BIDDEFORD — New Shuttlebus-ZOOM Executive Director Tony Scavuzzo brings management experience and a desire to give back to his community.

Shuttlebus-ZOOM provides bus service between Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Scarborough, and Portland and has an annual ridership of about 330,000 riders.

Scavuzzo, 49, took over as executive director of Shuttlebus on April 16, replacing Al Schutz, who retired in December.

Scavuzzo is married with two children. He enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf and traveling, and is a former little league coach.

Originally from Massachusetts, he and his wife, Jennifer, moved to Biddeford more than 20 years ago from northern Virginia.

“The quality of life here is really second to none,” Scavuzzo said. He said its a good place to raise a family, and he loves the pride people who live here have for the city and the connection they have to the community.

Scavuzzo previously worked in the mapping industry, and managed a group of map makers, or cartographers, for a company called HERE technology.

“My group, across North America, created, updated, enhanced and released the most accurate and comprehensive digital map on Earth,” he said.

HERE Technology products are used by Department of Homeland Security, Microsoft and Garmin, and by several car manufacturers.

Over his career, his duties shifted from cartography to project and organizational management, Scavuzzo said. He managed about 50 to 60 people at his former job, roughly the same amount of people working at Shuttlebus.

Mapping technology is a key for autonomous driving, which he said will be integrated into public transportation in the next 10 to 20 years.

“I’m well-positioned to be thinking of the future,” said Scavuzzo.

Scavuzzo was one of more than 40 applicants for the position.

“Tony brings to the organization outstanding leadership skills, and the ability to manage multiple people and to manage multiple projects through to success,” said Greg Tansley, chairman of the Saco Old Orchard Beach Transit Committee. Tansley said the board was impressed by Scavuzzo’s desire to contribute to the community he’s lived in for more than 20 years in a position where he could work locally.

At his previous job, Scavuzzo said he managed a group of people that were in 20 different offices across the northern half of North America, and he did a lot of traveling across country and beyond.

“I feel really fortunate to have found an opportunity like this,” he said.

Public transportation fits in with current demographic trends in the area, with the influx of younger people in Biddeford who have an urban mindset and looking for alternatives to owning a car, Scavuzzo said.

The operation runs smoothly, he said. He doesn’t have to worry about any outstanding day-to-day issues, and he can focus his time on his goals, which include continuing the mission to provide safe, reliable and user-friendly public transportation and build upon the good service Shuttlebus provides and take opportunities to make improvements, he said.

“I’ve been so impressed with the subject matter expertise and the tenure of the people who are here. They’ve been here a very long time and they know what to do. That’s key to any organization running efficiently,” Scavuzzo said.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be reached at 780-9015 or by email at egotthelf@journaltribune.com.