Q&A with Tina Quigley, general manager of the Regional Transportation Commission

Tina Quigley planned for a career in aviation, but finds herself flying a desk these days as general manager of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

A self-described “small-town girl” from Petaluma, Calif., she leads a staff of 270 employees in an agency responsible not only for public transit, but for all the technology involved in traffic management, as well as planning and funding regional roads. It’s the only agency in the U.S. that has all three components under one umbrella.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in aviation business and planning from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Quigley accepted a position as an intern at McCarran International Airport, working for Clark County Director of Aviation Bob Broadbent. Fellow interns were Jacob Snow, who went on to become general manager of the RTC, and Curtis Myles, who now heads the Las Vegas Monorail Company.

Quigley moved to the RTC in 2005 and served as deputy general manager under Snow until 2012, when she moved into the manager’s chair. Since then, she has teamed with business and community leaders to convince the Legislature to index the state fuel tax to inflation, resulting in enough revenue to fund 183 future projects. She’s presently working to get Congress to move forward on the I-11 project, linking Las Vegas to Phoenix and creating a major corridor for freight movement.

What’s the most challenging part of your high-profile job?

There’s a keen awareness and understanding in the community that transportation is important for economic development. With that comes a lot of responsibility and an obligation to do all you can to make your community successful.

How do you balance your job with your home life?

My husband Dale and I have two children, Alyssa, 13, and Aiden, 10. Dale is a pilot who flies Asia-Pacific Rim routes for UPS and is based in California. My parents moved here when the children were small to help care for them. There’s no way I could balance life and work without my parents’ help.

What family activities do you enjoy most?

When I get a chance, I like outside activities like hiking and biking. We travel a lot with our kids and have had fun adventures in places like Costa Rica, Mexico and even the Galapagos. My daughter and I are also taking golf lessons together. It’s the neatest experience to have a real conversation with your 13-year-old when playing golf.

What community organizations are you involved with?

I’m on the board for Nevada Child Seekers and serve on the Clark County Credit Union Audit Committee. I’m also on the advisory committee for the new art museum and Luminous Park planned for the Arts District downtown. I like the project very much from both a personal and professional perspective. Any time you can encourage the arts is a big deal, and downtown is where a lot of our ridership comes from.

What’s something about you that people might not know?

My son needed a liver transplant when he was two years old, so I gave him a piece of my liver. It’s continued to grow, and now he’s 10 years old and thriving.