Board of Directors & Leadership

The Board of Directors are responsible for managing, controlling and conducting the business, activities and affairs of the Transit Authority. The TARC Board is responsible for over-all planning of mass transit in its transit area.

Statutory Authority – KRS 96A.010 – .230 The eight (8) member Board is appointed by The Louisville Metro Mayor with approval of Metro Council.

Board Meeting Information

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Meetings Page

TARC Accessibility Advisory Council (TAAC)

TAAC

Board of Directors

Chair: Vacant

Executive Director of Development – Ivy Tech Foundation

As Executive Director of Development, John works to secure and invest funds to ensure continued student success and regional impact at Ivy Tech Community College (ITCC). John joined ITCC in early 2021 after 4 years at Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI) as Director of Regional Economic Development where he worked directly with local economic development officials in our 15-county bi-state market to attract private investment through via the Greater Louisville Regional Economic Development Partnership. Prior to GLI, John spent 8 years at Volunteers of America Mid-States, a multi-state behavioral health agency. John served as the Director of Program Development where he maintained and expanded public funding relationships and led the agencies local, state and federal government relations.

John has been named Business First’s 20 People to Know in Economic Development and is a Leadership Louisville Center 2015 and 2018 Bingham Fellow. He has previously served on the boards of the Fuller Center for Housing and Mama to Mama. John is co-founder of the Veterans Community Alliance of Louisville, Sherby – Derby Eve Neighborhood Festival, and Kentucky’s Largest Disco Ball. John and his wife, Carly, live in the Clifton Neighborhood along with their two children, Lucy and Gray. John attended Southeast Missouri State University for undergraduate studies and graduate school at the University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business.

Vice Chair Carla Dearing

Carla is a partner at Velo Group, which provides consulting services on strategy, growth and capital raising. Carla started her career at Morgan Stanley & Co. and went on to become a three-time founder. Most recently, she was founding CEO of Sum180, a financial lifestyle app, which was acquired in April, 2019 by FlexWage Solutions, where Carla serves as Head of Product. Carla graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Michigan and she holds an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago – Booth School of Business.

Bonita Black

Bonita K. Black is a partner with K&L Gates, an AmLaww100 law firm, where she is a member of the Mergers and Acquisitions practice group. Her practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions law and corporate, structured, and public finance law. She has also served as outside corporate counsel to several nonprofit and for-profit organizations.

Prior to joining the firm, Bonita was former bond counsel to New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, New York State Housing Finance Agency, State of New York Mortgage Agency, Kentucky Housing Corporation, Brooklyn Union Gas, and Consolidated Edison Company in New York. She was in-house as senior corporate attorney at LG&E Energy Corp., now LG&E and KU Energy (a PPL company), and worked on the acquisitions of Kentucky Utilities Company, Western Kentucky Energy Company, Powergen, E.ON US, PPL, and the Big Rivers bankruptcy. While in house at LG&E, she also supported the company’s wind farms in California, Spain, and Texas. In addition to those roles, Bonita did bond counsel work for Duke Energy and was bond counsel for Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District and Louisville Water Company, including the proposed merger of Louisville Water Company and Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District. She served as the inaugural managing partner of a regional firm’s Louisville office. Bonita served as telecommunications regulatory counsel to some public utilities and has served as Special HUD counsel on single and multi-family housing transactions.

Black holds a bachelor’s degree with highest honors from the University of Kentucky and is a Harvard Law School graduate. She appears on the list of 2022 Best Lawyers in America.

Tawanda Owsley

Tawanda Owsley is a non-profit fundraising executive with more than 20 years of experience and proven results. She currently serves as the Senior Vice President/Chief Development Officer for Hosparus Health, which is the second largest non-profit in Louisville, Kentucky. Under her leadership, the organization’s $24 million People of Compassion comprehensive campaign is scheduled to reach its fundraising goal nearly a year ahead of schedule.

Prior to joining Hosparus Health, Tawanda served as the Executive Director at the American Red Cross Bluegrass Chapter in Lexington, KY, Market Director of Philanthropy at KentuckyOne Health, and Director of Major Gifts at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. These positions, combined with her experiences at the University of Kentucky, Norton Healthcare/Kosair Children’s Hospital, and Metro United Way, provide Tawanda with a wide range of nonprofit leadership and philanthropic expertise.

Tawanda earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Louisville and a Master’s in Business Communication from Spalding University. In addition to fundraising, Tawanda excels at strategic planning, public speaking, leadership development, board development and problem solving. Past Board Involvement includes Transit Authority of River City (TARC), Greater Louisville Inc, Leadership Louisville Center, Louisville Urban League, Lexington Children’s Theatre, Commerce Lexington, Lexington Transit Authority. Tawanda was also recognized as a Distinguished Leader in Leadership Lexington and was recognized as a Top 40 under 40 by Business First of Louisville.

These skills earned Tawanda a place in the Leadership Louisville Bingham Fellows Class of 2021.

Ted Smith

Ted Smith was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Transit Authority of River City (TARC) in April 2019. Ted is an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology and deputy director of the Environment Institute at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. His research program is focused on the personal, social and natural environmental factors that may modify cardio-metabolic disease risk. A second area of focus is the development of new models and frameworks for translating scientific knowledge to the lay public, healthcare industry, and policy makers. Previously Ted served as CEO of Revon Systems which developed digital therapeutics for autonomous triage of pulmonary exacerbations. Ted also served as Chief Innovation Officer for the City of Louisville Kentucky where he created the largest real time asthma surveillance research program AIRLouisville.

Ted received his B.S. in Biology and Psychology from Allegheny College, his M.S. and PhD in Experimental Psychology from Miami University and completed his post-doctoral studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Man Vehicle Laboratory. Ted was co-investigator on Neurolab space shuttle mission.

Jan Day

Jan has worked in the non-profit sector her entire professional career. Until May 2020 she served as the Executive Director/CEO of the Center for Accessible Living, with over 30 years of service.  The Center for Accessible Living (CAL) is a federally funded center for independent living funded by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. At the time of her retirement in 2020 the CAL budget had grown substantially to $5 million dollars and added satellite offices in Murray, and Bowling Green. The programs were carried out with a staff of over 40 individuals and served programs throughout the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Prior to joining the Center for Accessible Living, she served as the Director of the Kosciusko County Big Brother/Big Sister Program—she was the first director of the program and was responsible for all aspects of matching the children and the volunteers, public relations, and fund raising. She has held Executive Director Positions, at the Jasper County Council on Aging in Rennesselaer Indiana, and Executive Director of Evergreen Elderly Services in Columbus, Indiana.

Jan served on a number of board of directors during her career. Nationally she was the Sec., and board member of the National Council on Independent Living. She was chosen as one of the first 100 individuals from across the country to receive training on the regulations and legislation of the Americans with Disabilities Act by the U.S. Department of Justice and EEOC.  She also served as a member of the Harrison County Indiana Foundation which selected and established the funds generated from the Casino that the county would receive—these funds made it possible that any child in Harrison County, Indiana who wanted to attend post-secondary education would receive seed money to attend.

Jan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Purdue University in Psychology. Jan has a strong background in fund raising and fund development and enjoys working with the community in public relations, public speaking, and helping to “think outside the box”. In all of her positions she was able to build and grow a diverse staff of strong leaders.

Gary Dryden
Dave W. Christopher Sr.

Dave W. Christopher Sr. is a web designer, IT professional, and entrepreneur from Gary, IN. Prior to moving to Louisville Dave worked as a High Rise Sign Technician and Project Manager for a major sign company. He proudly served as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force as a Communications Technician spending the majority of his military career serving overseas in the Philippines, Korea, Japan, Germany, and Turkey.

Dave W. Christopher Sr. is the Executive Director and Founder of AMPED Music Academy, AMPED Russell Tech Business Incubator, and owner of Level Seven Recording Studio. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of Louisville. Dave is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. He is the recipient of the KET American Graduate Hero Award, the Kentucky Blacks in Media Award, Black Media Collaborative, Metro United Way Black Male Achievement Innovation Award, Most Admired CEO Award Business First, Sam Watkins Light The Way Award, and Sullivan Community Service Award. Dave is an Alden Fellow, BMe Fellow, and a Humana Fellow. Dave is married with three children.

TARC Management

Executive Team

Carrie Butler

Carrie Butler is the Executive Director for TARC, the Transit Authority of River City, in Louisville, Kentucky. Her role includes overseeing the agency’s $80 million operating budget and over 600 employees providing nearly 14,000 trips per day over 20 routes throughout the KIPDA region. Since 2014, Ms. Butler served as General Manager of Lextran in Lexington, Kentucky. She is President of the Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition, and has previously served on the Planning Commission and Lexington’s Senior Services Commission.

She has a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Bellarmine University. She developed her passion for public transportation during her Fellowship from the Florida Department of Transportation where she worked for Miami-Dade Transit and Star Metro in Tallahassee. Previously at TARC in 2010, she managed the Department of Planning and Scheduling. While at TranSystems, her project focus was on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) planning along with a range of transit and urban design plans for transit agencies, local, state and federal projects.

She is a highly motivated, energetic transit executive with 20 years’ experience in the field of transportation and urban planning. Her broad base in the industry ranges from executive leadership and management, service and long-term regional planning, and a current focus on sustainable business practices and high return on investment innovations.

Rob W. Stephens

A West Texas native, Rob attended Angelo State University earning an undergraduate in business administration and later a master’s degree in public administration.  Rob later joined the university’s faculty as an adjunct and part-time lecturer in the political science department.

Rob began his transit career in a regional planning commission as a community planner, and program manager supporting city, county, and special district members. He was responsible for agency and district management, grant administration, and technical assistance to local governments developing strategies and programs that addressed statewide and local needs on a regional scale.

He has over 30 years of private and public sector transit experience providing operations, and management, planning, and capital improvement support leading systems as general manager in Texas, and Florida. Rob also provided operational support to new starts and provided technical assistance to transit systems in South Carolina, Maryland, and Tennessee.

Rob was selected by the governor’s office to serve on the Texas Department of Transportation Commission’s public transportation advisory committee and later appointed as chair by the Lieutenant Governor of Texas.  From this body of work Rob was able to facilitate increases in state funding to rural and urban transit districts that created efficiencies in service delivery across all modes in urban and rural transit districts across the state.

Rob has served on numerous state association committees, and local boards as a contributing member providing technical assistance, and thought leadership to address local and state transit needs.

Pat Mulvihill

Pat is a life-long resident of Louisville, Kentucky. Pat has a B.S. in accounting from the University of Kentucky and a Juris Doctor from the University of Louisville. He became part of the TARC team on September 15, 2020. He joins TARC following in the footsteps of his late mother, Mary Margaret Mulvihill, who was instrumental in helping to create TARC and proudly served as a Board Member for several years.

As General Counsel, Pat’s role is to assist, work on and seek to resolve legal matters that pertain to TARC. He also serves as the Open Records Request Custodian and Coordinator on behalf of the agency.

Pat currently serves as Louisville Metro Councilman for District 10 and in conjunction with that office serves on the Louisville Zoo Foundation Board and Louisville Police Retirement Fund Board.

Tonya Carter

Tonya is a Louisville, KY native, who joined the TARC team in 2002. She is a graduate of the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.

As Chief Financial Officer she is responsible for the overall financial management of the Transit Authority, which includes accounting, budgeting, payroll, grants, administration and coordination of auditing by independent contractors.

Carter has more than twenty-five years of combined education and experience performing progressively challenging responsibilities in finance, budgeting and accounting in various industries. She currently serves on the Metro Investment Council.

Senior Leadership Team

Maria Fischer-Boothe
Jennifer Miles

Jennifer joined the TARC team in 2004. She is a graduate of Spalding University with a bachelor’s in Psychology. She has previously worked as a CSR, Lead CSR, Call Center Supervisor, and Assistant Director of Paratransit and Customer Service; she has over 15 years of experience working with contracts in the paratransit industry.

As Director of Mobility Services she is responsible for guaranteeing the Paratransit Program remains in compliance with FTA and ADA recommendations and guidance, and ensuring contractors are delivering paratransit service to the community.

Geoffrey Hobin

Geoff joined the TARC team in 2004. He is a graduate of the University of Louisville with a Master of Public Administration degree.

As Director of Grants & Capital Programs he is responsible for administering TARC’s Federal and State grants, and for managing TARC’s Capital Programs.

Hobin has served on the boards of the Center for Neighborhoods, the Louisville Group of the Sierra Club, and the Louisville Metro Community Action Agency. Currently he serves as President of the Board of the Louisville Climate Action Network (LCAN).

John “JP” Hamm joined the TARC team as Director of Human Resources in 2021. In his role as Director, his primary focus is to provide leadership and coordination of the Human Resources Department ensuring legal compliance and implementation of the organization’s mission and talent strategy. John brings over 20 years of experience in HR and labor relations, including employment law. He is excited about the work and opportunity to help people succeed. He is a native of Chicago, attended college in Virginia, and law school in Louisville, KY. He is both IPMA-HR SCP and SHRM-SCP certified.

Prior to his current position at TARC, Hamm served as the Chief Labor Negotiator for Louisville Metro Government, Director of Human Resources for Louisville Metro Government, and Executive Director for the Office of Human Resource Management for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

JP lives in Louisville with his wife, and has two children, Cathryn and Mike.

Dwight Maddox Jr.

Dwight joined the TARC team in 1998 and has called Louisville home since he was 8 years old. He is a graduate of the University of Louisville School of Business.

As Director of Information Technology he is dedicated to leveraging technology in the improvement of Public Transit and committed to pioneering solutions that will help define TARC as a leader in the transit Industry.

Maddox is honored to be a member of the Board of Kosair Charities in Louisville and spends much of his spare time engaged in their mission of helping children in need. Dwight is active in many local civic and fraternal organizations. He and his wife Rebecca are both members of the Drepung Gomang Center for Engaging Compassion in Louisville.

William Harris

William Harris joined the TARC team in 2006. He has a degree from Great Plains Vocational School in Automotive and Diesel Technology.

As Director of Maintenance he is responsible for managing the maintenance of all the buses, buildings, and support equipment.

Harris has served on a joint committee with the Department of Labor, American Public Transportation Association and The Learning Center. William also serves on The American Public Transportation Association Bus Roadeo Committee.

Aida Copic

Aida joined the TARC team in 2010. She is a graduate from the University of Sarajevo with a degree in Civil Engineering.

As Director of Planning she manages TARC’s current and long-range planning efforts, oversees service planning and scheduling, and on-street infrastructure improvements.

Copic is a member of several professional organizations, AICP, APTA, APA and APA KY Chapter, ULI and TCRP. She is involved in a number of community-wide regional and local transportation projects and development initiatives and has experience in Transportation and Land Use Planning, Project Management, Strategic Planning, Civil Engineering, Funding and Grants applications, Pedestrian Planning, and Urban Design.

Maria Harris

Maria joined the TARC team in 2020. She is a graduate of California State University East Bay with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems.

As Director of Purchasing she is responsible for overseeing all phases of the procurement of supplies, equipment, rolling stock, materials, services, professional services, construction, other public works projects and asset disposition. She is responsible for implementing all aspects of the Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) program and the direction of contracts management for TARC. Maria is the Agency’s DBE Liaison Officer.

Harris brings global expertise in procurement, supply management and distribution to her role at TARC, having served as Director of Procurement and Supply Management in the private sector. She is a certified lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

John Lockhart
Anna Cooper