Yampa Valley Regional Transportation Authority Names Finalists for First Executive Director
Public invited to attend Open Houses and interviews for four candidates
HAYDEN, Colo. October 8, 2026 --The Yampa Valley Regional Transportation Authority (YVRTA) has selected four finalists for its first executive director position: Carson Priest, executive director of Smart Commute Transportation Management Organization (TMO) in north Denver; Brent Timm, general manager of Okanogan County Transit Authority in Washington; Charles Odimgbe, chief operating officer for Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority and William Higdon, transit division manager for Okaloosa County, Florida. Residents, employers, and riders across the valley are invited to meet the four finalists at two community meet & greet events and listen to the interviews later this month. Candidates will also visit the YVRTA service territory between 10am-4pm Friday, October 23 with stops in Oak Creek, Yampa and Craig.
To select the top four candidates, the YVRTA board formed an executive director hiring committee made up of board members John Agosta and Ryan Banks and Steamboat Springs Transit Manager Jonathan Flint. With support from GMP Consultants, the authority conducted a nationwide search, and applications were first reviewed on September 8. The board expects to make a final selection by the end of the month.
The executive director will be YVRTA's first employee and founding chief executive. Reporting to the board of directors, the executive director will build the authority's operations, finances, and administration from the ground up and lead regional transportation service across Steamboat Springs, Craig, Hayden, Oak Creek, Yampa, and unincorporated Routt County.
“This Executive Director will be the face of regional transportation throughout the Yampa Valley, so we want constituents across the YVRTA to have a chance to meet them,” said Sonja Macys, YVRTA board chair. “We invite residents, riders, and employers to shake hands with the finalists, ask questions, and tell us what they need from regional transit.” If they can’t make it to Steamboat Springs or Hayden, there will also be opportunities to visit with the candidates in Oak Creek, Yampa and Craig.
Community Open Houses
Friday, October 23, 2026
8:30-10:00am | Steamboat Springs
Citizen's Room at Centennial Hall
124 10th St, Steamboat Springs, CO4:30-6pm | Hayden
Magnolia Room & Juniper Room at The Hayden Center
95 West Jefferson Ave., Hayden Colorado
Public Finalist Interviews
The board's formal interviews with all four finalists will be open to the public. Community members can attend in person at Hayden Town Hall, 178 West Jefferson Ave, in the Town Council Meeting Room or via Zoom. The public is invited to listen to the interviews, but questions and comments will not be available.
Saturday, October 24, 2026
9am-10am Interview
William Higdon10am-11am Interview
Charles Odimgbe11am-12pm Interview
Carson Priest12:30pm-1:30pm Interview
Brent Timm
“From day one, we committed to a process that is thorough, fair, and transparent,” said Ryan Banks, mayor of Hayden and a member of the hiring committee. “It has been a lot of hard work getting to this point and we’re very excited to have these four candidates coming to the Yampa Valley. I’m thrilled to be taking this big step towards our main leadership position and I look forward to meeting them all and working with the board to choose the right candidate to help the RTA take its next big steps.”
“All four finalists bring the rare combination this role demands: real transit expertise and the entrepreneurial drive to build something new,” said Jonathan Flint, Steamboat Springs Transit manager and a member of the hiring committee. “Any one of these candidates will be ready to hit the ground running and build a system that connects our communities, and we are incredibly excited about the opportunity ahead.”
WIlliam Higdon
William Higdon currently serves as Transit Division Manager for Okaloosa County, Florida, where he oversees public transportation operations, budgeting, grants, regulatory compliance, contractor performance, fleet coordination, service planning and community partnerships. His public transportation career includes senior leadership positions with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Montgomery County Transit, and Keolis. As a Superintendent of Bus Operations at WMATA, he led approximately 460 employees at one of the agency’s largest bus divisions. William’s experience encompasses agency safety planning, operations, labor relations, emergency management, contract mobilization, federal compliance, and organizational change.
Charles Odimgbe
Charles Odimgbe has more than 30 years of public and private-sector transportation experience leading transit organizations through growth, operational improvement, and organizational transformation. He served as Chief Executive Officer of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, Stark Area Regional Transit Authority, and Chatham Area Transit, and most recently as Chief Operating Officer of the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority. His experience spans transportation, maintenance, technology, capital programs, financial stewardship, workforce development and more. Charles holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Concordia University and a Master of Business Administration from George Fox University.
Carson Priest
A Tennessee native, Carson earned a B.A. in political science from Furman University, then completed a Master of Public Administration from American University in Washington, D.C. His daily walk-to-rail commute in D.C. first sparked his passion for helping people get where they need to go more easily. Carson is passionate about common-sense transportation solutions that make commuters and travelers’ lives safer, simpler, and more affordable. Since 2019, Carson has worked at Smart Commute TMO in the north Denver metro, serving as Executive Director since 2022 where he has bolstered the organization's budget through many federal and state grant awards. He leads the 13-jurisdiction North Area Transportation Alliance, and helped implement worker-focused Transportation Demand Management strategies across the region.
Brent Timm
Brent Timm is a public transportation executive with more than 11 years of experience building and leading rural transit systems. As the first Operations Manager of the Okanogan County Transit Authority, he helped design and build the organization from the ground up before advancing to General Manager. Brent has been instrumental in developing strong collaborative partnerships with local governments, community organizations, business leaders, tribal partners, and state agencies. These relationships have helped secure funding, expand services, deliver major capital projects, and shape the Okanogan County Transit Authority into the successful organization it is today. Raised on a cattle ranch in the mountains of North Central Washington, Brent brings a deep understanding of rural communities and their transportation needs.
About the Yampa Valley Regional Transportation Authority
Voters in Steamboat Springs, Craig, Hayden, Oak Creek, Yampa, and unincorporated Routt County approved the Yampa Valley Regional Transportation Authority in November 2025. The authority's goal is to make transit more frequent, reliable, and accessible for residents, workers, and visitors throughout the valley. Plans include more frequent service on U.S. Highway 40, a local circulator in Craig, new service to South Routt communities on Colorado Highway 131, and better connections to Yampa Valley Regional Airport. Each member community is represented on the board by one of its elected officials.