RTD’s board of directors on Tuesday officially named ex-United Airlines executive Sean Donohue, Vancouver, B.C. transit chief Douglas Kelsey and interim RTD General Manager Phillip Washington as finalists for RTD’s permanent GM position.
Another candidate who had received a favorable assessment from Regional Transportation District directors, San Diego transit chief executive Paul Jablonski, is no longer in the running for RTD’s top spot.
The Denver-area transit agency has been looking for a new general manager since Cal Marsella left the position in July. Marsella, who had led RTD for 14 years, joined a private transit firm.
RTD’s board received more than 200 applications for the GM post and directors expect to soon select a winner.
Donohue joined United in 1984 and worked for the airline until 2008. He once served as head of United’s Denver-based mountain region and was senior vice president for flight operations and onboard service when he left the company.
In his last position at United, Donohue was in charge of a company segment that included more than 20,000 pilots and flight attendants. His responsibility included flight safety as well as scheduling, training and technology for both employee groups, the airline said.
Since leaving United, Donohue has been working “on several private equity ventures,” RTD said.Kelsey is president and chief executive officer of British Columbia Rapid Transit Co., which serves the Vancouver area.
BC transit includes the SkyTrain automated rail system and the West Coast Express commuter rail system. The agency also has responsibility for the Canada Line, SkyTrain’s newest rail operation. It opened in August, linking downtown Vancouver with its international airport.
The Canada Line was built with a public-private partnership and RTD is trying to establish a similar model for construction of the commuter rail line to Denver International Airport and other elements of its FasTracks program.
Washington was RTD’s assistant general manager for administration for nine years before the board tapped him as interim GM in June.
As chief of administration, Washington was responsible for RTD’s finance, procurement, information technology, human resources, treasury and disadvantaged business departments.
Washington joined RTD after spending 24 years in the U.S. Army and was a Command Sergeant Major when he retired.The public can meet the finalists from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at a forum at the Oxford Hotel in lower downtown Denver. Call 303-592-5469 to RSVP.
