The Board of Trustees of the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) elected Toledo representative Kendra Smith as President and Sylvania representative Mary Morrison as Vice President at its final meeting of 2024.
Smith is Vice President of Community Health at Bon Secours Mercy Health. She has also held leadership positions at ProMedica, Preferred Properties, Inc. of Ohio, the Toledo Museum of Art, and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.
Smith, who was named a YWCA Milestones Award winner in 2023, has served on the Board of Trustees since February of 2021 and has served as Vice President for two years. “I am honored by the confidence the board has in my ability to serve in this new role,” Smith said. “Together with the dedicated public servants on this board, I am excited to continue playing a part in TARTA’s rapid improvement. The pathway to personal advancement begins with increased access to services and opportunities for everyone.
It’s been a great experience working with this board, the TARTA team and community members to build this system for the benefit of everyone in Lucas County and Rossford. We have made so much progress in a few short years, and I look forward to the work ahead and helping Laura and her team continue to drive positive change in this community.”
Morrison has been an officer on TARTA’s board since December of 2020 and has served as President the last two years. Morrison came to TARTA with an extensive background in management and community engagement. She held leadership posts at The University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University and The Toledo Hospital Foundation.
Smith, Morrison and other trustees have helped guide TARTA through one of the most active periods in the authority’s history. They have helped oversee the completion of a comprehensive operational analysis (TARTA Next), the expansion of services to Holland, Springfield Township, Oregon and other communities, the launch of an on-demand microtransit service (TARTA Flex) and the first steps to building a fleet of zero-emission vehicles at TARTA.
TARTA’s Board of Trustees also includes:
- Heather Baker (Toledo)
- Joel Beren (Sylvania Township)
- Valerie Fatica (Lucas County)
- Brittany Ford (Ottawa Hills)
- Gary Gonya (Toledo)
- Tarik Kadri (Lucas County)
- Rev. Dr. W.L. Perryman Jr. (Lucas County)
- Lou Thomson (Maumee)
- Kevin Weaks (Rossford)
- Dr. Tiffany Whitman (Toledo)