TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane will be the guest speaker on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at a joint luncheon between ELGL and the OMFOA Developing Professionals. The luncheon will begin at 11:45 a.m. at a location to be announced.
Special thanks to ELGL member and TriMet staff member Rhyan Van Horn and TriMet’s Manager of Corporate Outreach, JC Vannatta for their behind the scenes work.
ELGL’s partnership with OMFOA Developing Professionals is part of a continued effort to strengthen connections within the local government community. Please visit http://elgl.org, ELGL Facebook, Twitter (@OregonELGL), ELGL LinkedIn or Google+ (ELGL Oregon) for additional details on the 2012 ELGL Speaker and Issue Series.
TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane
Previously, McFarlane had served as TriMet’s executive director for capital projects since 1998. In this role, he led the development, design and construction of TriMet’s capital facilities, including the Airport, Interstate, I-205 and Portland Mall MAX extensions, and WES Commuter Rail. From 1991 to 1998, he was TriMet’s project control director for the 18-mile, $963 million Westside light rail project.
Prior to his time at TriMet, McFarlane worked for Metro and helped manage construction for the 500,000-square-foot, $90 million Oregon Convention Center with landmark twin towers, successful public art program and cost-effective design.
McFarlane takes the helm of the agency that is considered a national leader in transit innovation, ranking 7th highest in annual transit rides per capita (TriMet carries more people than any other US transit system its size).
He earned a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1977 and a bachelor’s degree from California State Polytechnic University at Pomona in 1975.
McFarlane grew up in Inglewood, California, and is a 30–year resident of the Portland region. He’s married to Annette and they have two grown children.