Board of Trustees

The Team That’s Leading Us to Tomorrow

COTA’s Board of Trustees is the governing body of COTA and is responsible for overseeing COTA as established by Ohio Revised Code 306.30 to 306.50.

Board members have three primary obligations:

• Duty of Care—Board members shall perform their duties with the care that an ordinary prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances.
• Duty of Good Faith—Board members shall take the necessary actions to be informed and exercise appropriate judgment.
• Duty of Loyalty—Board members shall perform their duties in a manner the Board Member reasonably believes to be in, or not opposed to, the best interest of COTA.

Additionally, board members should:

• Provide a clear vision for COTA’s future.
• Provide oversight of COTA’s operations.
• Work effectively with other board members, leadership and the President/CEO.
• Be an advocate for COTA’s vision, mission, values and COTA’s long-range transit plan.

Board members are appointed for three-year terms by:

• Franklin County (two appointees)
• Columbus (seven appointees)
• Various suburbs (four appointees)

Here Are the People Looking Out for You

Marlon Moore
Chair
President, Marlon Moore Consulting, LLC
Appointed by City of Columbus
Term: 2022 – 2025

Sean Mentel
Vice Chair
Partner, Kooperman Mentel Ferguson Yaross, Ltd.
Appointed by City of Columbus
Term: 2023 – 2026

Trudy Bartley
Trustee
Associate Vice President, Local & Community Relations, The Ohio State University
Appointed by City of Columbus
Term: 2021 – 2024

Pete Bucher
Trustee
Chief of Staff, Ohio Environmental Council
Appointed by City of Worthington
Term: 2024 – 2027

Erika Clark Jones
Trustee
CEO, ADAMH
Appointed by Franklin County Commissioners
Term: 2023 – 2026

Lori Elmore
Trustee
Whitehall City Councilor
Appointed by City of Whitehall
Term: 2022 – 2025

Jeff Hunley
Trustee
Business Representative, SMART Local 24
Appointed by City of Columbus
Term: 2024 – 2027

Marc Reitter
President and COO AEP Ohio
Appointed by City of Columbus
Term: 2023 – 2026

Amy Taylor
Trustee
President, Downtown Columbus Inc.
Appointed by City of Columbus
Term: 2023 – 2026

Shannon Tolliver
Social Responsibility & Environmental Sustainability Manager, White Castle Systems, Inc.
Appointed by City of Upper Arlington
Term: 2022 – 2025

Craig Treneff
Trustee
Attorney at Law, Treneff Cozza Law, LLC
Appointed by Franklin County Commissioners
Term: 2023 – 2026

Heather Ulrey
Trustee
Director, Government & Community Relations, Mount Carmel Health System
Appointed by City of Grove City
Term: 2024 – 2027

Kumi Walker
Trustee
Managing Partner
Embedded
Appointed by City of Columbus
Term: 2022 – 2025

Details on Our Upcoming Board Meetings

The COTA Board of Trustees meets frequently throughout the year.

All board meetings are open to the public. The Board Chair shall have the discretion to recognize special speakers, public officials and guests to speak without a time limitation prior to the public comment period.

Public comments will be allowed at the beginning of each COTA Board meeting prior to the discussion of the COTA Board agenda items. People wishing to address the Board should sign in with the Assistant Secretary prior to the commencement of the meeting.

Generally, each person will be allotted three (3) minutes for this purpose on a first-come, first-served basis; provided, however, the total time allocated for general public comments shall not exceed 30 minutes. If more speakers have signed up for general public comments than can be accommodated in this 30-minute session, then at the discretion of the Board Chair, the general public comments session may be extended subject to the three (3) minute time limit outlined above.

The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws. To request an ADA reasonable accommodation, please contact the individual indicated below no later than 72 hours prior to the meeting: Garth Weithman at WeithmanGS@cota.com or 614-275-5849.

2024

Our Board Meeting Archives

COTA policy requires that we keep our board meeting minutes permanently. For minutes prior to 2021, please contact Customer Service and file a public records request.

COTA Advisory Panel

As provided in the COTA Charter, an Advisory Panel was established to advise COTA management in the development and implementation of public transit in central Ohio.

• One member appointed by the Franklin County Commissioners.
• One member appointed by the Mayor or other chief executive officer of each municipal corporation participating in the creation of COTA.
• At-large members may be appointed by the President/CEO with the consent of the Board of Trustees or as provided in Resolution No. 2011-20 and procedures adopted consistent therewith.

Each member appointed to the Advisory Panel shall be a resident and have a familiarity with public transit needs in central Ohio.

The Advisory Panel shall meet quarterly and be used by COTA management as a resource in making decisions on public transit and, as appropriate, incorporate advice from the Panel into programs presented to the Board.

COTA Mobility Advisory Board

The Mobility Advisory Board (MAB) advises COTA on issues that involve underserved people, are low income, have a disability, or are elderly in central Ohio. Comprised of community human services agencies, direct service providers, advocates, and businesses, these agencies assist COTA in developing innovative, viable transportation solutions.