Houston is a city that moves with purpose—by car, by rail, by bus, and, increasingly, by a shared vision of access. At the center of that vision is Meredith Johnson METRO’s EVP for Communications. Her mandate is as big as Houston itself: build trust, tell the truth, and make mobility personal.

A Trailblazer with Texas Roots

Johnson’s résumé reads like a masterclass in public-interest storytelling, rooted in a childhood shaped by public servants who inspired in her a love for Houston and commitment to its future. She was born and raised here by a family chock full of Houston Firefighters (her grandfather was Deputy Chief). Before METRO, Johnson built Shepherd Strategy, advising clients across real estate, energy, healthcare and construction, on how to communicate clearly when it matters to the public and stakes are often high. She previously directed communications for the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, supported policy reform efforts across the country as Executive Director of the Citizen Leader Alliance, and brought a policy insider’s eye from roles with KBR and the office of Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson during her service in the Texas Senate.

A proud University of Texas at Austin graduate (Hook ’em), Johnson is as committed to service as she is to strategy: a Life Member and active volunteer with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo ™, past board service with Easter Seals Greater Houston, a Citizens for Animal Protection Honoree, and leadership in community events that celebrate firefighters, veterans, and Western heritage. This fall, she takes another forward step as a leader in the Center for Houston’s Future program—proof that her focus isn’t only on today’s riders but tomorrow’s region.

From “Announcements” to Accountability

When Johnson arrived, METRO’s communications machine already answered calls and posted alerts. She’s elevated it into something more ambitious: a unified, proactive, people-first communications engine. Under her umbrella now live media relations, public engagement, marketing, partnership promotions, and internal communications. The change sounds technical; the impact is human.

Her team’s job is not simply to “get the word out” but to listen early, act transparently, and explain the “why” behind every detour, route, or construction zone. That clarity—especially during METRO’s transformation under METRONow—turns complex operations into understandable choices. As Johnson will tell you, “Transit is a lifeline, and lifelines require trust.”

Trust as Infrastructure

Houston’s growth demands more than concrete and steel; it demands confidence. Johnson’s approach to crisis communications and reputation management is designed to strengthen that confidence before, during, and after change. Whether it’s a neighborhood meeting about a project, a campaign to promote new service, or a rapid-response update during a hurricane, the goal is the same: respect people’s time, anticipate questions, and show how their feedback shaped the outcome.

The Human Side of Mobility

Ask Johnson about her favorite part of the job and she won’t name a campaign; she’ll name people. The student making class on time. The nurse catching a 6 a.m. shift. The man who can get home with frozen groceries because of METRO’s new service, microtransit. Her communications north star is simple and profound: choosing METRO should be easy. Bringing Public Engagement and Communications under one roof has supercharged that mission. Ideas move faster. Language is plainer. Messaging is consistent. And the riders—our neighbors—get what they need more easily.

Turning Friction into Forward Motion

Change is hard—especially when it moves your bus stop or shifts your schedule. Johnson doesn’t sugarcoat that reality. Instead, she uses it. Each concern becomes an opportunity to explain, to demonstrate stewardship of public dollars, and to connect the dots between short-term inconvenience and long-term benefit. Her posture—equal parts humility and backbone—is how you transform public information into public confidence.

What’s Next

With her selection to the Center for Houston’s Future, Johnson joins a cohort focused on shaping the region we’ll hand to our children—one where equitable access to jobs, healthcare, education, and culture is not a slogan but a system. In that future, METRO isn’t just moving people; it’s unlocking opportunity.

Fast Facts: Meredith Johnson 

Title: EVP for Communications, METRO

Focus Areas: Press, public engagement, marketing, partnerships, internal communications

Specialty: Crisis communications, reputation management, stakeholder and government relations

Civic & Community: HLSR Life Member; Easter Seals Greater Houston Board; CAP Honoree

Education: B.S., U.T. at Austin

Next Up: Center for Houston’s Future program (Fall 2025 cohort)

Why this matters for Houston

Houston Style Magazine readers know that mobility is about families, paychecks, and possibilities. In Johnson, METRO has a leader who treats communications like a public service—because it is. If a city’s character is measured by how easily its people can reach their dreams, Houston’s story is moving in the right direction