Management Team
Susan Altshuler — Chief Technology Officer
Ms. Altshuler offers Alternate Concept’s clients more than 25 years of transit industry experience, with a focus on the implementation of new technologies in operations. She has introduced innovative systems to more than a dozen transit agencies in the United States that leveraged existing resources to meet expanding demands.
At ACI, Ms. Altshuler has worked on a variety of projects, including Mobilization Manager for the Denver FastTracks Commuter Rail Operations & Maintenance contract; expanded use of management information systems at Tren Urbano in Puerto Rico for rail vehicle maintenance, systems maintenance and inventory departments; enhanced MIS capabilities in MBCR’s commuter rail vehicle maintenance department focused on project tracking, labor accountability, and defect tracking; and implemented a common MIS system that promotes consistent operations management and reporting for all ACI contracts.
Prior to joining ACI, Ms. Altshuler served as Director of Operations Technology for the MBTA and Director of Information Technology for KKO and Associates, Inc.
Kevin Walsh, General Manager, Paul Revere Transportation LLC
Mr. Walsh is a 30-year veteran in the bus industry with senior level management experience in fixed route bus operations and maintenance. He is responsible for planning, organizing, managing, and directing the operation and maintenance of Paul Revere Transportation's revenue and non-revenue bus fleet for service operations. In this role, he directs transportation for all divisions and contract clients that use daily shuttles as well as fulfilling all transportation requirements to non-contract customers. Mr. Walsh administers collective bargaining agreements with union representatives; and oversees and directs the company’s emergency response program at Logan International Airport.
Before joining Paul Revere, Mr. Walsh retired from his 23-year career at the MBTA after serving as the Superintendent of Southampton Automotive and of Everett Automotive, only a decade after working as a mechanic in the Quincy garage. His career is marked by having worked at or with every bus garage in the MBTA’s system. His maintenance background has helped forge more efficient methodologies in bus operations maintenance. Throughout his career, Mr. Walsh has taken on challenging positions that require skillful leadership to develop teams that work together in a safe and effective manner. His experience in maintenance brings a unique, perspective that yields positive results. Mr. Walsh joined Paul Revere in 2012 to oversee the transition of the Massport fixed route shuttle bus operation from Paul Revere’s maintenance facility to a new Massport-owned facility, the Green Bus Depot, at Logan- International Airport and to introduce a new fleet of 40-foot CNG and 60-foot DEH NABI buses, successfully implementing new training programs and inspections schedules and warranty management for the fleet.
Patrick V. Aufiero — General Counsel
Mr. Aufiero is responsible for ACI’s legal affairs including corporate governance and compliance, and overseeing aspects of contract related governance, negotiation and compliance. Mr. Aufiero also supports risk management, business development and project management for the company.
Prior to joining ACI, Mr. Aufiero served as Bid Director on the proposal submitted by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad (MBCR) as part of a $4.28 billion transportation procurement for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s commuter rail system and as MBCR’s Transition Director. Prior to that Mr. Aufiero was an associate attorney at a leading Boston boutique law firm specializing in a myriad of complex practice areas including transportation, regulatory policy, licensing and permitting, telecommunications and municipal law.
Anne E. Bickford — Director, Transit O&M Services
Ms. Bickford offers ACI clients more than 34 years of experience in public and private sector rail transportation. She is a skilled project manager, with a deep understanding of rail transit operations, maintenance, management, planning, finance, budgeting, and administration. Ms. Bickford began her career at the MBTA, where she rose swiftly to the position of Deputy Director and Chief of Staff of Operations, managing a workforce of over 5000. Ms. Bickford joined ACI shortly after its founding in 1989. Over the 25 years since, she has been instrumental in ACI’s award and successful management of its contracts for rail and bus services, leading to ACI’s current position as one of the largest U.S. owned private providers of bus and rail transportation services.
Ms. Bickford is experienced with DBOM and P3 projects, having performed extensive work on the Tren Urbano Rail project in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Denver Eagle P3 Project, and the Maryland Purple Line P3 Project. She has significant experience with rail system start-ups and implementation of procedures, systems and processes that enhance the quality and reliability of public transportation services.
Bernard Cohen — Senior Advisor Operations and Planning
During his 34-year career in transportation, Bernard Cohen has held senior management positions at three of the nation’s largest public transportation agencies and served as Secretary of Transportation for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where he won legislative approval for new investment of approximately $10 billion for improved transportation infrastructure. Prior to serving as Transportation Secretary, and following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Mr. Cohen was appointed to head a new Federal Transit Administration office in Lower Manhattan, where he oversaw a $4.55 billion program to rebuild subway and roadway infrastructure that was destroyed on 9/11.
Mr. Cohen also led the mobilization effort at the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad prior to taking over the operation and maintenance of commuter rail service in 2003. At the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, he directed an Operations Department with 5,900 employees and a $300 million annual budget. While at the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority he served as Chief of Staff to the Chairman and later oversaw multiple major transit expansion planning studies. Mr. Cohen also served as communications chief for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, overseeing media relations, customer service, and community relations.
Mr. Cohen joined ACI in 2010, where his first assignment was to manage multiple major corrective maintenance projects at Tren Urbano in Puerto Rico. Since then, he has helped to secure a number of new O&M contracts for ACI.
Anthony Gouveia — Mechanical Engineer
Mr. Anthony Gouveia joined ACI in April of 2021 with two years of transit experience and a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maine. Mr. Gouveai is actively engaged in the MBTA Green Line Projection System contract and has produced inventive protypes and designs using SoildWorks. Prior to joining ACI, Mr. Gouveia was a Vehicle Engineer Intern with LTK – Rail Engineering where he participated in the inspection of MBTA Green Line vehicles during the phase for the Type-10 Green Line train, and gained experience with the Green Line overhead catenary system. Mr. Gouveia was also employed a Resident Engineer with City Point Partners LLC where he performed quality control and quality assurance of the MBTA’s signal system installations for the positive train control (PTC) system on the commuter rail.
Laureen Hartnett — Senior Proposal Manager
Ms. Hartnett has direct responsibility for overall contract administration, financial analysis and administrative support, including payroll, budgeting, and development of administrative systems, policies and procedures on the Valley Metro Rail Transportation Services contract. Ms. Hartnett provides general human resources support in the areas of compliance, the development and implementation of employment policies, and the administration of various employee benefits programs for all ACI operations. Ms. Hartnett also plays a key role in the development of proposals for operations contracts held by both ACI and Paul Revere Transportation.
Anne Y. Herzenberg — General Manager, Denver Transit Operators, Denver, CO
On-site in Denver, Ms. Herzenberg has overall authority and responsibility for all aspects of operations and maintenance (O&M) of the commuter rail system in Denver. The railroad was created through the Eagle P3 project, a public-private-partnership that designed and built the system and is now providing O&M services for a period of 29 years. Revenue service began in April 2016 and had carried 10 million passengers by the end of 2017. Ms. Herzenberg recruited the workforce for Denver Transit Operators LLC (DTO), oversaw a comprehensive training program for all employees and led the mobilization and startup of the service on the "A" and "B" Lines. She has also readied a team of transit professionals to begin operating the third and final line - the "G" Line - in 2018. Ms. Herzenberg oversees all of the day to day activities of the railroad and manages DTO's business interests.
Prior to joining ACI, Ms. Herzenberg served as the Chief Operations Officer for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and was responsible for all subway, bus, commuter rail and paratransit operations.
James Hurley — Chief Mechanical Officer-Transit
Mr. Hurley brings 33 years of experience in rail vehicle maintenance to the ACI team providing expertise in maintenance process planning and project implementation. Mr. Hurley oversees the maintenance, overhaul, procurement, start-up and upgrade of ACI’s rail vehicles and systems, and leads material sourcing and obsolescence initiatives to improve reliability and control costs throughout ACI’s rail operations.
Mr. Hurley had a 24-year career at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), where he directed Light Rail and Rapid Transit facilities and was responsible for all aspects of vehicle maintenance and implementing capital improvements. Fostering collaboration between innovative managers and a skilled workforce, his teams developed strategies to rapidly retrofit and improve the reliability of various fleets.
Bernie McCall — Chief Mechanical Officer-Railroad
Mr. Bernie McCall is a 35-year veteran in the rail industry with senior level management experience within Class 1 freight railroad, short line railroad, commuter rail and streetcar operations. His maintenance background has helped forge more efficient methodologies in several organizations. Throughout his career, Mr. McCall has taken on challenging positions that required skillful leadership to develop teams working together in a safe, collaborative, and effective manner. His experience in both maintenance and train operations equips Mr. McCall with a unique comprehensive view of rail transportation service.
Mr. McCall began his rail career with the Penn Central RR and rose through the ranks with the predecessor railroads retiring from CSX railroad, in Jacksonville, FL, as the Assistant Vice President Locomotive Management where he led a team of 30 managers deploying the 4000+ locomotive fleet. While in this position he helped CSX achieve a 75% operating ratio for the first time ever.
After retiring from CSX Mr. McCall immediately joined the Pan AM Southern RR, a joint venture between Norfolk Southern RR and Guilford Transportation Systems, as the General Manager developing a scheduled train network between Ayer, MA and Rotterdam Junction, NY.
Mr. McCall’s affiliation with ACI began in 2011 where he accepted the Chief Mechanical Officer’s position of the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad (MBCR), the fifth largest commuter railroad in the US. ACI was one of three partners operating and maintaining the railroad. During his tenure at MBCR he brought his passion for safety and customer service driving the mechanical team to the best FRA safety frequency index ever achieved at 1%. In addition, through his efforts of workforce realignments, promoting technical training and partnering with the other departments leading to improvements of locomotive and coach availability, equipment reliability and the ability to add trains to the network.
Mr. McCall currently serves as a senior mechanical associate at ACI working on various projects including the Purple Line and developing a transit locomotive leasing company with a private equity group.
William F. McClellan — Chief Safety and Training Officer
Mr. McClellan supports ACI projects with more than 30 years of experience in transit safety, management, and operations. His expertise spans passenger rail and bus operations, maintenance, training, safety, and administration. Mr. McClellan is a US DOT-certified Transit Safety and Security Executive for bus and rail. Other certifications include the World Safety Organization Certified Safety Executive (WSO-CSE), FTA Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan Program, and Safety Management Systems for transit operations (TSSP).
Mr. McClellan provides safety and operational support on all ACI projects including New Starts testing, commissioning, and Operational Readiness. He has received industry recognition for his expertise including a highly successful Defensive Operations Program, an APTA Recommended Practice.
Prior to joining ACI, Mr. McClellan spent 30 years working for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, rising to the position of Assistant General Manager for Rail Operations, where he was responsible for all aspects of Transportation, Operations Control Center, Training, Vehicle Maintenance, Quality Assurance, and Back Shop areas within the Operations Directorate. He was responsible for over 3,000 employees, 600 transit vehicles and budgets more than $400 million. He has successfully advanced transit-oriented development and other capital construction projects, most notably the reconstruction of Government Center, Orient Heights, and Assembly Square Stations; rolling stock procurements; and heavy rail vehicle overhaul programs.
Mr. McClellan is an active member of the APTA Operating Practices Working Group, Rail Safety Committee, Rail Transit Committee, Rail Transit Standards Policy & Panning Committee (2nd Chair), Rail Transit Vehicle Inspection & Maintenance Working Group and the Streetcar Subcommittee.
Michael Mulhern — Chief Operating Officer
Michael Mulhern is a seasoned transit industry professional whose career spans over three decades of rail operations. Mr. Mulhern serves as our Chief Operations Officer supporting our rail operations and maintenance organizations in Arizona, Denver, Maryland and Puerto Rico. A career veteran of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA); hired as a track maintainer and rising through the ranks to Chief Operating Officer and ultimately retiring from the agency after serving as the General Manager / Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Mulhern’s career at the MBTA is marked by his hands-on experience at every level of subway operations while furthering his education and assuming positions of increasing responsibilities.
Mr. Mulhern was a leading force in introducing advanced technologies to the nation’s oldest subway system including the state-of-the-art Operations Control Center and subway Station Management systems. Post September 11th, Mr. Mulhern developed the Secure Station initiative which leveraged and integrated multiple capital investments at the MBTA to make Boston’s subway system one of safest in the industry.
Throughout his career Mr. Mulhern has heavily invested in the people that work for him. Serving as a manager, a mentor, and a coach he has helped to develop some of the most skilled professionals in the US transit industry. Many of Mr. Mulhern’s proteges lead agencies or work in senior level positions across North America. He is first and foremost a teacher and an innovator. He also served as lecturer at Washington DC’s Eno Center for Transit Leadership from 2005 -2015. Mr. Mulhern has taught Transportation Public Policy and International Business Consulting at Boston College and Suffolk University.
Michael Ohmstede — Controller
Mr. Ohmstede joined ACI in 2017. He has more than 25 years of financial leadership experience in high-growth, privately-owned companies after starting his career with eight years in public accounting. Mr. Ohmstede provides accounting, financial reporting and financial operational support for the company’s corporate office as well for as its various operations, ensuring accurate dissemination of information and timely execution.
Paul O'Leary — Chief Financial Officer
Paul O’Leary has over 17 years of experience in the areas of organizational administration, financial management, strategic planning, capital budgeting and transit management. At ACI, he provides financial management for the company and for client contracts, including budget development, contract pricing, performance tracking and monitoring as well as contract and labor negotiations.
Mr. O’Leary joined ACI in 2015 having dedicated the past 11 years to the commuter rail industry. Prior to joining ACI, Mr. O’Leary served as Assistant Chief Engineer for Finance, Administration and Automotive at Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad where his wide- ranging responsibilities included budgetary compliance and interpreting and overseeing labor contracts for seven unions and maintenance of a 400 vehicle non-revenue fleet. He also served as Program Director-Capital Projects for Keolis Commuter Services and was responsible for all force account and third-party projects on the commuter rail system.
William Shannon — Senior Mechanical Advisor
Mr. Shannon is a vehicle operations and project manager with over 30 years of experience performing and overseeing the maintenance, overhaul, procurement, startup and upgrade of rail vehicles and systems. Mr. Shannon provides project management and operational support to ACI’s commuter rail and rapid transit rail projects. For start-up rail projects such as Maryland Purple Line and Denver Eagle Commuter Rail--both P3 projects--Mr. Shannon performs rolling stock and maintenance facility design reviews, inspections and testing. Mr. Shannon also coordinates with the design teams to incorporate details of operational requirements and interfaces. Through startup, Mr. Shannon assembles the Vehicle Maintenance Teams, develops maintenance plans meeting all regulatory requirements, prepares SOP’s covering operations and safety, and works with other departments within the organization to procure equipment and initiate subcontracts.
Prior to joining ACI in 2010 Mr. Shannon spent 23 years at the MBTA specializing in rail vehicle maintenance in positions including Repairer, Direct Line Supervisor, Superintendent, and Deputy CMO for Railroad Operations.
Kate Stetner — Assistant Director, Transit O&M Services
Ms. Stetner joined ACI in 2020 with eight years of transportation planning experience. At ACI, Ms. Stetner primarily supports the Maryland Purple Line P3 Project, assisting with various duties related to project management and administration during the current pre-revenue period. Ms. Stetner also provides analytical and research support for other ACI projects and proposals. Prior to joining ACI, Ms. Stetner was the Manager of the Transit Analysis and Planning Group at the Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS), the staff to the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization. In that role, Ms. Stetner oversaw a variety of technical analyses and studies that supported transit planning and policy decisions for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), municipalities, and other organizations in the Boston region. Ms. Stetner led the 2015–2017 MBTA Systemwide Passenger Survey, which was conducted by CTPS for the MBTA in order to collect demographic, travel, and fare payment data about MBTA riders. Ms. Stetner also provided technical support for the development and implementation of the MBTA and MassDOT’s Title VI programs.
Luis V. Villares Sarmiento, Esq. — General Manager, Tren Urbano, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Mr. Villares joined ACI in 2007 and was appointed General Manager in 2013. As General Manager, Mr. Villares has overall authority and responsibility for day-to-day management of Tren Urbano operations and maintenance and serves as the primary point of contact with the Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority (HTA). Prior to becoming General Manager Mr. Villares was General Counsel for ACI’s Tren Urbano operation. As chief legal officer , his responsibilities included overseeing the company’s compliance with contractual obligations with HTA, subcontractors and vendors. He was also responsible for labor relations and managed the company’s insurance and risk reduction programs. In addition, he supported all departments within the organization to assure compliance with applicable rules, regulations, internal standard of operations procedures, and the company’s core policies. Prior to joining ACI, Mr. Villares was in private practice with a law firm in Puerto Rico. His litigation practice included First Instance and Appellate Courts of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. district Court for the District of Puerto Rico, and U.S. Appellate Court for the First Circuit.
Dion Stubbs — General Manager, Valley Metro Light Rail Transportation Services, Phoenix, Arizona
On-site in Phoenix, Mr. Stubbs has overall responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the light rail services and serves as the primary point of contact with the Valley Metro Rail, Inc. (VMR). Mr. Stubbs brings over three decades of public transit experience in heavy, light rail, school bus and paratransit.
Prior to joining ACI, Mr. Stubbs was continually promoted during his career with the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, rising to the position of Deputy Chief Operating Officer. There he assisted in the oversight and management of the entire operation of the nation’s fourth largest regional public transit authorityand oversaw 6000 employees.
In addition, Mr. Stubbs has also worked for several transit entities including: Transdev, Medical Transportation Management, and First Student. Dion comes with a management style focused on “Team-Building and a Hands-On-Approach.”
Dion joined the ACI team, in August 2021where he held the position as Rail Control Center Manager at the Eastside Access Project for MTA, New York. In addition, Mr. Stubbs served as a Safety & Training Manager/Technical Advisor for the Red & Orange Lines Program Management/Construction Management Project and the Green Line Train Protection Project.
