Latest news with #MARTA
Mint
3 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
US Green Card delay forces MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood to step down mid-tenure
In a striking example of how immigration hurdles can impact even top leadership roles, Collie Greenwood, the CEO of one of America's largest public transit systems, has stepped down after his work permit expired, before his green card could be processed, Newsweek reported. Greenwood, a Canadian citizen and head of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), was forced into early retirement after his Employment Authorisation Document (EAD) lapsed in June. Despite being in the US legally and awaiting his green card, he was no longer permitted to work under current immigration laws. According to MARTA's official statement, Greenwood's green card approval is imminent, but the gap in documentation left him with no choice but to step aside. 'Mr. Greenwood's Canadian visa is valid, and he remains in the US legally while awaiting delivery of his Green Card,' the agency said. His absence was noted during Thursday's board meeting, where MARTA Chair Jennifer Ide described the situation as 'very unfortunate' and acknowledged that immigration in the United States remains a complicated issue. Greenwood did not attend the meeting due to his current immigration status. Greenwood's departure marks the end of a remarkable journey. He began his career as a bus driver 35 years ago and rose through the ranks to become CEO of MARTA in 2022. He first joined the agency in 2019 as head of bus operations and urban planning. During his tenure, Greenwood helped steer MARTA through the COVID-19 pandemic and led the organisation following the unexpected death of the previous general manager. Under his leadership, the agency is now preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Atlanta set to host eight matches, including a semifinal. Greenwood's exit comes at a time of heightened immigration scrutiny in the United States. Former President Donald Trump has pledged to launch mass deportation efforts if re-elected, and immigration officials have intensified enforcement, targeting even individuals with valid documentation in some instances. Green card processing times can vary widely, ranging from six months to several years, depending on the applicant's nationality and background, leaving many in limbo despite being legally eligible to remain in the country. While MARTA begins the search for Greenwood's permanent replacement, Rhonda Allen, the agency's Chief Customer Experience Officer, has been named interim CEO and general manager.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
US Green Card delay: CEO of one of America's largest public transit authority resigns as work permit expires
The long waiting for American Green Card has started hurting US corporate world. Delays in the U.S. Green Card process are impacting leadership across various sectors. In some cases, it is forcing highly experienced executives to step down as their work permits expire. The growing backlog for permanent residency is now affecting even senior professionals who have legally resided and worked in the country for years, leaving them unable to continue in their critical roles without proper documentation. In a high-profile case highlighting this issue, Collie Greenwood, CEO of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), stepped down on July 17. His departure came after his U.S. work permit expired, and ongoing delays in receiving his green card made it impossible for him to continue in his position. Greenwood, a Canadian national, opted for early retirement, despite MARTA confirming on Thursday that the delivery of his green card remains "imminent." Immigration timelines 'hurting' corporate America Greenwood, who assumed the role of MARTA's CEO in January 2022, is widely credited with stabilizing the transit agency's finances. However, in recent months, MARTA has faced hurdles in executing key expansion and improvement projects. His unexpected departure adds to a series of high-profile resignations within the U.S. transit sector recently, many of which have been linked to operational challenges and increasingly stringent immigration timelines. Greenwood's Employment Authorization Document (EAD) expired on June 18, 2025, prompting his decision to take early retirement. MARTA confirmed that he remains legally in the U.S. on a valid Canadian visa while awaiting the "imminent" arrival of his Green Card. What MARTA said on CEOs resignation Following the expiration of his permit, Greenwood immediately ceased working. He personally informed all MARTA board members and executive leaders of his situation and formally delegated authority to Rhonda Allen, MARTA's Chief Customer Experience Officer. In a statement, MARTA acknowledged the challenging circumstances, saying, 'The immigration process is 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.' AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Was Beyoncé's Atlanta show sabotaged by a cockroach?
Beyoncé's Atlanta concert ended in chaos as 11 fans were injured in a bizarre post-show incident involving a scream, a stampede, and a suspected cockroach. Just after midnight on July 15, concert-goers exiting the final night of the singer's Cowboy Carter tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium packed into the nearby Vine City MARTA station. That's when panic broke out. According to MARTA officials, a 10-year-old girl reportedly screamed after spotting a bug, possibly a cockroach, near the escalator. That scream allegedly triggered a stampede on the crowded moving escalator, which abruptly sped up before coming to a sudden halt. Passengers began toppling over one another, leading to injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to a broken ankle. Footage from the scene shows a chaotic human pile-up, with bystanders rushing to help as the escalator surged then stopped. 'It just created a whole entire slide full of people,' one attendee told local media. 'People were just tumbling on each other.' Though MARTA initially suspected a malfunction, escalator manufacturer Schindler later claimed the system was working as designed but had been overloaded beyond capacity. The escalator has since been barricaded pending further investigation. Online, the incident quickly went viral. TikTok users shared videos of the fall and debated who, or what, was to blame. One video, claiming the screamer was a child frightened by a 'Palmetto bug,' racked up thousands of views. MARTA police and state officials are continuing to review footage and witness accounts, but for now, a simple bug has become the unlikely villain in a night meant to celebrate one of the world's biggest stars.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Top CEO of huge taxpayer-funded company is forced to step down over his immigration status
The head of Atlanta's transit agency has stepped down after losing legal authorization to work in the United States. MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood announced his early retirement following the expiration of his Employment Authorization Document (EAD), which allowed him to work in the U.S. as a Canadian citizen. The surprise resignation was confirmed during a Thursday meeting of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority's Board of Directors. 'Due to immigration and personal matters, [Greenwood] has chosen to leave his employment and elect early retirement,' Jonathan Hunt, MARTA's chief legal counsel, said. Hunt added that the board accepted Greenwood's decision and will honor the remainder of his contract through a severance agreement. Greenwood's work permit expired on June 18, according to The Atlanta Journal Constitution, and while he remains in the U.S. legally on a valid Canadian visa, his green card has not yet been issued. In a statement, MARTA said Greenwood was 'recently notified that his Permanent Resident Card (green card) is forthcoming' and that, 'out of an abundance of caution,' he stopped working when his EAD expired. Greenwood informed the board and MARTA leadership of his decision personally and delegated authority to Rhonda Allen, MARTA's Chief Customer Experience Officer, who has now been named acting CEO. 'This is a sad day for this board and for this authority,' board member Kathryn Powers said in a company meeting, Atlanta News First reported. Further, the taxpayer-funded company issued a statement of its own, commending the now former CEO's time with the company. 'The immigration process is extensive and has had an impact on Mr. Greenwood's personal and professional progress,' the agency said in a statement. 'These challenges have been resolved with Mr. Greenwood's decision, and the MARTA family supports him.' Now, Allen will serve in the interim role while a search is conducted for Greenwood's permanent replacement, however, no timeline for that process has been released. Greenwood was not present at the meeting, with board officials confirming he was unable to attend 'because of his immigration status.' Greenwood joined MARTA in 2019 as Chief of Bus Operations and Urban Planning, became Deputy General Manager of Operations in 2021, and was named CEO in 2022. He began his career 35 years ago as a bus driver and rose through the ranks of public transit leadership in both Canada and the U.S. In a statement, MARTA said Greenwood was 'recently notified that his Permanent Resident Card (green card) is forthcoming' and that, 'out of an abundance of caution,' he stopped working when his EAD expired. Pictured: MARTA Board of Directors raise their hands in acceptance of Greenwood's decision Under his leadership, MARTA earned its highest-ever AAA bond rating and launched several major infrastructure initiatives, including the region's first bus rapid transit line and a systemwide rail station renovation, The Champion Newspaper reported. The American Public Transportation Association named MARTA the 2024 Outstanding Public Transportation System in North America during Greenwood's tenure. In a statement released by MARTA, Greenwood said he and his wife decided that 'this is a good opportunity to take an early retirement and spend more time with our family and friends.' '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,' he added. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens issued a statement thanking Greenwood for his service and reaffirming the city's commitment to expanding MARTA. 'As we look ahead, my administration remains committed to building a world-class transit system for Atlanta and the entire region,' Dickens said. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson criticized the circumstances surrounding Greenwood's departure, blaming immigration policies under President Donald Trump. 'The early, forced retirement of MARTA General Manager CEO Collie Greenwood is another example of the disruption, chaos, and pain that MAGA is inflicting on people's lives and on the nation's economy,' Johnson said. He called Greenwood's exit 'forced by the cruel policies of President Donald Trump.' According to MARTA, Greenwood remains in the country legally while awaiting the 'imminent' delivery of his green card. The agency described the U.S. immigration process as 'extensive' and said it has 'had an impact on Mr. Greenwood's personal and professional progress.' Doug Shipman, president of the Atlanta City Council, responded to the announcement by calling for a 'hard reset' at MARTA and urging the board to engage stakeholders in selecting a successor.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Insect may have caused stampede following Beyoncé concert
An insect may have caused a stampede at an Atlanta metro station as concert-goers left a Beyoncé concert, transit officials say. The 'Single Ladies' singer is on a world tour to promote her country album 'Cowboy Carter.' After a show in Atlanta, fans packed the Vine City Station early Tuesday on their way home from the Mercedes-Benz Stadium downtown. Chaos ensued as an overcrowded escalator started to speed up and then abruptly stop, throwing people to the ground, according to NBC News affiliate WXIA. Transit officials now say the commotion and the injuries of nine people that followed were caused by a girl screaming about a bug. Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority police who were there during the stampede said they heard a scream, and witnesses reported 'the person who screamed was reacting to an insect,' Stephany Fisher, MARTA's senior director of communications, said Friday, per NBC News. 'I believe there's also video on TikTok of a woman claiming it was a 10-year-old relative who screamed when she saw a bug,' Fisher said. He added: 'Video from the rail station clearly shows people reacting and running, but you can't see who screamed or what they were reacting to.' One person caught in the chaos on the escalator suffered a broken ankle, and seven others were hospitalized with cuts and scrapes, the outlet reported. Officials say the ninth person declined to go to the hospital. In a video of the stampede, concert-goers can be seen sliding down an escalator. People can be heard screaming, and the person recording the video was asking if everyone was okay. Several people were seen on the floor of the station, and the person filming said, 'I'm shocked only two people end up on the ground.' Scott Kreher, police chief of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, shared a similar story to Fisher. He said, per WXIA, the commotion was sparked by a girl who unexpectedly saw a cockroach or "palmetto bug.' "There was someone who started to scream outside of the station. She was startled by a bug outside the large crowd," acting CEO Rhonda Allen told the MARTA board Thursday, the local outlet reported. Allen continued: "Imagine a group of people saying, 'I want to get down I want to get down,' began to usher themselves down the escalator.' The official explained how the weight and abrupt movement from the stampede caused the escalator to malfunction. She said the escalator passed an inspection days before the incident. Allen said MARTA will have a 'more aggressive approach' when staffing these types of events and better manage the flow of people onto escalators.
