Seeking a new challenge after spearheading massive growth on the Corridor Transportation Corp., Ray Ambrose resigned from his post as chief operating officer. His last day was Tuesday.
"I think everyone comes to the point in [their] career where they'd like to move on to another career. I think that's where I was," said the West Laurel resident.
When Ambrose, 56, took over in March 1989, the bus system had about 200,000 riders a year and was just beginning, he said. Since then, the number has risen to about 2 million riders per year.
But what makes the CTC unique is that it is not a governmental organization like most other transit systems. Instead it is a non-profit business that relies on funds from local governments and businesses to manage the Howard County-based Howard Transit and the City of Laurel and Anne Arundel County-based Connect-A-Ride.
"It was really a demonstration project. An experiment in how a local bus system is managed. We weren't the government, but a combination of businesses through the [Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber]," he said.
CTC president Becky Mangus said Ray has helped make regional transit a primary focus for the counties.
"When you are running a regional transportation system that is made of individual counties, you just naturally have certain challenges," she said. "And he's worked very well with the different individual counties and the city of Laurel in making one cohesive relationship. "
BWCC president Walt Townshend III has worked with Ambrose throughout his career with the CTC.
"He is a very gregarious and most affable guy. He is self-effacing, never takes the credit that really is due him for all the things he's been able to accomplish," he said. "He has earned the respect of his peers around the region and state."
Throughout the two decades, Townshend added that the two never argued or exchanged any angry words.
"I think that's pretty incredible," he said.
Ambrose said the dealing with different jurisdictions also added to the job's uniqueness.
"With Laurel being the confluence of the four counties, so much of our service goes into two or sometimes three jurisdictions," he said. "We deal with a lot of government organizations and we try to keep everyone on the same page when proposing changes or additions to service."
Ambrose said he had been thinking about resigning for over a year, thinking it was the right time for the organization to look for new leadership.
The new CEO, John Powell Jr., said Ambrose left a lasting impression on the CTC.
"You don't really replace Ray. What I am trying to do is learn the area and have the best understanding of the way the area works and build on the relationships Ray has created," he said.
Ambrose said the challenges facing him when he started remain the same.
"The area is growing, and the challenge is keeping the transit service growing with some similar pace," he said.
Ambrose, who is married with two children, said he is going to take a little bit of time off before starting on his next transit adventure.
"I'm looking into doing a startup company, or maybe some transit consulting," he said.
E-mail Timmy Gelles at tgelles@gazette.net.
