Deborah Prato

Deb Prato, SPHR has a diverse and extensive work experience in various HR leadership roles. Deb is currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of The Rapid since March 2021. Previously, they worked as the Sr. Vice President of People and Business Transformation at New York City Transit from August 2018 to March 2021, where they spearheaded initiatives to modernize the transportation network and enhance the agency's efficiency. Prior to this, they served as the Assistant Executive Director - Human Resources at NJ Transit from April 2015 to May 2018, managing the HR functions for a workforce of over 11,000 employees.

Before joining NJ Transit, Deb Prato worked as the Commissioner of Personnel at Tompkins County from September 2014 to April 2015. Deb also held the position of Vice President of Human Resources at Monro Muffler Brake, leading HR operations for a chain of 937 stores across 22 states from June 2012 to December 2013. Deb 'searlier experience includes serving as the Chief Administrative Officer at Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA) from January 2005 to February 2012, where they played a key role in organizational strategic planning, compliance, and cultural transformation. Prior to their tenure at RGRTA, they worked as the Manager of Labor Relations and Employment Support at Monroe County for nearly two decades, overseeing HR and labor relations functions for 4200 employees and managing the onboarding process for new hires.

Deb Prato, SPHR, holds a BS degree in Industrial Labor Relations from the State University of New York College at Potsdam, which they obtained from 1981 to 1985. In addition, they have a certification in Lean Six Sigma Green Belt from the Center for Quality and Applied Statistics at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Deb has also obtained the SPHR certification from the HR Certification Institute.