personnel

Michael Huerta group president of transportation at ACS (Affiliated Computer Systems) is being replaced by Dave Amoriell, from IBM and Lockheed. Lynn Blodgett, ACS president and chief executive officer is quoted: "We are getting an exceptional and distinguished leader in Dave. His considerable experience and vision will allow him and our Transportation Solutions Group to address the complex transportation challenges facing governments around the world.

Salahdin Yacoubi of some acclaim as a chief implementer of all-electronic toll systems first in Melbourne Australia at CityLink, more recently Santiago Chile is on the job market. His eight year contract term is up, he told us recently and he's looking for new opportunities. In Chile he was director of operations at Autopista Central (AC), seconded to work there during the startup by Skanska Infrastructure, a co-owner with Dragados of the AC concession.

An economist position at FHWA was on, then off, and is now on again, hopefully a course the US economy will track. The economist position is in the Highway Needs and Investment Analysis and is to provide a replacement for Darren Timothy.

DJ Gribbin who was General Counsel at USDOT ended there with the Bush Administration at noon Jan 20, he says in an email to contacts.

After taking time off he has joined Macquarie Capital and will be working in the DC and New York offices. His home continues to be in Leesburg VA.

TOLLROADSnews 2009-02-02

James Aloisi the new chairman of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and state secretary of transportation is averse to having his picture taken, officials say.  His old law firm didn't have his picture.

Though he has held two prominent state government jobs for many weeks now neither the Governor's website listing of his Cabinet (see right) nor the Turnpike has Aloisi's mugshot.

Joe Agnello, veteran public information officer in the western division of the Pennyslvania Turnpike was laid off recently as part of the Commission's economy drive, and staff cutbacks.

TOLLROADSnews 2009-01-16

David B Horner former associate of secretary Mary Peters at USDOT has joined the international law firm Allen & Overy LLP (A&O) with the position of Senior Counsel, Projects Group. He will work out of their New York offices. A statement from A&O says his focus will be on public private partnerships for transportation infrastructure.

Ken Philmus is the new managing director of transportation systems and services at ACS. Appointed a senior vice-president he'll be responsible for managing the company's huge E-ZPass customer service centers, among other things.

After less than a year and a half as executive director of North Texas Tollway Authority, Jorge Figueredo has resigned, effective immediately. There's no public hint of any job-related cause for the separation. Figueredo is quoted as explaining to the board of directors: "The difficulties of being separated from my family in Florida have been more of a burden than I ever anticipated."

Former Massachusetts Turnpike chief Matt Amorello is deep in debt, behind on mortgage payments, and without work, according to court filings discovered by the Boston Herald. Amorello, 50, is also being sued for divorce by his wife of 12 years, Charlotte. A divorce court judge in Salem has ordered Amorello to apply for 15 jobs/week. His wife claims in court filings that Amorello has made "minimal efforts" to find work and has had no earnings since his severance pay from the Turnpike ceased in February this year.