Leaders and managers, because they are more accustomed to solving problems for their organizations and employees, are more likely to avoid identifying that they have their own struggles. We are now more acutely and painfully aware that this is a dangerous assumption. When we see someone in Jeff’s position, many times we assume that they are exempt from internal suffering because externally, on the surface, all seems well. We often have preconceived and false perceptions when it comes to who is at risk for suicide. The risk of suicide has also been heightened during this pandemic, with reports of an increasing number of people experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression. dies by suicide, and suicide rates have been on the rise over the last two decades. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reported last September that more than 50% of Americans say that they have been personally impacted by suicide and that every 11 minutes, someone in the U.S. Suicide ripples out in much different ways than other deaths. Hearing of his death was a shock, but those feelings reached greater depths upon learning the circumstances of how he was taken from us, his family and from others that loved him. He was a man that I both admired and respected. We have worked, laughed, exchanged friendly fire, and achieved many successes together. Moreover, Jeff and I have been colleagues, in both the transit and tolling sectors. Jeff served as vice president at IBTTA-member HNTB and was an active participant at numerous IBTTA events and an avid supporter of our organization. I first met Jeff years before he took the helm at MARTA. Mixed with that was feeling the heavy weight of the mantle of leadership as a MARTA board member and Transit Partner as I notified my board, colleagues, and staff of news I never thought I would ever have to share. As the news spread on Saturday, the entire day was filled with a deep sadness for this tremendous loss to his wife, their two daughters, his parents and loved ones and his MARTA family. Greenwood has been central to that work and his appointment ensures continuity of our shared vision.Hearing the unimaginable news of the passing of Jeff Parker on Friday, January 14th was an experience that I know, like many others who knew him, I will never forget. “ Jeff Parker has built an incredible team of professionals to lead MARTA into its expansion phase with a renewed commitment to improving the customer experience. “ An experienced transit professional and former Chief Service Officer with the Toronto Transit Commission, Greenwood joined MARTA in 2019 as the head of Bus Operations and was promoted to Deputy General Manager of Operations last January. “ In a unanimous vote, the MARTA Board of Directors has named Collie Greenwood as interim General Manager and CEO of MARTA at a specially called board meeting on Saturday, January 15, 2022, held after the sudden death of Jeffrey Parker. ![]() ![]() The MARTA Board of Directors also announced that Collie Greenwood would serve as interim General Manager and CEO. Before and afterward, he served as a Systems Engineer/Project Manager with Parsons from 1998-2000, Senior Director of Transportation Operations at MARTA from 2005-2008, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation from 2008-2011, a Vice President at HNTB from 2011 to 2018 and, finally, General Manager and CEO of MARTA since 2018. ![]() First, as Chief, Operations Control Center and Training from 1985 to 1998, then as Director of Subway Operations and Rail Vehicle Engineering from 2000-2005. As we continue to grieve, we want you to know that suicide is preventable and help is available to you.”Īccording to LinkedIn, Parker was a 1989 graduate of Northeastern University with a B.S, in computer science. “As we struggle to understand the complexity of this tragedy, we grieve with and for his wife Erin, his daughters and all of Jeff’s family and friends as well as his MARTA family. The entire metro Atlanta region owes him a debt of gratitude for his transformational efforts and we will not stop working to build on the foundation he created. “As Chairwoman and on behalf of my fellow MARTA board members, we are devastated at this loss as we valued Jeff’s leadership and looked forward to him bringing his vision for transit to fruition. He was an outstanding leader and steward of MARTA whose passing leaves us all heartbroken. “The MARTA Board of Directors grieves the shocking death of our GM/CEO Jeff Parker who has died by suicide. Here is the statement from MARTA Board of Directors Chairwoman Rita Scott on the passing of MARTA General Manager & CEO Jeffrey Parker:
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