Dwight A. Ferrell Email & Phone Number

Detroit, MI, US

• Provide expertise to a boutique consulting practice structured to help client organizations improve performance through organizational change management and development long range strategic plans.
• Guide organizations in business process reengineering, management consulting, development of coaching skills, process analysis, strategy development, and operational improvements
• Work on diverse projects, ranging from the development of government relations strategies to increase federal funding to delivery of up to $2M in cost savings by redesigning inventory and acquisition processes

Cincinnati, OH, US

• Provided leadership to 800 SORTA employees and directed a $100M operating budget multimodal transit system providing 17M rides annually across 11M miles of service.
• Reported to a 13-member Board of Trustees and developed high quality business strategies and investment plans to advance the Authority’s overall strategy and mission
• Secured $30M in discretionary competitive grants to purchase 70 new SORTA buses by forging relationships with local, state and federal elected officials
• Obtained the processing of Sales Tax Levy on the November 2020 ballot by spearheading the innovative and Reinventing Metro initiative to transform perception of public transportation in Hamilton County, OH
• Developed the first 10-year projection model to forecast funding requirements for maintenance and expansion of current service levels

Atlanta, Georgia, US

• Directed county operations and the activities of more than 5,000 employees across various county departments and constitutional agencies.
• Developed the county’s $1.6B operating budget for various resident services and ensured compliance with county procedures for spend and allocation
• Collaborated with the Board of Commissioners to develop, recommend, and administer the county’s state and federal legislative agenda
• Presented a compelling case to the Board of Commissioners for the first vote in 21 years to increase the county’s General Fund millage rate
• Negotiated a Participating Ground Lease at the county’s general aviation airport to secure funding for new flight operations center and the creation of new 1,000 new jobs

Atlanta, GA, US

• Recruited to manage the daily operations of the ninth largest transit system in the US and worked across agencies from 18 jurisdictions to lead a three-year audit to identify and capitalize on opportunities to increase.
• Turned around the Authority’s financial performance by increasing revenue, reducing costs, and instilling urgency and accountability for financial discipline to restore financial health even in a down economy
• Provided leadership to more than 5,000 employees and directed operations for a fleet of 600 busses, 175 paratransit vans, and 338 rail cars operating between 38 rail stations and on 47 track miles
• Leveraged experience in capital purchasing and financing to change the financial structure of the capital program to utilize appropriate debt mechanisms and improved spend execution from 60% to 99% by allocating funds.
• Worked with KPMG partners to assess areas for cost savings and deployed processes for working with limited budgets and capital resources, which were later enacted into law by the Georgia state legislature

Austin, TX, US

• Directed bus, paratransit, and rail operations and provided executive leadership for the design and construction of the Capital Metro commuter rail system.
• Helped select the passenger rail vehicles for the system based on analysis of financial and environmental benefits and deployed transit-oriented development to promote sustainable urban growth
• Led the effort to open the Red Line, Capital Metro’s first and only rail line connecting downtown Austin with its norther suburbs

• Launched an independent management consulting firm specializing in project delivery, operations advising, financial analysis, strategic planning, and problem resolution on troubled projects.
• Served on the consulting team that helped launch the Houston rail system, turning around a project that was behind schedule to achieve delivery on the targeted opening day
• Managed end-to-end client projects, from defining scope of work to provisioning of deliverables and ongoing relationship management

New Orleans, Louisiana, US

• Executive leader for the RTA multi-modal public transportation authority with accountability for a $99M operating budget.
• Oversaw a $200M capital improvement program focused on construction, safety, and security enhancements
• Coordinated all administrative and operational units, inclusive of vendors, consultants, and service contractors

Philadelphia, PA, US

• Oversaw all operations and maintenance activities for eight garages and 1,381 diesel and electric trolley buses servicing Philadelphia and the surrounding area.
• Led an organization of 220 management direct reports and a staff of 2,800 union and non-union employees and administered annual operating and capital program budgets
• Developed and implemented long-term initiatives and short-range programs to support SEPTA’s strategic priorities

Atlanta, GA, US

• Directed operations, maintenance, and material control activities for Atlanta rail operations and provided leadership to a team of 150 management personnel and 2,500+ union employees. Managed annual budgets for.
• Facilitated a successful rail line expansion, ensuring the on-time manufacturing and delivery of 30 new rail cars and oversaw the build out of new file and assembly locations
• Managed a fleet of 702 diesel and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, 238 heavy rail cars, 77 paratransit vans, and 250 non-revenue vehicles