Telos Advisers Welcomes Former Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner to Strategic Advisory Board
Telos Advisers, a premier national advisory firm renowned for its expertise in navigating high-stakes transportation and infrastructure projects, has announced a significant expansion of its leadership ranks. Stephen Gardner, the former Chief Executive Officer of Amtrak, has officially joined the company as a Strategic Advisory Board Member.
The move marks a major milestone for Telos, as it continues to solidify its reputation as the “go-to” firm for public and private entities managing the nation’s most intricate infrastructure challenges. Gardner joins an elite roster of former transportation executives, adding a layer of federal policy depth and operational scale that is rarely found in the consulting landscape.
A Legacy of Transformation at Amtrak
Gardner’s transition to Telos comes on the heels of a transformative tenure at the helm of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation. As CEO of Amtrak, Gardner was responsible for overseeing North America’s busiest railway and the United States’ largest intercity passenger rail operator.
His leadership was defined by a period of unprecedented ambition. Under his guidance, Amtrak didn’t just maintain the status quo; it entered a new era of modernization. Gardner was the architect of:
- System-Wide Improvements: Overseeing the largest capital program in Amtrak’s history to upgrade aging infrastructure.
- Service Expansion: Pushing for new corridors and increased frequencies to meet the growing demand for sustainable travel.
- Ridership Growth: Implementing strategies that revitalized the passenger experience, leading to significant post-pandemic recoveries in passenger volume.
“Stephen is a seasoned transportation expert with deep experience in railroading and federal transportation policy,” said Telos Co-founders Eric Daleo and Megan Strickland in a joint statement. “He 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.”
The Intersection of Policy and Operation
What sets Gardner apart is his unique professional trajectory, which bridges the gap between the legislative halls of Washington, D.C., and the operational realities of a 21,000-mile rail network.
Before joining Amtrak in 2009, Gardner spent nearly a decade on Capitol Hill. During his time there, he was a key figure in shaping surface transportation policy, providing him with an insider’s understanding of how federal funding, regulation, and legislative priorities drive local infrastructure projects. This dual perspective—knowing both how a bill becomes a law and how a train stays on the tracks—makes him an invaluable asset for Telos clients who must navigate the bureaucratic and technical hurdles of large-scale transit deals.
During his 15-year career at Amtrak, Gardner was instrumental in:
- Financial Stewardship: Improving the railroad’s financial performance and fiscal accountability.
- Safety Culture: Strengthening safety protocols across the network to meet rigorous modern standards.
- Customer Modernization: Overhauling the customer-facing aspects of rail travel to compete with air and vehicle transport.
Navigating an Increasingly Complex Landscape
Infrastructure in the 2020s is no longer just about concrete and steel. It involves complex public-private partnerships (P3s), evolving federal grant structures, and a rapid shift toward decarbonization and digital integration.
Gardner noted that the current environment requires a specialized kind of guidance. “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,” Gardner stated. “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.”
At Telos, Gardner will focus his efforts on several high-impact areas:
- Rail and Transit Policy: Helping clients align their projects with current federal and state priorities.
- Funding Strategy: Identifying and securing the capital necessary for multi-billion-dollar initiatives.
- Network Development: Planning the physical and operational expansion of transit systems.
- Customer Experience: Designing services that prioritize the end-user to ensure long-term viability.
Strengthening the Telos Advantage
The addition of Stephen Gardner reinforces Telos Advisers’ position as a heavy hitter in the infrastructure advisory space. By integrating former top-tier executives into their workflow, the firm moves beyond traditional consulting, offering “battle-tested” advice from people who have actually sat in the hot seat of public service.
As the United States continues to roll out historic levels of infrastructure investment, the demand for sophisticated advisory services has never been higher. For Telos clients, Gardner’s arrival represents a direct line to the strategies that successfully modernized the nation’s rail backbone.
Whether it is navigating the intricacies of a major transaction or planning a regional service expansion, Telos Advisers—now bolstered by Gardner’s veteran leadership—is uniquely positioned to turn ambitious infrastructure visions into operational realities.
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