Former Amtrak CEO Gardner Joins Consulting Firm

Stephen Gardner

NEWARK, N.J. –– Former Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner has joined Telos Advisors, an advisory firm.

Telos Advisors specializes in transportation and infrastructure projects, and Gardner has joined the company as a Strategic Advisory Board Member. The Board consists of a team of former transportation executives providing strategic consulting/advisory services for complex infrastructure projects to public and private clients.

As most RT&S readers know, Gardner is the former CEO of Amtrak, where he oversaw the national intercity passenger rail operator operating both long-distance trains and busy corridors.

Gardner began working at Amtrak in 2009 after working for nearly a decade on Capitol Hill, where he focused on surface transportation policy. His time on the Hill, plus his tenure at Amtrak, have given Gardner over 15 years of experience at the national level.

Telos Co-Founders Eric Daleo and Megan Strickland said “Stephen is a seasoned transportation expert with deep experience in railroading and federal transportation policy who has managed complex organizations and led one of the largest capital programs in the United States. We’re excited to welcome him to Telos and to leverage his expertise as we continue to support clients navigating critical infrastructure and investment initiatives.”

For his part, Gardner said that “I’m excited to join Telos’s Advisory Board and the committed group of seasoned transportation leaders and experts they’ve gathered to help clients take on challenging projects and achieve major goals. In an increasingly complex landscape, Telos has the know-how and unique capacity to support clients through rapid change, major transactions, and game-changing deals.”

Gardner’s key areas of focus at Telos Advisers will include rail and transit policy, funding strategy, customer experience and service planning, safety, and network development.

Gardner earned a Bachelor of Arts from Hampshire College.