Keith Parker
Director of Public Transit for
the City of Charlotte and
Chief Executive Officer of 
the Charlotte Area Transit System
email address

Executive Division
Key Ongoing Activities 

Keith Parker is Director of Public Transit for the City of Charlotte and Chief Executive Officer of the Charlotte Area Transit System. (CATS).  In his CATS CEO hat, Keith reports directly to the Metropolitan Transit Commission, which has responsibility for reviewing and approving all long-range public transportation plans, setting policy for transit planning, and financial decision-making.  As Director of Public Transit he reports to the Charlotte City Manager.  The Executive Division also provides legal support and oversight for the organization; support in fostering and maintaining relationships with local, State, and Federal governments; support to community  relations and  public information activities; and support to citizen and City government committees and boards concerned with public transit. 

James Zingale
Chief Operations Officer
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Operations Division
Key Ongoing Activities

Led by Chief Operations Officer James Zingale, the Operations Division has responsibility for managing and directing all day-to-day operations of public transit services. Operations includes the Bus Operations Division, which serves as CATS principal fixed-route bus service provider; Special Transportation Services, which provides transportation for citizens with disabilities; the Charlotte Trolley, providing daily rail service between SouthEnd and Uptown, and the Contracted Services Division, which operates neighborhood circulators. Operations is also responsible for operating and maintaining vehicles; managing and maintaining facilities; conducting long and short term route planning; ensuring all CATS services and facilities are safe and secure; and monitoring operational performance for all services.

John Muth
Deputy Director for Development and
Chief Development Officer
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Development Division
Key Ongoing Activities

Under John M. Muth, Deputy Director for Development and Chief Development Officer, the Development Division of CATS has the lead in planning for and creating Charlotte's rapid transit system.  Now in the early stages of a 25-year, $3 billon development effort, the rapid transit system will include bus rapid transit guideways, light rail transit, streetcar lines, and commuter rail services, and will be an integral part of an overall transit system that will serve over four times as many transit riders as the system did in 2001.  The Division also oversees the planning and implementation of Neighborhood Transit Centers, Park 'N Ride lots, and the bus stop facilities program (signs, benches, shelters, and other passenger amenities).  The Division interacts with local, State and Federal agencies; participates in regional long range transportation planning;  conducts public involvement and community relation activities for rapid transit planning;  represent transit interests in City, County, and Town policy development; and directs the CATS Art-In-Transit program.

Dee Pereira
Administration Manager
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Administration Division
Key Ongoing Activities

The Administration Division headed by Dymphna Pereira develops and manages CATS' annual budgets, State and Federal grants, external financing and human resources activities within the Public Transit Department.   The Administration Division also provides procurement and contract administration services; ensures CATS compliance with Federal, State and local laws and regulations; and plans and implements information technology requirements.

Olaf Kinard
Marketing & Communications Manager
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Marketing & Communications Division
Key Ongoing Activities

Olaf Kinard heads up the Marketing and Communications Division of CATS, which promotes community relations, develops communications, and marketing programs to increase ridership for CATS.  The Marketing division manages all of CATS' customer service activities, including the Customer Service information line, which handles trip planning, comments, queries and  complaints from the public; all pass sales and customer information needs at the transit center, conducts extensive market research to ensure CATS' continued ability to meet customer needs; conducts public involvement and community relations activities, manages the Employee Transportation Coordinator program; and manages media relations for CATS.