Learn More
View Full Profile
Projects
Explore some of Jeff's latest developments.
Tracking Tracks
Check Jeff's progress on riding every route mile of every major rail-based transportation system.
Speaking Engagements
Find some of Jeff's latest talks.
Contact
Get in touch.
Learn More
View Full Profile
Projects
Explore some of Jeff's latest developments.
Tracking Tracks
Check Jeff's progress on riding every route mile of every major rail-based transportation system.
Speaking Engagements
Find some of Jeff's latest talks.
Contact
Get in touch.

Jeff Kessler
For more than a decade, Jeff Kessler has led organizations to adopt technological changes and implement process improvements to advance their businesses and delight their customers… even in highly-regulated sectors. As a systems optimizer with a passion for the transportation industry, his unparalleled work and board experience spans the public and private sides of every major transit network in the Northeast (Amtrak, WMATA, SEPTA, MTA NYCT, MBTA CR).
Jeff currently serves as the Director of Service Delivery Innovation at Keolis Commuter Services — the “catalyst of change” (as coined by his boss) for the Boston-based subsidiary of global mobility provider Keolis — where he’s charged with leveraging technology, implementing best practices, and delivering process improvements to enhance operations and customer experiences on the MBTA Commuter Rail’s nearly 400-mile network throughout the Boston region.
His work has been recognized numerous times, including having been named to MassTransit Magazine’s signature 40 Under 40 list in 2023 and having earned the Jack R. Gilstrap Award from the American Public Transit Foundation in 2017, two of the industry’s highest honors.
Jeff holds four degrees from the University of Pennsylvania: a BSE and MSE in Systems Engineering, a BS Economics from The Wharton School’s Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology (M&T), and a Regulatory & Technology Law Master in Law from Penn Law. He is the Founder and Principal of KASDAT Consulting, an Emeritus Member of the Delaware River Port Authority Citizens Advisory Committee, a founding co-chair of the annual TransportationCamp PHL conference, and organizer of the TransportationCamp New England conference. Jeff also served as the the longest-tenured chair of the SEPTA Youth Advisory Council (YAC) and inaugural Mid-Atlantic Regional Director of Young Professionals in Transportation (YPT).
Current Endeavors
Keolis Commuter Services
Director of Service Delivery Innovation
Leading the organization’s innovation initiatives by leveraging technology and adopting best practices to deliver process and customer experience enhancements across the railroad.
KASDAT Consulting
Founder and Principal
Provide independent strategic and implementation guidance to firms and private individuals looking to leverage data, automate processes, and train their workforce to do the same.
Young Professionals in Transportation (YPT)
Mid-Atlantic Regional Director
Leading the new Mid-Atlantic regional board of Young Professionals in Transportation, accounting for more than 1/3 of the organization’s international membership.
Responsible for the existing NYC, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, DC chapter areas, plus supporting the states of NJ, PA, DE, MD, DC, VA, and WV. Establishing inter-chapter partnerships, supporting new chapter formation, and creating programming for those outside of existing chapter catchment areas.
TransportationCamp PHL
Co-Chair
Hosted the world’s first virtual transportation conference, having led the pivot to a virtual event a mere four weeks prior to the conference (in response to the COVID-19 pandemic). Subsequently consulted with six other organizations on conference virtualization techniques & strategies.
Since bringing the transportation industry’s most dynamic conference format to the City of Brotherly Love in 2018, TransportationCamp PHL has enabled industry professionals and passionate hobbyists to connect over transportation, technology, and urbanism in partnership with YPT and WTS.
Visit http://transportationcamp.org/ for details.
Delaware River Port Authority CAC
Emeritus Member
Provide industry knowledge and expertise to the official independent advisory board of the Delaware River Port Authority. Served as Transit Committee Co-Chair and Recording Secretary during prior 3-year appointment (confirmed by DRPA Board and Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor).
Experience
Want More Details?
Leverage Jeff's Expertise
Experience Across the Corridor
Click map pins for more details; click company logos to visit websites.
SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority)
✔ Authored report and developed LINDO optimization model proposing 35 initiatives designed through field work, observation, market research, social media, historical records, and external agency collaboration.
✔ Oversaw multiple focus groups, analyzed results, and evaluated surveys to assess initiative performance.
✔ Administered and hosted more than 15 SEPTA Customer Connection events at various area destinations.
Keolis Commuter Services (Operator of the MBTA Commuter Rail)
SEPTA YAC
✔ Analyze $1.36B Operating Budget, $534.5M Capital Budget, $6.8B Capital Program, and Annual Service Plan
✔ Formulate Reports on Operational Improvements and Present Findings to Board of Directors and Executive Staff
✔ Responsible for bringing a “U-Pass” Discounted Student Fare Program to students in the Greater Philadelphia Region
MTA New York City Transit
✔ Assembled Plus/Delta evaluation through field surveys and 7 self-conducted interdepartmental focus groups
✔ Restructured training model, leading to a unitary increase in both training and platform satisfaction
WMATA (Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority)
✔ Created WiFi Portal, built App Gallery, helped transition Metro to new website, led two developer events
✔ Analyzed and proposed improvements to rail/bus operating centers, next train prediction algorithms, incident monitoring/response, service disruption operational regularity, and customer experience/communication
Amtrak
✔ Supported designing of track structures and curve layouts; tracked Acela train on-time-performance.
Delaware River Port Authority
✔ Youngest member by more than 10 years; Appointment Overseen by Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley
Keolis Commuter Services (MBTA Commuter Rail Operator)
Director of Service Delivery Innovation, Since May ’21
Keolis Commuter Services
Sr. Application Specialist – Service Delivery, 1/19-5/21
Keolis Commuter Services
Application Specialist – Service Delivery, 6/18-12/18
Keolis Commuter Services
SEPTA Youth Advisory Council
Four Terms as Executive Chairperson (2013-2017); Member 3/13-9/17
Delaware River Port Authority
Citizens Advisory Committee Emeritus Member (Fmr. Appointment 12/14-8/17; Transit Co-Chair, Recording Secretary)
WMATA
MTA New York City Transit
SEPTA
The Transit Navigator
Amtrak
Background
Systems Engineering
Behavioral Economics
Business & Finances
Policy & Law
Graduate & Undergraduate Education
Concurrently pursued degrees from Wharton and Penn Engineering in UPenn’s oldest coordinated dual degree program.
Positions: M&T Program Student Board, Penn Transit Advisory Board, Robotics Program Teaching Assistant
Class of 2016
Masters — University of Pennsylvania
First student to pursue an interdisciplinary program in Engineering and Law / Technology Policy.
Positions: Penn Transit Advisory Board, Electrical & Systems Engineering Senior Design
Class of 2017
Bachelor of Science in Economics, 2016
Bachelor of Science in Engineering, 2016
Master in Law, 2017
Master of Science in Engineering, 2017
Select Recognitions

Mass Transit 40 Under 40 Honoree, 2023
Named to Mass Transit’s 2023 40 Under 40 list, honoring professionals who have made significant contributions to the public transit industry.

American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Jack R. Gilstrap Scholarship, 2016
APTF’s Highest Award in Public Transportation

Richard K. Dentel Award

Norman Gross Award, 2016
for Excellence in Systems Design

American Mensa

Johns Hopkins CTY
Visual-Spatial Ability National High Honors Award

Davidson Institute for Talent Development
Additional Information & Endeavors
Technical Skills

Python

Excel (w/ Optimization Tools)

Matlab

R

Project Management

Cognitive Task Analysis / Human Factors

WordPress
Volunteer Organizations

Operation Lifesaver
Operation Lifesaver Field Safety Volunteer

Fantastic Friends Social Group
Former Volunteer Staff Member & Web Integration Director

Penn For Youth Debate
Former Tournament Director, Website Manager, Executive Board Member, & Coach

M&T Student Board
Former Webmaster, Communications Chair, & Alumni Advisor
Conference Organization

TransportationCamp Philadelphia
Co-Founding Event Chair (2018-Present)

EduCon Conference
“EduConcierge” Founder | Chief Process Engineer | Alumni Consultant

The Franklin Institute

Philly Tech Week
Teaching & Speaking

Electrical & Systems Engineering Senior Design

Robotics in The Classroom
Previous Education & Specialized Programs

Science Leadership Academy, Class of 2012

Long Island School for the Gifted, Class of 2008

Rail Transportation Program
