Don Orseno, executive director and chief executive officer of Metra, which provides commuter rail service in the Chicago area, has announced plans to retire in December, after 43 years of service.
Orseno was appointed acting executive director/CEO in August 2013, and his appointment was made permanent in January 2014. Since then, he has provided overall leadership and direction to all areas of Metra operations and administration and oversaw Metra’s $1 billion annual budget.
Orseno’s accomplishments include expanding Metra’s railcar and locomotive rehabilitation program, implementing new or enhanced safety programs, overhauling Metra’s Police Department, and developing Metra’s new enterprise resource planning system to replace its outdated back-office systems.
“Don’s retirement is a major loss to Metra. He has a nationwide reputation as an outstanding commuter railroad executive who is very well-respected within the railroad industry and by state legislators and members of Congress,” said Metra Board Chariman Norman Carlson.
“As a railroader with 43 years of experience, he will be sorely missed. We are grateful for his tremendous service and pleased that he will stay on through the end of the year to help with the transition to new leadership,” added Carlson.
In 1974, Orseno began his career as a ticket collector on Chicago Rock Island & Pacific Railroad commuter trains. In 1984, he began working for Metra and has held progressively senior leadership positions, including serving as deputy executive director and chief operating officer.
He is a member of the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA’s) Board of Directors and served as chairman of its Commuter Rail Committee and its Commuter Rail CEO Subcommittee.
He also is a member of the Safety Operations and Management Committee of the Association of American Railroads, the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. Board of Directors and a past member of the Eno Center of Transportation Board of Advisors Executive Leader Subcommittee.
Orseno also served as the past President of the Association of American Railroad Superintendents and the Chicago Railroad Superintendents Association, where he currently serves on the Board of Directors.
“Metra has been a great place to work for over three decades and I’m extremely grateful for each and every one of the opportunities I’ve had along the way. By working closely with the Board of Directors and staff, we’ve been able to get through some tough times and accomplish great things. I’m pleased that the agency is back on track,” Orseno said.
Metra’s Board of Directors has formed a committee to launch a nationwide search to identify the agency’s next executive director/CEO, with the goal of hiring someone this fall. The committee, comprised of Vice Chairman Romayne Brown and Directors Don De Graff and Jack Partelow, will immediately begin its search for Orseno’s replacement.