Building Bridges—and Tunnels—to Positive Change

A lifetime of public service has taught Kris Kolluri SBC'91 that business leaders can serve as catalysts for social good and positive change. As the current chief executive officer of the Gateway Development Commission, which is charged with modernizing the rail tunnels in and out of the New York City area, he is doing just that.

“What I have come to understand from the work I have done throughout my career is that projects like the Gateway program are more than just building tunnels with cement and rebar; we are building portals of opportunity,” Kolluri said. 

The Gateway Development Commission was formed in 2019 by New York and New Jersey to update and expand the critical rail infrastructure that connects the two states. This portion of the Northeast Corridor (as it is commonly known) is more than 100 years old, yet it continues to carry more than 200,000 passengers on approximately 450 trains daily. When completed, the project is expected to cost $16.1 billion.

“These tunnels revolutionized transportation when they were built and transformed New York into what it is today,” Kolluri said.“But in 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused the tunnels to flood, which did tremendous damage." Elected leaders who had been reluctant to fund upgrades quickly changed course.

"The tunnels are a single point of failure," said Kolluri. "If those two tunnels fail, service up and down the Northeast Corridor stops, drastically impacting travel and the overall American economy." The project will improve reliability, expand capacity, and ensure the long-term resiliency of the entire system. 

A native of India, Kolluri was just a young boy when his family came to the United States in 1985. While much of what he experienced in those early years was new and unfamiliar, he believed strongly in what he saw as America's promise, which was the genesis of his passion for public service.

"I appreciated the opportunity for success that this country offered me," said Kolluri. "America's promise is not an esoteric idea but a value proposition with real meaning."

After graduating from Rutgers–Camden in 1991, he served as a legislative aide to Congressman Rob Andrews and a senior policy advisor to Senator Richard Gephardt. His time on Capitol Hill helped clarify for him how working in government or a public service role can make a genuine difference in the lives of average Americans.

"In my time there, I began to understand the role I could play in driving change," said Kolluri. I appreciated that by having a seat at the table, I could impact the trajectory of policies and legislation that affect the communities we all live in."

While some urged him to do so, Kolluri did not seriously consider running for public office. Instead, after obtaining a master's degree and completing law school, he worked in transportation and infrastructure, holding senior leadership roles at various organizations, including the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the New Jersey Schools Development Authority, and the Camden Community Partnership, Inc.

For Kolluri, choosing public service over a career in the private sector was simply a natural progression of his journey since arriving in the United States in 1985. He sees it as fulfilling the promise offered to him in America as a young boy.

“For me, your measure is not how much money you have in the bank but what you have done in service to others,” said Kolluri.

The Eminent Business Leader speaker series

Kolluri was the keynote speaker for the second annual Rutgers School of Business–Camden Eminent Business Leader speaker series on March 26. This year's theme, Catalysts for Transformation, was designed to highlight business leaders' ability to impact and support the communities around them.

The Eminent Business Leader speaker series was developed as part of the five-year strategic plan for the School of Business in order to provide students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to connect with business leaders. 

“It was an honor to have Kris come speak to the campus community,” said Dean Monica Adya. “Our vision for this event is to have innovative, dynamic leaders share their insights on how to use the power of their business expertise to drive transformative change. I can think of no better example than Kris, whose career trajectory deeply reflects the influence business leaders can have in uplifting communities.”