M.J. Maynard

As Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC), M.J. Maynard is a master of connectivity – moving 2.4 million Nevadans to connect them to economic, educational, and recreational opportunities, while also transporting millions of tourists each year to one-of-a-kind attractions in the entertainment capital of the world. She leads the only agency nationwide that is responsible for a region’s public transit system, traffic management, roadway and construction funding, and transportation and overall planning efforts – all under one roof.

M.J. joined the RTC in February 2007 as Assistant General Manager of Administrative Services and later served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer prior to leading the agency. In these roles, M.J. and her extensive team managed a budget of more than $367 million annually and oversaw one of the nation’s most efficient bus mode-only transit service operations. During her tenure with the agency, she has launched several groundbreaking initiatives including on-demand mobility options; the rideRTC smartphone app; and a massive transit safety expansion project encompassing the replacement of more than 3,000 bus shelters and amenities.

M.J. worked in Las Vegas’ bustling hospitality industry for more than 25 years prior to joining the RTC, serving as Vice President for Hard Rock Hotel and Casino for more than a decade. In this role, she oversaw a culturally diverse staff of more than 750 employees and was responsible for managing a multi-million dollar annual budget that included capital expansion projects.

Renowned for her financial and business acumen, M.J. and her team incorporate the best practices of the private sector with those of the public sector, using statistics, analytics, and monthly and annual benchmarks to ensure the agency’s fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers.

Considered a leader in public transit management, M.J. was recently appointed to serve on the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) 25-member executive committee and has served on its Board of Directors since 2018. The organization leads efforts to ensure public transportation is available and accessible in communities around the country.

M.J. understands the power of community engagement and is an active philanthropist in Southern Nevada. M.J. serves on the Board of Directors of FirstMed Health and Wellness Center, one of only two federally qualified public health centers in Southern Nevada. She is also a member of the Advisory Council of the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, also known as the Mob Museum.

Nevada Business magazine recognized M.J. as one of its 2021 “Women to Watch,” and she received the 2021 Women of Distinction Award in the Glass Ceiling category from the National Association of Women Business Owners’ Southern Nevada chapter. The Henderson Development Association and the City of Henderson honored her as the 2013 O’Callaghan Public Sector Person of the Year for transportation enhancements and partnerships that support economic development in Henderson. Additionally, the Safe Community Partnership program recognized M.J. in 2010 as the “Safe Communities Angel of the Year.”

M.J. recently completed a full term as a member of the Board of Directors for Hope for Prisoners, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering men, women and young adults to transition from the criminal justice system and successfully reenter society as contributing members of the community. She also previously served as chair of the Henderson District Public Libraries Board of Trustees and as a board member of the Henderson Chamber Foundation.

M.J. holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.