From the press release:
MTD TO SELECT NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR
In closed session at its June 26, 2013 meeting, the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD) Board of Trustees discussed draft wording of a contract that would designate Karl Gnadt as MTD’s next Managing Director. A formal contract incorporating suggestions discussed in the closed session will be presented to the Board of Trustees for action at the July 2013 Board meeting. Upon formal approval of the contract, Mr. Gnadt will assume the title of Managing Director Designate and continue as Director of Market Development. On July 1, 2014, Mr. Gnadt will become Managing Director.
Bill Volk, Managing Director of MTD since 1974, announced last year his plan to retire effective June 30, 2014. Until then Mr. Volk and Mr. Gnadt will work closely together to ensure a smooth transition.
Donald Uchtmann, MTD Board Chair said, “Our Board has been working since last fall on Mr. Volk’s replacement. Our process included seeking input from the public, transit industry leaders, and employees, and involved the entire Board. The Board soon realized that an outstanding candidate was already a part of MTD’s leadership team. Mr. Gnadt knows the District and its operations and is a resident of the local community. I am confident he will continue the commitment to excellent public service that is deeply ingrained within MTD and will lead the District into a successful future.”
Mr. Gnadt is MTD’s Director of Market Development and has been with the District since 1995. He graduated from Indiana University in 1990 with a B.S. in Public Administration with a concentration in Public Transportation. After an internship with MTD, Mr. Gnadt went to Danville Mass Transit (DMT) and became the Mass Transit Director in 1991. During his tenure with DMT, he transitioned the company from a contracted operator to a City of Danville Department, worked closely with their congressional representative to restore federal funding, and oversaw construction of a downtown transfer center.
At MTD, Mr. Gnadt has shepherded two strategic investments impacting all MTD activities. First, he is the architect of MTD’s real-time passenger information system, managing its purchase and installation. Second, Karl Gnadt leads the team and is the primary advocate for MTD’s sustainability efforts and ISO 14001 certification. As the Director of Market Development, Mr. Gnadt manages a diverse group of personnel responsible for marketing, social media, information technology, planning, sustainability, and software development. He is also instrumental in MTD’s grant procurement and management activities. Mr. Gnadt, his wife Heidi, and their two sons live in Urbana.
“I am excited about the opportunity to continue the legacy that Bill Volk has established. The legacy of creative management overlaid with integrity. The legacy of entrenching public transit into the fabric of the Champaign-Urbana community. The legacy of award-winning partnerships. My vision is to elevate the District even further so that it is more widely viewed as a critical public commodity,” Mr. Gnadt said.
Mr. Volk has expertly led MTD during 40 years of service excellence, innovation, and growth. The Board of Trustees eagerly anticipates where Mr. Gnadt’s stewardship will lead.
