Celia Kupersmith

Kupersmith has more than 30 years of experience in transportation planning and management involving all surface transportation modes including roads, bus and rail transit, ferries, bridges, toll facilities, and regional planning. 

She holds a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from Texas A& M University and a bachelor’s degree from Texas State University. As the youngest and first female General Manager/CEO of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District in San Francisco CA, she led the agency through a comprehensive modernization program impacting all aspects of the bridge, bus and ferry systems as well as the administrative functions. In addition to her tenure with the Golden Gate Bridge District, she served on the Board of Directors of the Tahoe Transportation District, was Executive Director of the Northwest Pacific Railroad Authority, and served as Executive Director of the Regional Transportation Commission in Reno NV. Her experience in Nevada included leading the regional Metropolitan Planning Organization, significantly increasing funding for road construction programs, and fully implementing a compressed natural gas paratransit fleet. Kupersmith also served as Deputy CEO of Sound Transit in Seattle WA, leading efforts to expand construction of light rail and commuter rail facilities in the Puget Sound Region. She is now a Principal in the executive recruiting firm of KL2 Connects, LLC headquartered in Asheville NC. As a Principal in the company, she has successfully led several significant recruitment searches within the public transportation industry with a strong focus on bringing forth new and diverse talent within the industry.