New Customer Service DED Named

C O M M I S S I O N N E W S R E L E A S E

Contact: Kathy Liebler, 717-939-9551, Ext. 2840	August 23, 1999
TURNPIKE NAMES CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Harrisburg, PA -- The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission today announced the appointment of Gregory R. Richards, a Harrisburg marketing consultant, to head the Turnpike’s Customer Service Department overseeing fare collection, safety, and marketing as well as the 24 hour operations center and Troop T of the Pennsylvania State Police. Richards, who recently retired from a 25 year long career with AMP Incorporated, will be responsible for a budget of over $75 million and a staff of more than 1,400 employees including the Turnpike’s 1,000 toll collectors. He will begin his new duties September 7, 1999. Prior to leaving AMP in October 1998, Richards had been serving as a Director of Technical/New Product Marketing for the company’s Global Communications Equipment Manufacturers Business Unit. Before that he had served as a Director of New Product Marketing and New Business Development for the Americas, New Business Development Group. In both of those positions, Richards was involved with new product development and growth for several programs which included Intelligent Transportation Systems. Prior posts included Director of Product Marketing and Director of National Accounts, Sales & Distribution for AMP’s Aerospace & Government Systems Sector and several other marketing positions. "Customer service is a top priority at the Pennsylvania Turnpike," said John T. Durbin, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. "This position calls for an effective administrator who can ensure the delivery of services that meet the needs and expectations of our customers. Mr. Richards’ extensive experience with marketing and more specifically, with such programs as Intelligent Transportation Systems, make him appropriately and strongly qualified to manage the Turnpike’s Customer Service department." Richards joins the Turnpike as major technology initiatives are underway including the expansion of advanced traveler information systems across the entire mainline, the start of a computer aided dispatch system in the operations center to enhance communications during emergency situations and the anticipation of electronic toll collection in southeastern and south-central Pennsylvania, the fall of 2000. Richards holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Drexel Institute of Technology. He completed a two-year program at AMP’s Executive College and is a two time recipient of the AMP President’s Excellence Award for Superior Sales Performance. He and his wife reside in Harrisburg. They have three children.

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P.O. Box 67676, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7676 Phone: (717) 939-9551 Fax: (717) 986-9649