RTD Leadership Team
Alex Clifford
Chief Executive Officer
Alex Clifford assumed the role of RTD’s Chief Executive Officer on January 31, 2022 with over 30 years of experience in transit leadership, including 8 years of transit policy experience as a Riverside City Councilman.
Prior to joining RTD, he served as CEO at Santa Cruz METRO for over seven years. Under his leadership, the agency:
- Resolved a fiscal structural deficit of $6 million that he inherited, which involved complete transparency, extensive public outreach and numerous Board workshops.
- Completed the Judy K. Souza Operations building.
- Developed the Agency’s first 10-year unfunded Capital Plan, identifying State of Good Repair capital needs of over $200 million.
- Developed a plan for transitioning to all zero-emission buses by 2040 and purchased Santa Cruz’s first five zero emission battery electric buses.
- Initiated the planning phase for a South County zero-emission bus division, including a hydrogen bus pilot plan; started work on the plan for a new paratransit facility; and started the process for replacement of the Pacific Station Transit Center.
- Provided fiscal resiliency for the agency by creating fully funded designated and restricted Reserves, including an operating and capital reserves. Upon his retirement from Santa Cruz METRO, the agency had over $20 million in Reserves.
- Led the agency through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, complying with all Local, State, Federal, and CalOSHA regulations and prevention measures, keeping passengers and staff safe while at the same time keeping service on the street to serve the transit needs of essential workers and avoiding layoffs and furloughs.
For his many accomplishments at METRO, he was named Small Transit Operators’ 2017 Transit Professional of the Year by California Transit Association (CTA). The award honors an outstanding individual who has provided strong leadership and vision. He is a Fellow of the Eno Transportation Foundation and he is the California Baptist University 2020 Alumnus of the Year.
Mr. Clifford currently serves on several industry boards, including Executive Committee Member of the California Transit Association (CTA) and is a CTA State Legislative Committee Member; CALACT Board Chair and Legislative Committee Member; and Board member of the American Public Transit Association (APTA) Board of Directors 2021 – present, and the Vice-Chair of the APTA Small Operations Committee.
He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from California State Polytechnic, Pomona, and a Master in Business Administration from California Baptist University.
Ciro Aguirre
Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Aguirre was appointed as Chief Operating Officer in April of 2022 after serving as interim for nearly three months. With over 40 years of transit experience, he officially oversees Transportation, Service Development, Mobility, Maintenance, Facilities, Security, and other assigned departments.
In 1980, Aguirre began his transit career as a Mechanic II with Santa Clara County Transit, now called the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA). He was later promoted to Maintenance Supervisor and then to Maintenance Superintendent where he oversaw, throughout his tenure, three Running Repair Divisions and the Overhaul and Repair Division for the VTA.
In 2006, Aguirre joined the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (Santa Cruz METRO) as the Operations Manager. He was later promoted to COO where he assumed responsibility for the Operations, Paratransit, Fleet Maintenance, Facilities, Customer Service, and Security departments.
Aguirre holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Psychology from San Jose State University.
John Hodson
Chief Information Officer
Mr. Hodson joined RTD in January 2023 as the Chief Information Officer. He has been a powerhouse in executive leadership for the last decade. His experience spans highly coveted roles such as Director of Technology, Head of IT, and Security Officer. He is an experienced professional with a deep passion for sustainability and civic engagement. From achieving perfect marks on the Cisco Certified Design Associate exam to cutting-edge projects such as The Method South Side Soap Box and its Gotham Greens rooftop farm, he has continuously demonstrated his ability to innovate and create positive change.
As an immigrant to this country, Mr. Hodson has actively championed diversity initiatives through key leadership roles, supportively mentoring individuals in underserved communities. He has served as Vice President of Interact, sponsored by Modesto Rotary; a mentor in the Helping One Student To Succeed (HOSTS) program to help local students with STEM skills; and is currently a board member of the Vallejo Center for the Arts in a CIO advisory role offering participation in philanthropic efforts such as Visions of the Wild Festival in Vallejo.
Robert Kyle
Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Kyle joined RTD in April 2022 as the Chief Financial Officer. He is dual-licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and as a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) both of which were awarded in 2002. Mr. Kyle has over 24 years of experience in Finance leadership roles, the last four years were as a CFO for a manufacturing plant in Stockton. Prior to that, he worked as a contractor in Kabul, Afghanistan for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as the Director of Finance. The two projects he was involved in were Sika South (Stabilization in Key Areas) and ACEP (Afghanistan Clean Energy Program) for a total time in the country of 2.5 years; returning in mid-2014. Mr. Kyle is also a six-year veteran of the US Army having assignments in South Korea, West Germany, and Georgia, USA.
Curtis Moses
Director of Safety and Security
Mr. Moses joined RTD in August 2023 as the Safety, Security, and Risk Management Director. He has over twenty years of executive management experience in the transportation industry and over twenty years as an electrical engineer. He has traveled the east coast commissioning rail rolling stock or infrastructure projects from Boston to Atlanta. Within the transportation industry, he has also worked for ALSTOM Transportation, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Charles County Government in Maryland, and Santa Cruz Regional Transit District. He is a Board member of the California Transit Indemnity Pool where he oversees RTD’s liability insurance program. He has multiple certifications in safety, quality, transit security, and a degree in Electrical/Mechanical engineering.
Mr. Moses was a guest speaker at both Global Mass Transit conferences in Washington, DC and Sacramento, California regarding transit agencies’ state of good repair. He has traveled to China, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Canada commissioning electrical control projects for various industries.
Damaris Galvan
Director of Planning and Service Development
In 2007, Ms. Galvan joined RTD as an Administrative Assistant in the Service Development Department and Planning. Over the years, she has been promoted to Analyst, Senior Specialist, Manager, and eventually became the Director of Planning and Service Development in 2023.
Ms. Galvan has played a crucial role in various projects including Next Gen system redesign study, service proposals and implementations, Title VI Policies, runcuts production, and data management. Ms. Galvan’s outstanding work has been recognized with five Employee of the Month awards and two Employee of the Year awards.
Ms. Galvan holds an MBA from Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in Lima, Peru, a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Universidad de Lima, Peru, and a certificate in Transit and Paratransit Management Program from University of the Pacific.
Juan Gabriel Villanueva
Director of Grants and Capital Projects
Mr. Villanueva joined RTD in October of 2024. With over 25 years of public agency experience, he officially oversees the Grants and Capital Projects departments.
In his previous roles at the Port of Stockton, Mr. Villanueva was responsible for gathering and assessing engineering related information, project planning, grant funding, and overseeing the bidding process for facilities and public works projects to ensure project designs met professional engineering standards. Supplementary duties included managing the telecommunications, utilities, facilities maintenance, information technology, procurement, and grants departments.
Mr. Villanueva holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from California State University Stanislaus, and a Master of Business Administration Degree from California State University Stanislaus.
Ken Baxter
Director of Government Affairs
Mr. Baxter is a seasoned professional with over 41 years of experience in California state government. As the Government Affairs Director at RTD, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. Throughout his career, Mr. Baxter has held various positions including Chief of Staff for the Director of Caltrans and executive assignments with the California State Senate Housing and Transportation Committee, and with the U. S. Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C.
In addition to his impressive government career, Mr. Baxter is also a highly respected academic. For the past 24 years, he has taught courses on American Government, Public Administration, Business, and Community Planning.
Mr. Baxter holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science, a Master’s in Public Administration, and two Leadership Development Certificates.
Merab Talamantes
Director of Administration
Ms. Talamantes began her career at RTD in January 2013 and has served as the Project Controls Manager overseeing RTD’s Capital Improvement Program since May 2020 and recently transitioned to Director of Administration. With over a decade of transit experience, she also officially oversees the Executive and Board Support, Marketing and Customer Engagement Departments, and capital projects management. Merab has served on the Downtown Stockton Alliance Board of Directors since July 2020.
Ms. Talamantes holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Humphrey’s University and is currently pursuing a Master of Science Degree in Transportation Management at San José State University’s Lucas Graduate School of Business.
Noel Mink
Director of Human Resources
Ms. Mink joined RTD in November 2024 as the Director of Human Resource, bringing over 15 years of experience in human resources and government. She started as a Training Supervisor at a 911 center and has led Human Resource (HR) teams in various municipal governments. She manages employee groups from 100 to 4,000 for communities up to 400,000 people. Her education includes a degree in Human Resources and a master’s in Curriculum and Instruction, aiding her success in diverse HR settings.
Throughout her career, Ms. Mink has driven results through strategic initiatives and collaborative leadership. She is known for building strong relationships between management and union reps, helping reach mutual agreements. Her efforts in reducing attrition and vacancy rates highlight her capability in creating strategic work environments. Her “lead with yes” philosophy promotes open dialogue and trust, aligning policies with organizational goals. Her impact in HR has been recognized with awards, including an employee-voted Team of the Year award.
Thomas Dempsey
Director of Procurement
Mr. Dempsey joined RTD in July 2024 as the Procurement Director. He comes to RTD with over 24 years of public agency contract and procurement experience at the state and local levels, including over 14 years in leadership roles. Prior to joining RTD, Mr. Dempsey worked at the Sacramento Regional Transit District.
Mr. Dempsey has successfully led transitions to new system software, streamlined operations, enhanced productivity, delivered significant cost savings, and improved vendor management systems. Known for navigating complex processes and policy changes, he has a proven track record of leading procurement teams to achieve strategic goals and deliver outstanding results in the public sector.
As a United States Coast Guard veteran and active member of the reserve, Mr. Dempsey has served with distinction and has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to public service. Mr. Dempsey holds a bachelor’s degree in history from California State University, Sacramento, and a leadership academy certificate from the State of California Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Virginia Alcayde
Director of Financial Planning
Ms. Alcayde joined RTD in 2000 as an accountant and held multiple positions before her promotion to Finance Manager in 2006, then she was promoted to Director of Finance in 2016. Her title was changed to Director of Financial Planning due to changes to the Finance Department’s organization in 2021. In addition to monitoring RTD’s financial and grant activities, she also manages detailed forecasting and budgeting. Prior to joining RTD, Ms. Alcayde worked as an accountant at CSU East Bay Foundation. With over 30 years of experience in various general accounting and finance responsibilities, Ms. Alcayde successfully led RTD’s integrated financial and administrative system implementation and continues to serve as a system resource.
Prior to immigrating to the United States, Ms. Alcayde was a Certified Public Accountant in the Philippines. Ms. Alcayde holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Luzon and a Transit Paratransit Management Certificate from University of Pacific.
John Van Camp
Maintenance Superintendent
Mr. Van Camp joined RTD in February 2014 as a Maintenance Supervisor, he was promoted to Assistant Maintenance Superintendent in June of 2022. He assumed the role of Maintenance Superintendent in February 2024. He brings over nine years of transit experience, including expertise in bus maintenance, vehicle procurement, project management, contract administration, and labor relations. Before joining RTD, John was a shop foreman at Cummins for nine years. John is an ASE-certified mechanic and a graduate of the University of the Pacific’s Transit Paratransit Certificate Program. He is a certified instructor with the California Regional Transit Training Consortium in basic and advanced electricity and Cummins Fuel Systems.
John Coose
Facilities Superintendent
Mr. Coose joined San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) in 2003. Throughout his years of service, Mr. Coose has overseen the maintenance of five facilities with a combined square footprint of 245,000 and the management of approximately 850 bus stops. Mr. Coose oversees RTD’s Facilities Department staff, manages construction projects, hazardous waste management programs, and ensures compliance of RTD’s Transit Asset Management plan.
Since becoming the Facilities Superintendent in 2020, Mr. Coose has successfully completed projects that have lowered greenhouse gas emissions including the construction of eight depot chargers designed to support its electric bus fleet, a battery energy storage system to help lower peak demand charging, and a photovoltaic system to offset energy consumption.
Mr. Coose has served the community as a Reserve Firefighter for the Stockton Fire Department and completed an internship at the Ebbett’s Pass Fire Department. In 2017, he received his Firefighter 1 Certificate and his Emergency Medical Technician Certificate. Mr. Coose has completed the Transit Paratransit Management Certificate Program from the University of Pacific.
LaShonda Nelson
Transportation Superintendent
Ms. Nelson joined RTD in 1992 as a Customer Information Clerk and was promoted to Metro Operator after 13 years of exceptional service. With her vast experience in customer service and skilled driving, she excelled for 10 years as an operator on various routes in the Stockton Metropolitan Area. In 2013, Ms. Nelson became a Transportation Supervisor and in 2016, she was recruited to become a Transportation Supervisor/Trainer, responsible for training new operators and administering required federal and state programs.
In 2022, she became the first African American female Transportation Superintendent at RTD, overseeing two transportation divisions and a team of over 130 staff members. Ms. Nelson holds various certifications from institutions such as Heald Business College, the Transit Safety Institute, and Westgate Programs. With 30 years of experience at RTD, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role.
Omar Thomas
Transportation Assistant Superintendent
Mr. Thomas joined RTD as an operator in 2002, earning the Employee of the Month award multiple times for his exceptional performance. In 2007, he was promoted to Transportation Supervisor, where he was responsible for timekeeping and managing coach operators. Omar worked closely with the planning department to enhance bus service for the community.
In 2021, Omar was promoted to Transportation Lead Supervisor, overseeing the transportation supervisors. His outstanding contributions earned him the Employee of the Year award the same year. Omar holds multiple certifications, including from the Transit Safety Institute and West Gate Programs.
In 2023, Omar became the Transportation Assistant Superintendent at RTD, where he currently oversees the County Division.
Daniel Garza
Procurement Manager
Mr. Garza joined RTD in August 2024 as the Procurement Manager. He brings over 20 years of experience in Procurement and Contracts, and 13 years of distinguished service in the United States Marine Corps, where he completed five tours overseas and honed his leadership and logistical skills in high-pressure environments. After transitioning to civilian life, Mr. Garza contributed his expertise to the Defense Logistics Agency, managing complex procurement operations supporting national defense initiatives.
In subsequent roles at the Port of Stockton, the City of Stockton, and the City of Concord, Mr. Garza excelled in contract management and financial oversight, ensuring efficient and effective utilization of public resources. His exceptional work at the City of Concord was recognized with the prestigious Budget Award, highlighting his commitment to fiscal responsibility and excellence in public service.
Mr. Garza is also affiliated with the California Association of Public Procurement, underscoring his dedication to staying at the forefront of best practices in public procurement and contract management. Mr. Garza holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management and is known for his ability to manage large-scale projects and optimize organizational processes across both government and municipal operations.
Ravi Sharma
Finance Manager
Mr. Sharma joined RTD as Senior Accountant in November 2013 and has since been promoted to various positions within the company, including Finance Senior Specialist, Finance Supervisor, and Finance Manager. In his current role, Mr. Sharma is responsible for overseeing payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash receipts, grants accounting operations, and RTD’s pension plan accounting.
Prior to joining RTD, Mr. Sharma gained experience as an accountant in the Information Technology sector and began his accounting career in Australia before immigrating to the United States. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Financial Management from the University of the South Pacific in Fiji.
Maximilian Cao
Marketing and Customer Engagement Supervisor
In 2014, Mr. Cao joined RTD as a Communications and Customer Relations Specialist before transitioning to various marketing roles and becoming the Marketing Supervisor where he manages all aspects of RTD’s marketing strategy including advertising campaigns, social media presence, market research and analysis, and brand messaging. In 2020, he was promoted to Supervisor of Marketing and Customer Engagement, expanding his responsibilities to include improving customer satisfaction and experience, and managing community engagement initiatives.
Mr. Cao has consistently been recognized for his exceptional contributions and earned national awards from organizations such as the Transportation Marketing and Sales Association, American Public Transportation Association, Graphic Design USA, and the American Institute of Graphic Arts.
He is also actively involved in the Stockton community, serving as Chair of the Stockton Arts Commission, member of the Stockton Art Foundation, and various local governance committees investing in community-driven projects.