The Centre Area Transportation Authority has appointed a new chief executive officer who will bring more than two decades of experience in public transit to the role.
CATA’s Board of Directors recently named Todd Horsley as the authority’s new CEO, effective July 15. He will succeed David Rishel, who initially took the position on an interim basis in 2023 following Louwana Oliva’s departure.
Horsley most recently was the director of Northern Virginia Transit Programs for the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, where he managed more than $600 million in annual state grant funding and provided oversight and compliance guidance for 10 transit systems, according to a CATA news release.
The 24-year veteran of public-sector transportation previously served as chief operating officer of the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority in Aspen, Colorado, the second-largest transit system in the state and the largest rural transit system in the country.
“Beyond his credentials, the board was especially drawn to Todd’s strategic mindset, strong communication skills and genuine enthusiasm for life in a college town,” Mark Parfitt, chair of th CATA Board of Directors, said in a statement.
Horsley has a background in contracts, compliance, economic development and cross-agency collaboration, according to the authority, and his experience includes managing operations that address both peak and off-peak demand similar to the needs of the CATA service area.
“CATA is a remarkable transit system, doing big things in a vibrant, growing region,” Horsley said in a statement. “I’m excited about the possibilities and look forward to leading us into our next decade of innovation.”
Rishel, who signed a new 14-month contract in March, will continue as outgoing CEO and gradually exit the role as part of a planned transition to maintain stability and allow Horsley to familiarize himself with the system and staff, according to the authority.
“It is fantastic to have a person with Todd’s background as CATA’s next CEO,” Rishel said. “His strong mix of operations and regulatory experience are just what we were looking for.”
