleum Association Marine Committee.
Steven Castleberry, Manager, System Planning
For the past three years Mr. Castleberry has be the Deputy Director of the Alameda County Transportation Authority. That Authority’s major recent accomplishment was to put together a campaign that achieved an 81% vote of the public for the extension of their sales tax program to support transportation. Prior to this assignment, he was a program manager with CH2M-Hill a major consulting firm providing capital improvement project delivery services. He has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the Univ. of the Pacific and a Masters degree from Stanford in Infrastructure Planning and Management.
Angela Rae, Interim Manager, Business and Fiscal
Ms. Rae is currently a Freelance Consultant offering services in organization development, office administration and data base development. She is currently assisting us in setting up our office and in general organizational duties. Recently, she served for 6 years as the Executive Administrator for the Peninsula Commuter Services Alliance. This organization is dedicated to reducing air pollution by increasing the use of alternative commute modes, such as company sponsored shuttle services to public transit. Angela has a B.A. from San Jose State University and a Masters in Non Profit Business Administration from the Univ. of San Francisco.
