YVRTA Narrows Field to Four Finalists for First Executive Director

Steamboat Springs —"This executive director will be the face of regional transportation throughout the Yampa Valley," said Sonja Macys, chair of the Yampa Valley Regional Transportation Authority (YVRTA) board. Her words hang heavy in the air, a promise of visibility for an organization that has existed largely in the shadows of bureaucratic planning.

The Steamboat Pilot reported that the board has narrowed the field to four finalists for the authority’s first-ever executive director. This is a pivotal moment for the region. The YVRTA was created to manage transit across the valley, but until now, it has lacked the singular leadership needed to drive its mission forward. The job description, based in Craig, calls for a founding chief executive who will lead the organization from start-up. They will work closely with the board to establish the authority’s culture, strategic direction, administrative systems, financial framework, and approach to regional service delivery. It is a broad mandate, and the stakes are high for anyone who commutes, rides, or employs workers in the valley.

The four candidates bringing their experience to the table are distinct in their backgrounds. William Higdon serves as the transit division manager for Okaloosa County in Florida. Charles Odimgbe is the Chief Operating Officer for the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority in Ohio. Carson Priest holds the position of executive director for the Smart Commute Transportation Management Organization in north Denver. And Brent Timm is the general manager of the Okanogan County Transit Authority in Washington. Each brings a different perspective on how to structure and deliver regional transit services.

To help the community get to know these individuals, the board has organized two major meet-and-greet events for Friday, Oct. 23. The first is scheduled from 8:30 to 10 a.m. in the Citizen’s Room at Centennial Hall, located at 124 10th St. in downtown Steamboat Springs. The second event will take place from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the Magnolia Room and Juniper Room at the Hayden Center, 95 West Jefferson Ave. in Hayden. According to Macys, the candidates are also tentatively slated to make stops in Oak Creek, Yampa, and Craig that same day, though more details on those visits are still pending. These gatherings are designed to let residents, riders, and employers shake hands with the finalists, ask questions, and tell the board what they need from regional transit.

The selection process is moving quickly. Following the community events and the formal board interviews, which are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Hayden Town Hall, the board plans to choose the new director by the end of the month. The hiring committee, which includes Steamboat Springs City Councilor John Agosta, Hayden Mayor Ryan Banks, and Steamboat Springs Transit Manager Jonathan Flint, worked with the national search firm GMP Consultants to identify these finalists. The job listing, posted in early August, offered a salary range of $150,000 to $180,000.

As the candidates prepare to walk into Centennial Hall and the Hayden Center, the focus shifts from the abstract concept of "regional transportation" to the concrete reality of who will be standing at the front of the room. The board wants constituents to have a chance to meet them. For now, the spotlight is on the four finalists, and the valley is waiting to see who steps into the role of the YVRTA’s first executive director.