Heather Barnum
Chief Communications Officer
Heather safeguards and strengthens the reputation of UTA through the integrated delivery of strategic, effective communications. She is a professional strategic communicator, team builder, and project manager who has committed a 25-year career to improving lives. She has invested purposefully in a diverse career with roles at the center of shaping and influencing behaviors, navigating crises, and leveraging relationships. Before joining UTA, Heather worked as Advancement Director for Utah's Hogle Zoo. Before that, she served as Communications and Partnership Director with the State of Utah’s Department of Health and Human Services, where she received a gubernatorial commendation for her work as the state’s coronavirus public campaign manager in 2020 and Media Professional of the Year by the Utah PIO Association. She has degrees in Spanish, public relations, and public administration and earned an Accreditation in Public Relations.

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Nichol Bourdeaux
Chief Planning & Engagement Officer
With 20 years of experience in public administration, Ms. Bourdeaux has made a significant impact in her roles. As the UTA Planning and Engagement Officer, she has been instrumental in enhancing the departments of Community Engagement, Customer Experience, Customer Service, Innovative Mobility Solutions, and Planning. Previously, Ms. Bourdeaux was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Ralph Becker in Salt Lake City and the Deputy Director of Housing and Neighborhood Development for Salt Lake City Corporation. She began her career working for sporting and news affiliates. Her passion for sports led her to join the Salt Lake 2002 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, where she was the entertainment and leisure coordinator for the Athlete’s Village. In 2022, Ms. Bourdeaux received the “Woman of the Year Award” from the Women’s Transportation Seminar Utah Northern Chapter for her transformational work in transit in the Wasatch Front. She serves on the Utah Museums Advisory Board and the Utah College of Social and Behavioral Science Advancement Board. She holds a BA in Communications and an MPA from the University of Utah.

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Alisha Garrett
Chief Enterprise Strategy Officer
Alisha designs, delivers, and implements work that facilitates the alignment and integration of UTA’s people, processes, technology, leadership, and priorities. She leads the agency’s strategy deployment, driving organizational excellence through connecting people with purpose. Her focus and passion center on creating an amazing experience for UTA employees and the communities they serve every day. Alisha received a bachelor’s degree in international business and a master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance and organizational culture. She possesses multiple certificates in strategy, enhancing team dynamics, culture, and engagement techniques. She is a graduate of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Leadership Program and was included in Mass Transit Magazine’s Top 40 under 40 for her industry contributions and impact. Alisha is a Shingo Alumni and has supported and partnered with the Shingo Institute.

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David Hancock
Chief Capital Services Officer
Dave oversees all UTA capital programs and projects including the agency’s current $1.3 billion, five-year capital plan. He provides strategic leadership for the following departments: Real Estate and Transit-Oriented Communities, Capital Programming and Support, Capital Design and Construction, Capital Vehicles, and Environment and Sustainability. Dave brings to UTA years of experience as a senior leader in capital development, capital construction, and capital asset management. Prior to UTA, he worked as a program management consultant for a large engineering firm and as a project manager for a civil construction contractor. Dave earned a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Utah. He is a registered professional engineer in Utah and currently is part of the American Public Transportation Association Leadership Program.

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Viola Miller
Chief Financial Officer
Vi is a key advisor to the UTA Executive Director and Board of Trustees on developing financial resiliency to meet the agency’s strategic and transformational goals. The departments under her leadership include Accounting, Accounts Payable/Receivable, Budget, Claims and Insurance, Fares, Grants, Payroll, Supply Chain, and Treasury. Prior to joining UTA, Vi served as the Operating Budget Senior Director at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, as well as the Operating Budget Deputy Director at the District of Columbia Office of Budget and Planning. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Georgetown University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Maryland. Vi is a board member of the Gateway Children’s Museum.

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Patrick Preusseer
Chief Operating Officer
Patrick leads bus, rail, special services, operations, maintenance, fleet engineering, and police — representing about 80% of UTA’s workforce. He is a passionate, forward-thinking leader who brings more than 27 years of transportation experience in fixed-route bus, rail, and paratransit services, with success advancing safety, operations, maintenance, and customer service. Before joining UTA, Patrick served as the Director of Rapid Transit in Honolulu, Hawai`i, where he led the daily business activities across the department for fixed-route bus, rail, and paratransit, including the commencement of passenger service on the nation’s first driverless metro. Prior to his work in Honolulu, Patrick was the Executive Director of Transportation in Portland, Oregon. He led the Transportation Division, which included fixed-route bus, light rail, streetcar, commuter rail, paratransit, schedule making, resource planning, and contracted services. He has also held leadership roles at the Saudi Railway Company, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority, and U.S. Department of Transportation. Patrick holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in transportation management from the University of Denver. He is a certified Project Management Professional from the Project Management Institute and was selected for Mass Transit Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40.”

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To Be Announced
Chief People Officer

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David Wilkins
Assistant Attorney General
David is an employee of the Utah Office of the Attorney General, where he serves as director of the transit law section, a component unit of the office’s tax and financial services division. In this role, David leads the team that provides legal services to UTA. David personally works in a variety of areas, including employment, labor, public governance, regulatory law, and legislative issues. Serving as an AAG since 2015, David previously served as litigation counsel to the Utah Labor Commission. A native of Kentucky, David holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky University, a master’s degree from the University of Louisville, and a Juris Doctor from Saint Louis University School of Law. David volunteers his time as pro bono General Counsel for the HeritageRail Alliance, Inc., the trade group for tourist railroads and railway museums in the United States and Canada. There, David chairs the HRA’s Regulatory Committee and serves as an alternate member to the Federal Railroad Association’s Rail Safety Advisory Committee.

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Kim Shanklin
Chief of Staff
Kim Shanklin began her career in human resources at UTA, then spent several years with Dallas Area Rapid Transit, managing its day-to-day human resources functions. She returned to UTA in 2007 to manage labor relations and performance improvement and was promoted as Chief People Officer in January 2017. Shanklin has extensive experience working in a public transit environment, applying continuous improvement strategies, and working with public transit unions. She has strong experience designing human resources strategies in staffing, benefits and retirement, training, talent management, Equal Employment Opportunity, and organizational development. She served as the chair of the labor relations subcommittee of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) from 2010 to 2017 and completed APTA’s leadership development program. She has served on the board of the Transit Labor Exchange as the financial secretary and treasurer since 2016. She holds a master’s degree in public administration, with an emphasis in human resources management, from the University of Utah.

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