Team

Debra A. Johnson is a person in the people business, a transit executive guided by the knowledge that her decision-making has direct bearing on the public’s ability to make connections that benefit their lives. Johnson was selected as General Manager and CEO of Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) by the agency’s Board of Directors on Aug. 25, 2020. She is the first woman to lead the agency in its 52-year history.

Johnson joined RTD on Nov. 9, 2020, from Long Beach Transit, where she served as Deputy CEO of the Southern California agency from May 2014 to October 2020. Prior to that, Johnson held executive positions at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro), the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).

Johnson holds a master of arts degree in public administration from California State University Hayward (now CSU East Bay), and a bachelor of arts degree in international relations from the University of California Davis. She is a proud alumna of civic leadership programs in San Francisco and Long Beach, as well as the Eno Center for Transportation’s Executive Development Program. Johnson serves on the American Public Transportation Association (APTA)’s Board of Directors, Commuter Rail CEOs Committee and Emerging Leaders Committee. She is a board member of the American Public Transportation Foundation.

Johnson is also active with the Women’s Transportation Seminar and the Conference of Minority of Transportation Officials (COMTO). She has received numerous awards and accolades, including being named in 2019 by COMTO as one of 10 “Women Who Move the Nation.”

Kelly Mackey is a strategic and results-driven finance executive with 22 years of experience, specializing in complex financial operations and organizational transformation. As Chief Financial Officer, she is responsible for overseeing the agency’s $1.4 billion budget, stewarding resources with fiscal integrity on behalf of more than 3,000 employees, and driving financial strategies that support RTD’s mission to make lives better through connections.

Mackey brings a robust and diverse background, most notably through her 15-year career at Staples, where she held multiple leadership roles supporting the company’s B2B e-commerce distribution and delivery business. At Staples, she led an 88-person team driving operational execution, data-driven decisions, and planning for one of North America's largest private delivery networks. Her leadership enabled measurable improvements in financial discipline and operational efficiency across supply chain, customer experience, and field operations.

Mackey is a Certified Public Accountant and an alumna of Harvard Business School through the Advanced Management Program. She holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Colorado Denver and earned her Bachelor of Science in Finance, summa cum laude, with a minor in Spanish from Oral Roberts University. An avid runner, Mackey draws inspiration from the discipline and endurance of long-distance running—qualities she brings to her leadership approach at RTD.

Mr. Morgan assumed the role of Senior Manager of Debt and Investments for RTD in 2012 and oversees the capital financing and investment management activities of the District. Mr. Morgan has over 20 years of diversified experience in various public and corporate finance and accounting roles. He previously served as the debt manager for Jefferson County, Colorado. Prior to his roles in Colorado local government, Mr. Morgan worked in corporate finance and the financial services industry. Mr. Morgan has an undergraduate degree in Finance from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey.