Elisa Evans Cunningham
About Elisa Evans Cunningham
Elisa Evans Cunningham serves as the Chief Technology Officer at Metrolink, where she has implemented significant improvements in cybersecurity and technology governance since 2022. With a diverse background in technology management, she has held various leadership roles across multiple organizations, including DART and L3 Technologies.
Current Role at Metrolink
Elisa Evans Cunningham serves as the Chief Technology Officer at Metrolink, a position she has held since 2022. In this role, she oversees the technology strategy and implementation for the organization. Her leadership has been instrumental in adopting Agile methodology to enhance delivery times and transforming the staff augmentation sourcing model. She has also led initiatives to scale and transition solutions to a Cloud-based infrastructure, ensuring the integration of security operations and application security tools.
Previous Experience in Technology Management
Prior to her current role, Cunningham held several significant positions in technology management. She worked at DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) as Assistant Vice President Technology/Deputy Chief Information Officer from 2016 to 2022. Before that, she was with L3 Technologies as SAP Center of Excellence & Senior Technology Executive from 2011 to 2016. Her career began at the County of Riverside, where she served as Senior Enterprise Delivery Manager for 14 years.
Educational Background and Qualifications
Cunningham has an extensive educational background in technology and business. She is currently a Doctor of Philosophy candidate at the University of Denver - Daniels College of Business, expected to complete her studies in 2024. She holds an MBA in Information Technology from the University of Redlands and has completed Executive Education in Business Analytics at The Wharton School. Additionally, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from Louisiana State University.
Achievements in Cybersecurity and Governance
At Metrolink, Cunningham has made significant strides in enhancing cybersecurity measures. She successfully reduced operational and corporate systems cybersecurity vulnerabilities by 87% within six months. She developed governance models and policy frameworks for various aspects of technology management, including cybersecurity and enterprise architecture. Furthermore, she established an IT Steering Committee to promote collaboration and innovation among technology leaders within the organization.
Leadership in Technology Initiatives
Cunningham has demonstrated leadership in key technology initiatives, including the acquisition of a multi-agency regional Mobile Ticketing application to support the 2028 Olympic Games in Southern California. Her efforts have ensured that Metrolink adheres to state and federal technology policies, including compliance with Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards. She has been proactive in implementing security operations and procedures to enhance the overall technology landscape at Metrolink.