Claire Spielberg, our General Manager for our Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport fixed route service, has decided to retire after 35 years in the transit industry.
Claire’s impact on private and public transit over her years in the industry is hard to quantify. She’s held so many different roles from Assistant General Manager, Vice President of Maintenance and Director of Planning and Administration to General Manager and Chief Operating Officer. With every position, her results and proven track record have always spoken for themselves. She showed time and time again her incredible ability to improve service delivery, affect change across all departments, and create a positive work environment.
As Chief Operating Officer of San Diego MTS, a position she held for 10 years, she managed the fixed route and paratransit system, which was comprised of five facilities and more than 1,000 employees. Whether she was in San Diego, or in New York City, her knowledge and expertise overseeing large systems in densely populated metropolitan areas was never in doubt. She managed hundreds of employees, multiple operating locations, and diverse fleets and fuel types with grace and efficacy.
When asked what she will miss the most in her retirement, Claire was quick to answer, “I will miss the people and the day-to-day challenges.”
“Claire is a skilled transit professional whose ability to bring stability and solutions to challenging situations is unmatched. Throughout her career, she’s always focused on achieving the client goals, while still delivering consistent passenger satisfaction. Her long-term impact on Transdev and our industry will be felt for years to come,” said Derrick Breun, Regional Vice President for the Mountain Region. “She will be missed.”
Justin Augustine, Regional Vice President for our Northeast Region added, “Claire Spielberg is the consummate professional. She has served this industry with dignity, determination, and a bold sense of creativity. She has been a role model for many years to a younger generation of professionals who will continue to provide leadership within the transit industry. Claire exhibited those qualities that many of us admired and quite frankly copied. Thank you, Claire, for everything you unselfishly gave to this industry!!!”
Here’s what Bill Spraul, Regional Vice President for our South Central Region, contributed, “I have had the pleasure to call Claire a transit colleague and friend for over 10 years. I first met Claire when we were transitioning the MTS COO position in San Diego when Claire had decided to “prematurely retire”. “Prematurely” because Claire had much more to give to our transit industry! Claire then joined the Transdev team and has continued as an incredible leader on the provider side. Claire’s quiet confidence, positive approach and warm leadership style are hallmarks of her transit legacy. Best of luck Claire on your real, official retirement. So very much deserved and earned!”
Claire will be retiring in Scottsdale, AZ and looks forward to spending more time travelling, exercising and enjoying her friends and family.
Thank you, Claire, for your commitment to Transdev, for the passion to the industry you have shown over the years, and for the dedication and mentorship you have shared with your teams.
We wish you a wonderful and fulfilling retirement that it is filled with much health, happiness and new memories. Enjoy!
