Board of Trustees
Focused on Taking You Further
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
Sean Mentel
Chair
Partner, Kooperman Mentel Ferguson Yaross, Ltd.
Appointed by City of Columbus
Term: 2023 – 2026
Trudy Bartley
Vice Chair
Associate Vice President, Local & Community Relations, The Ohio State University
Appointed by City of Columbus
Term: 2024 – 2027
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
Jay Deis
Trustee
President, Forsee Power North America, Forsee Power, Inc.
Appointed by City of Hilliard
Term: 2025 – 2028
Mallory E. Donaldson
Trustee
Executive Director of Operations, Archie Griffin, Archie and Bonita Griffin Foundation Fund
Appointed by Franklin County Commissioners
Term: 2025 – 2026
Jeff Hunley
Trustee
Business Representative, SMART Local 24
Appointed by City of Columbus
Term: 2024 – 2027
Doug McCollough
Trustee
Executive Director, The Beta District
Appointed by City of Columbus
Term: 2025-2028
Marc Reitter
Trustee
President and COO AEP Ohio
Appointed by City of Columbus
Term: 2023 – 2026
Stephen Sayre
Trustee
Deputy Chief of Staff to the Mayor, City of Columbus
Appointed by City of Columbus
Term: 2025 – 2028
Matt Starr
Trustee
Executive Vice President of Real Estate & Leasing, Crawford Hoying
Appointed by City of Dublin
Term: 2025 – 2028
Amy Taylor
President, Downtown Columbus Inc.
Appointed by City of Columbus
Term: 2023 – 2026
Heather Ulrey
Trustee
Director, Government & Community Relations, Mount Carmel Health System
Appointed by City of Grove City
Term: 2024 – 2027
January 2026
| Date | Time | Meeting |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, Jan. 13 | 9:30-10:30 AM | Strategic and Operational Planning Committee Agenda |
| Tuesday, Jan. 13 | 3:30-4:30 PM | External Stakeholder Relations Committee Agenda |
| Thursday, Jan. 15 | CANCELLED | Performance Monitoring/Audit Committee |
| Thursday, Jan. 22 | 4:00-5:00 PM | Governance Committee Agenda |
| Wednesday, Jan. 28 | 9:00-10:30 AM | Board of Trustees Agenda |
February 2026
NO MEETINGS
March 2026
| Date | Time | Meeting |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, March 3 | 9:30-10:30 AM | Strategic and Operational Planning Committee Agenda |
| Tuesday, March 3 | 3:30-4:30 PM | External Stakeholder Relations Committee Agenda |
| Thursday, March 5 | 2:00-3:30 PM | Performance Monitoring/Audit Committee Agenda |
| Thursday, March 12 | 4:00-5:00 PM | Governance Committee Agenda |
| Wednesday, March 25 | 9:00-10:30 AM | Board of Trustees |
April 2026
NO MEETINGS
May 2026
| Date | Time | Meeting |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, May 5 | 9:30-10:30 AM | Strategic and Operational Planning Committee |
| Tuesday, May 5 | 3:30-4:30 PM | External Stakeholder Relations Committee |
| Thursday, May 7 | 2:00-3:30 PM | Performance Monitoring/Audit Committee |
| Thursday, May 14 | 4:00-5:00 PM | Governance Committee |
| Wednesday, May 27 | 9:00-10:30 AM | Board of Trustees |
June 2026
NO MEETINGS
July 2026
| Date | Time | Meeting |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, July 7 | 9:30-10:30 AM | Strategic and Operational Planning Committee |
| Tuesday, July 7 | 3:30-4:30 PM | External Stakeholder Relations Committee |
| Thursday, July 9 | 2:00-3:30 PM | Performance Monitoring/Audit Committee |
| Thursday, July 16 | 4:00-5:00 PM | Governance Committee |
| Wednesday, July 22 | 9:00-10:30 AM | Board of Trustees |
August 2026
NO MEETINGS
September 2026
| Date | Time | Meeting |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, September 8 | 9:30-10:30 AM | Strategic and Operational Planning Committee |
| Tuesday, September 8 | 3:30-4:30 PM | External Stakeholder Relations Committee |
| Thursday, September 10 | 2:00-3:30 PM | Performance Monitoring/Audit Committee |
| Thursday, September 17 | 4:00-5:00 PM | Governance Committee |
| Wednesday, September 23 | 9:00-10:30 AM | Board of Trustees |
October 2026
| Date | Time | Meeting |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, October 19 | 9:00 AM-4:00 PM | Board Retreat |
November 2026
| Date | Time | Meeting |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, November 10 | 9:30-10:30 AM | Strategic and Operational Planning Committee |
| Tuesday, November 10 | 3:30-4:30 PM | External Stakeholder Relations Committee |
| Thursday, November 12 | 3:00-4:00 PM | Performance Monitoring/Audit Committee |
| Thursday, November 12 | 4:00-5:00 PM | Governance Committee |
| Wednesday, November 18 | 9:00-10:30 AM | Board of Trustees |
December 2026
| Date | Time | Meeting |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, December 1 | 9:30-10:30 AM | Strategic and Operational Planning Committee |
| Tuesday, December 1 | 3:30-4:30 PM | External Stakeholder Relations Committee |
| Thursday, December 3 | 3:00-4:00 PM | Performance Monitoring/Audit Committee |
| Thursday, December 3 | 4:00-5:00 PM | Governance Committee |
| Wednesday, December 9 | 9:00-10:30 AM | Board of Trustees |
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.