photo of Doug Kelsey

Doug Kelsey

General Mgr
TriMet

Located in Portland, Oregon, Doug Kelsey leads the state’s largest public transit provider, the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet), as General Manager. Relying on his extensive international private sector business expertise and executive management background, Kelsey leads the agency’s delivery of bus, light rail, commuter rail and paratransit services across a 533-square-mile – three-county service district while setting the agency on a strategic path for the future. He spearheads partnerships with federal, state, local leaders and the private sector to elevate the importance of transit projects and services.

Kelsey was promoted to General Manager in March 2018 after two years as TriMet’s Chief Operating Officer. In that position, Kelsey directed all operational, transportation, safety, security and information technology functions, as well as chaired TriMet’s Capital Committee. Under Kelsey’s direction, the transit agency implemented its first comprehensive strategic business plan.

Before joining TriMet, Kelsey served in various leadership capacities at TransLink, the Vancouver, B.C. metro area’s regional transit and roads and bridges transportation authority, including Chief Operating Officer as well as President and General Manager of its large bus and rail companies.

Kelsey earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Principia College and also graduated from the CEO Program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Kelsey served on the Board of Directors for the Western Transportation Advisory Council (Canada) and two Canadian Football Grey Cup Organizing Committees. Kelsey worked at the executive level in the design and delivery of multiple Olympic and Paralympic Games. He currently serves on the Board for the IAAF World Track & Field Championships in 2021 – the first to be held in the U.S.

[Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.]

Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.

Events featuring Doug Kelsey
Events featuring Doug Kelsey