MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood has resigned from his post because of “immigration and personal matters.”
Near the end of the transportation authority’s July 17 meeting, chief legal counsel Jonathan Hunt introduced a resolution for a separation of service for Greenwood, a Canadian, saying that the CEO had “served the authority with distinction and moved the authority forward.”
Hunt listed several achievements under Greenwood’s three-year tenure, including MARTA being named the American Public Transit Associations Agency of the Year, achieving a AAA bond rating, and operating in “challenging fiscal and inflationary times.”
“Whereas Collie Greenwood, due to immigration and personal matters, has elected to leave his employment and elected early retirement as the authority’s general manager and CEO,” said Hunt reading the resolution.
A statement from MARTA released after the meeting said that Greenwood is a Canadian citizen “and was recently notified that his Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) is forthcoming after the expiration of his Employment Authorization Document (EAD or work permit) this summer.”
“Upon expiration of his work permit on June 18, 2025, and out of an abundance of caution, Mr. Greenwood ceased working, personally notified all MARTA board members and executive leadership individually and signed a delegation of authority to Ms. Allen,” the statement said. “Mr. Greenwood’s Canadian visa is valid, and he remains in this country legally awaiting imminent delivery of his Green Card.”
MARTA called the immigration process as extensive and has had an impact on Mr. Greenwood’s personal and professional progress. These challenges have been resolved with Mr. Greenwood’s decision, and the MARTA family supports him.”
Greenwood issued a statement on his decision to retire as CEO.
“My wife and I have decided this is a good opportunity to take an early retirement and spend more time with our family and friends,” Greenwood said. “I do want to thank the board, the executive leadership team, and everyone at MARTA for their support and their continued work to improve and grow transit service in this region.”
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens issued a statement wishing Greenwood success in his future endeavors.
“As we look ahead, my administration remains committed to building a world-class transit system for Atlanta and the entire region,” Dickens said. “A safe, reliable and connected MARTA is essential to our goals for equity, economic mobility and sustainability, and to my vision of a city built for the future with opportunity for all.”
Hunt said the board of directors will pay the balance of Greenwood’s contract term and severance set forth in his employment agreement. The board passed a resolution appointing MARTA Chief Customer Experience Officer Rhonda Allen as acting general manager and CEO until an interim manager is selected.
According to the MARTA website, Allen began her 25-year career at MARTA as an engineering intern, including stints in engineering, construction management, project management and strategic planning roles.
Related stories:
• MARTA to proceed with Five Points Station renovation
• MARTA owes $70M to Atlanta transit expansion program, audit finds
“While an engineer at heart, she has always brought a customer-focused lens to the projects under her direction,” the website said.
The board also approved a resolution to form a search committee for Greenwood’s successor.
Board chair Jennifer Ide said Greenwood was not able to be present at the meeting “because of his immigration status.”
Ide complimented Greenwood on his service, saying that he “got us through some difficult times at the end of COVID and the transition of losing our previous general manager very unexpectedly.”
According to the MARTA website, Greenwood, a former bus operator, joined MARTA as the Chief of Bus Operations and Urban Planning in July 2019 and was appointed Deputy General Manager of Operations and Urban Planning in 2020.
In October 2022, the MARTA Board of Directors named him General Manager and CEO after the death of Jeffrey Parker, who held the position from March 2018 until his death in January 2022, which was by suicide.
Prior to joining MARTA, Greenwood served as Chief Service Officer at North America’s third-largest transit system, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). During his tenure, he oversaw bus, subway, streetcar, accessible transit, station services, and transit security and guided the TTC through several transformative initiatives.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is released.