advertisement

---

Yesterday, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) announced it has filled several key executive positions. The authority, which in late June appointed Jeff Morales as chief executive officer, recently entered into an agreement with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to “provide experienced personnel to immediately fill other mission-critical positions,” according to a press release.

CHSRA named Dennis Trujillo chief deputy director. Last year, he was appointed to the position of deputy secretary of external affairs for the state’s Business, Transportation and Housing Agency. He previously served as deputy director of external affairs for Caltrans and deputy treasurer to California Treasurer Phil Angelides.

John Tapping will serve as risk manager. He most recently was the project risk management coordinator for the $6.3 billion seismic retrofit of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Project.    Tapping was hired to independently manage the refinement, implementation and maintenance of an improved and enhanced SFOBB risk management plan. He has nearly 30 years of experience in transportation program management, including project management, design, maintenance and mega- project construction.

Wendy Boykins was appointed chief administrative officer. She has more than 25 years of experience in personnel administration and human resources, and has served as human resource manager for the Department of General Services.

Karen Greene Ross will serve as CHSRA’s assistant chief counsel. She has held various management positions in state government, including deputy secretary for legislation at the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency. Greene Ross also has held legislative policy positions in the State Senate and Assembly. In addition, she previously served as deputy for investments for California State Controller Steve Westly, representing him on the Investment Committees of the Boards of the California Public Employees Retirement System and the California Teachers Retirement System.

Melissa White was appointed chief deputy of external affairs. She most recently served as federal affairs coordinator and senior analyst for the Regional Council of Rural Counties in Sacramento. She previously held positions as a senior staff member in the U.S. Senate and senior legislative counsel for the National League of Cities.

Diana Gomez will serve as Central Valley Regional Director. She most recently was part of Caltrans’ executive management team in Los Angeles, and was involved in implementing the statewide traffic information system and statewide incident response software track tool. She also helped consolidate permit offices and reorganize the Division of Traffic Operations in L.A.

Ben Tripousis was appointed Northern California Regional Director. For the past decade, he has served as the transportation policy manager for the city of San Jose, where he was responsible for developing the city’s transportation policy guidelines and was the liaison to all local and regional transportation agencies. He also held a stint as chief transportation policy advisor to the mayor of San Jose and served on local congressional and state assembly staffs.

Rob Wilcox was named deputy director of communications. He most recently served as communications director for the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, which drew the state’s legislative and congressional districts. Prior to that, Wilcox was the chief deputy to California Inspector General Laura Chick, who oversaw the state’s stimulus funding spending. He also has served as deputy controller for communications for the Los Angeles City Controller’s Office and operated his own public relations consulting business.