MV TRANSPORTATION - Key Persons
Alex Lodde is a co-founder of MV Transportation, Inc. and remains an owner of the company, as well as a board member. Alex previously served as CEO, from the company's founding in 1975 through 2000, and again from 2008 until 2010.
Alex's focus on growth and execution of the company's mission has remained steadfast. Under his guidance and astute business acumen, MV transformed from a family-owned mom and pop business to an aggressive competitor in an ever-changing transportation industry. He has consistently challenged MV's executive leadership team to surpass its growth goals while providing excellent service to clients and passengers alike.
An entrepreneur at heart and an architect in spirit, Alex's vision of building a company that can compete on every level, while still offering our clients a cost-effective solution to their transportation needs, has manifested in the team MV proudly offers as its corporate leadership. Further, his role on the company's board of directors assures corporate governance that is consistent with not only this vision, but the changing dynamics of public transportation and its operating environment. Throughout MV's existence, it has not been uncommon to find Alex in one of the company's many divisions greeting drivers during their 4 a.m. pullouts, dispatching routes dressed in a driver's uniform, motivating employees to achieve their performance goals or meeting with riders to assure them MV is always ready to serve their transportation needs.
Feysan Lodde is the visionary who transformed transportation contracting with the founding of MV Transportation. She remains an owner of the company, a member of MV's Board of Directors, and a fierce defender of disability rights.
Lodde's commitment to serving individuals with disabilities, as well as giving back to her community, is fueled by an unwavering drive to improve the quality of life for those most in need. MV's motto, "we provide freedom" reflects her story, and captures the spirit with which she leads the organization.
Beginning as MV's first vehicle operator, dispatcher, road supervisor, manager, and community liaison, Lodde exemplifies all that MV represents - a commitment to professional development for employees and dedication to providing the best service possible to our clients and riders. She has travelled the roads - literally and metaphorically - that each of MV's 20,000 employees travel each day, and has never forgotten what it takes to serve the passenger community.
Chris Burls - Chief Strategy Officer
Chris Burls is the Chief Strategy Officer for MV Transportation, the largest privately-owned passenger transportation contracting services firm in North America and a leader in providing the specialized on-demand ADA-compliant transportation of persons with disabilities and the elderly. The company employs more than 15,000 dedicated transit professionals in 150 locations.
Job Titles:
- Chief
- Chief Customer Success Officer
Gary Coles is the Chief Customer Success Officer for MV Transportation, the largest privately-owned passenger transportation contracting services firm in North America and a leader in providing the specialized on-demand ADA-compliant transportation of persons with disabilities and the elderly. The company employs more than 15,000 dedicated transit professionals in 150 locations.
Leading the Customer Success Team, Gary and his team work closely with MV customers, agency board members, local transit advocates and elected officials to create opportunities for public transit to meet the ever-changing needs of our communities with a roadmap of rider-focused MV and partner solutions. Gary also develops strategies that strengthen relationships and influence the expansion of MV's footprint with targeted customers and markets.
Since joining MV in 2008 as Vice President of Business Development in the Central region, and later as Chief Sales Officer, Gary has been a driving force for MV's growth. Along with his long-tenured experience in the transportation market - including stops at Veolia and Greyhound - Gary has demonstrated a clear strength in customer relationship management.
Gary holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Mary Washington College and a certificate in finance and accounting for non-financial managers from Southern Methodist University. He has previously served on the board of directors for three associations, including the New England Bus Association, the Bus Association of New York, and the Pennsylvania Bus Association.
Job Titles:
- Executive Chairman
- Board of Directors As Executive Chairman
- Founder and CEO of MAEVA Group
Harry Wilson joined the MV Transportation Board of Directors as Executive Chairman in 2022. Mr. Wilson, the Founder and CEO of MAEVA Group, LLC, is a nationally-recognized expert in corporate transformations, growth initiatives, turnarounds and restructurings and in helping businesses work through complicated transitions, as an investor/owner, senior executive, advisor or director. His work has focused particularly on positioning companies in transition to grow, create jobs and create value for years after the initial transformation work is complete.
Currently, Mr. Wilson is the founder and CEO of MAEVA Group, LLC, a boutique merchant bank he founded in 2011. MAEVA focuses primarily on investing in or acquiring companies undergoing major change, or advising companies going through similar operational or financial transformations, so that these companies can better compete and thrive in the future.
Mr. Wilson has served on a long list of public and private company boards of directors. He has served on the boards of public companies Genesis Healthcare, Inc. (2021), Horizon Global (2019-2021), Sotheby's (2014-2019, through its highly successful sale), Visteon Corporation (2011-2020), Yahoo! (2012-2013) and YRC Worldwide (2011-2014), as well as a number of successful private companies earlier in his career. He currently serves as the Executive Chairman of MV Transportation, Inc., the largest privately-held transit company in the United States. In each of his recent director roles, he was asked to join the board by one or more major investors who wanted him to work with senior management and the Board to help better position the respective company for long-term growth and success during a critical transition period. In each case, each company experienced a substantial increase in shareholder value during Mr. Wilson's tenure that, collectively, more than doubled the return of the market over the same period of time. As a result, shareholders have seen billions of dollars in increased market value and tens of thousands of jobs were preserved or created.
Mr. Wilson has been active in philanthropic and policy circles. He once served as a Presidential Appointee to the Advisory Committee of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC, 2011-2014), the federal agency responsible for insuring the pension benefits of private sector employees. He has served on several not-for-profit boards, including Youth, INC, a venture philanthropy not-for-profit focused on troubled New York City youth, and currently on The Hellenic Initiative, the leading Greek-American philanthropy. He and his wife, Eva Romas Wilson, co-head MAEVA Social Capital, which seeks to contribute to and help grow promising nonprofits supporting the social, emotional and intellectual development of at-risk young children. He has also been very active in youth sports, coaching all four of his daughters on various teams.
Jamie Pierson is the Chief Financial Officer for MV Transportation, the largest privately-owned passenger transportation contracting services firm in North America and a leader in providing the specialized on-demand ADA-compliant transportation of persons with disabilities and the elderly. The company employs more than 15,000 dedicated transit professionals in 150 locations.
Jamie joined MV in 2022 and oversees the company's finance operations - including financial planning and analysis, financial reporting, shared services, internal audit, tax, treasury, and procurement.
Most recently, Jamie was CFO of Ecobat Technologies which is the world's largest battery recycler. Previously, he was a board member and CFO of YRC Worldwide / Yellow Transportation (NASDAQ: YELL), where he was responsible for both the financial and operational strategy of the company. In addition to his financial responsibilities, Jamie managed relationships with credit rating agencies, financial and industry analysts, lenders, and shareholders. Jamie has 10 years of public company CFO experience and 20 years of investment banking, financial restructuring, advisory, and corporate development experience.
Jamie has led several multi-billion turnarounds and secured the largest CARES Act loan in the transportation industry history during the pandemic. His prior experience includes Alvarez & Marsal, Prime Source Building Products Inc, and Horizon Global Corporation.
Job Titles:
- Chief Human Resources Officer
- Chief Human Resource Officer
Jarrett Andrews is the Chief Human Resources Officer for MV Transportation, the largest privately-owned passenger transportation contracting services firm in North America and a leader in providing the specialized on-demand ADA-compliant transportation of persons with disabilities and the elderly. The company employs more than 15,000 dedicated transit professionals in 150 locations.
Jarrett leads all human resources functions, including succession planning, talent development, performance management, benefits, salary administration, labor relations, employee engagement, and sourcing. He plays a significant role in MV's overall performance promoting operational effectiveness, elevating team performance through innovative leadership, and driving execution of organizational strategy. He fosters a culture of inclusion and collaboration.
Prior to joining MV, Jarrett was a shareholder in the Dallas office of Littler Mendelson, a national law firm specializing in employment and labor law. He joined Littler from Energy Future Holdings Corp. where he last served as Managing Counsel, responsible for compliance by the parent company and all its subsidiaries with all laws and regulations governing the employment relationship.
Jarrett is Board certified in Labor/Employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a distinction held by fewer than 10 percent of Texas attorneys. He graduated with honors from the University of Texas School of Law and magna cum laude from Texas Tech University, with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He is also certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Job Titles:
- Chief Information Officer
Jim Haring is the Chief Information Officer for MV Transportation, the largest privately-owned passenger transportation contracting services firm in North America and a leader in providing the specialized on-demand ADA-compliant transportation of persons with disabilities and the elderly. The company employs more than 15,000 dedicated transit professionals in 150 locations.
Jim is responsible for MV's overall technology strategy, underlying IT Infrastructure and business systems support for both internal external customers across the United States and Canada. In 2022 Jim added the company's procurement function to his areas of responsibility.
Jim brings over 30 years of experience in IT service delivery including IT operations, Data Center Management and Migration. He joined MV from DXC Technology, where he led Offering Delivery and Transformation, including Cloud, Analytics, Enterprise Cloud Applications, and Workplace/Mobility. He was responsible for a $3B budget, more than 13,000 employees in 50 countries and the most complex digital transformations for the company's largest clients. Prior to DXC, Jim was the lead for Project Delivery for Infrastructure Technology Outsourcing (ITO) for Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), accountable for the execution and profitability of over $1B of projects/service requests as well as management of the common methods and standards for global build services. Jim managed the complex carve out of the infrastructure in the HP/HPE split and helped define the future operation model for the infrastructure business. He has also previously held the role of Global Account Operations Manager at Kraft Foods, one of HP‘s largest accounts, where he led a team of more than 1,000 people in delivering services across multiple portfolio segments for a $1.5 billion contract.
Jim is a graduate of the International School of Ministries and holds a certified Computer Operator designation. He and his family live in Frisco, Texas.
Job Titles:
- Chief Maintenance Officer
Jim Schultzman is the Chief Maintenance Officer for MV Transportation, the largest privately-owned passenger transportation contracting services firm in North America and a leader in providing the specialized on-demand ADA-compliant transportation of persons with disabilities and the elderly. The company employs more than 15,000 dedicated transit professionals in 150 locations.
John C. Rogers has had a diverse career in business, politics, and government. John founded RL Leaders and served as its CEO until selling the enterprise to partners in 2022. RLL is a consulting enterprise serving the US Government, specializing in alternative analysis and creating custom technologies that have served as the nexus of the national security community and Hollywood creatives for nearly two decades.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- President
Kevin A. Klika is the President and Chief Operating Officer for MV Transportation, the largest privately-owned passenger transportation contracting services firm in North America and a leader in providing the specialized on-demand ADA-compliant transportation of persons with disabilities and the elderly. The company employs more than 15,000 dedicated transit professionals in 150 locations.
Kevin brings nearly 30 years of executive-level leadership in public transportation. He is an operational expert known for his dynamic leadership approach and steadfast focus on key performance indicators.
Kevin initially joined MV in 1999 after holding regional executive roles for companies including Laidlaw Transit Services, Mayflower Transportation, and Dave Transportation. At the time, he was personally selected by MV Owner Alexis Lodde for his extensive experience, financial acumen, and ability to rally the workforce to achieve operational performance improvement continually.
Kevin's leadership role with the company expanded and evolved as the company experienced tremendous growth. From 1999 to 2003, Kevin served as MV's President and Chief Operating Officer, overseeing MV's ever-growing operating locations. He led the company through tremendous growth during this period. In 2003, due to its significant expansion, MV regionally restructured operations to better serve customers and promote further growth. At this time, Kevin was promoted to western region president.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of External Affairs
Michael P. Ralsky is the Vice President of External Affairs for MV Transportation, the largest privately-owned passenger transportation contracting services firm in North America and a leader in providing specialized on-demand ADA-compliant transportation of persons with disabilities and the elderly. He is a global public affairs expert known for shaping government policies and ESG programs that boost profitability and credibility.
Nicole Thunich is the Chief Safety Officer for MV Transportation, the largest privately-owned passenger transportation contracting services firm in North America and a leader in providing the specialized, on-demand, ADA-compliant transportation of persons with disabilities and the elderly. The company employs more than 13,000 dedicated transit professionals in 150 locations. She is responsible for driving a culture of continuous improvement in safety while ensuring the development and execution of safety standards, goals and policies, driver training and compliance.
Scott Letier joined the MV Transportation Board of Directors in 2019. He has over 30 years of operating, investment and financial experience, having started his career as a CPA, and then becoming an operating company CFO, then a family office, and private equity executive.
Scott is the Managing Director of Deason Capital Services, LLC (DCS), the family office of Darwin Deason and family with over $1.5 billion in assets under management, joining DCS in 2014. In his role, Scott serves as the Chief Investment and Operating Officer and is actively involved in DCS's investing in private and public equities and debt, and alternative assets. In addition, he manages the firm's administrative, accounting, estate, and tax functions. Before joining DCS, he was the Managing Director of JFO Group, LLC, the family office for the Jensen family, from September 2006 to July 2014. Before Joining JFO, Scott had leadership experience serving as a private equity investment professional and chief financial officer and began his career in the audit and consulting groups at Ernst & Whinney (now Ernst & Young).
Scott serves as the Chair of the Board of Conduent, Inc., (NASDAQ: CNDT) and serves as a member of the board of Xerox Holdings (NASDAQ: XRX) in the public markets. In addition, Scott is the Chair of the Board of Gardenuity, Inc., a tech-enabled retail and wellness gardening e-commerce company, Colvin Resources Group, a Dallas-based search and staffing firm, and Griffis Residential in the private markets. Scott recently stepped down as Treasurer, board member, executive committee member, and Chairman of the audit and finance committees of the Dallas College Foundation, after serving this non-profit for almost 22 years.
Scott is a Certified Public Accountant and has a BBA with a concentration in accounting from the Southern Methodist University - Cox School of Business.
Scott Sosnowski is the Chief Sales Officer for MV Transportation, the largest privately-owned passenger transportation contracting services firm in North America and a leader in providing the specialized on-demand ADA-compliant transportation of persons with disabilities and the elderly. The company employs more than 15,000 dedicated transit professionals in 150 locations.
Scott is responsible for ensuring MV's sustainable revenue growth with oversight of sales and marketing strategy, planning, and execution for all the company's business segments. Scott's team includes marketing, business development, proposal creation, and regional sales focused on aligning the objectives of the organization with our customers' needs.
Scott has more than 20 years of sales and operational leadership experience, helping transform sales programs, improve sales processes, and implement new training, compensation, and client engagement models. Before joining MV, Scott held a number of leadership roles in the technology services sector, most recently as President of NTT DATA's Commercial Services business segment where he oversaw the growth and profitability of the company's customers in the transportation and logistics, retail, travel, and education industries. Prior to NTT DATA, Scott led strategic sales at Dell, where he was responsible for the sales, solutioning, and contracting of large-scale outsourcing transactions across all lines of business, market segments, and regions as well as infrastructure outsourcing solution sales for North America and EMEA.
Scott holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Detroit Mercy. He and his wife live in Fairview, Texas.
Job Titles:
- General Counsel
- in 2015 As Vice President and Associate General Counsel
Ted Navitskas is the General Counsel for MV Transportation, the largest privately-owned passenger transportation contracting services firm in North America and a leader in providing the specialized on-demand ADA-compliant transportation of persons with disabilities and the elderly. The company employs more than 15,000 dedicated transit professionals in 150 locations.
Ted provides MV and its board with legal, compliance, and strategic guidance, with an ongoing focus to improve the company's overall legal risk profile.
Ted joined MV Transportation in 2015 as Vice President and Associate General Counsel, responsible for corporate law and contracts. Prior to MV Transportation, he was General Counsel and Secretary of Ennis-Flint, the world's largest manufacturer of road and highway markings.
Ted is a graduate of Texas Tech University and the University of Michigan Law School.