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Construction notice: Harlan Avenue (Route 17) Lane Closures: Norfolk Street to Cedar Road. Closure details: Harlan Avenue (Route 17) Lane Closures: Norfolk Street to Cedar Road

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors sets policy for the Authority, adopts its budget and plans, and awards contracts. Members are elected officials appointed by member jurisdictions, plus one public member.

Next Board meeting: October 8, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Meeting details

Members

Officers are elected each July for one-year terms. Board members may be contacted through the Clerk of the Board.

  • MayorDenise Okafor

    Chair

    Representing
    City of Ridgeview
    Appointed by:
    City of Ridgeview
    Serving since:
    2021
    Term expires:
    June 30, 2027

    Mayor Okafor has served as Mayor of Ridgeview since 2020 and was first appointed to the NRTA Board of Directors in 2021. She was elected Chair in July 2025.

    Before her election, she spent twelve years on the Ridgeview Planning Commission and worked as a civil engineer with the county public works department. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Ridge Valley State University.

    Committee assignments

    • Executive Committee (Chair)
    • Finance and Audit Committee

  • CommissionerThomas Brandt

    Vice Chair

    Representing
    Harlan County
    Appointed by:
    Harlan County Board of Commissioners
    Serving since:
    2019
    Term expires:
    December 31, 2026

    Commissioner Brandt represents District 2 on the Harlan County Board of Commissioners and has served on the NRTA Board since 2019.

    He previously chaired the Harlan County Rural Roads Task Force and has worked in agricultural freight logistics for more than twenty years.

    Committee assignments

    • Executive Committee
    • Capital Programs Committee (Chair)

  • CouncilmemberLucia Ferreira

    Secretary-Treasurer

    Representing
    City of Millbrook
    Appointed by:
    City of Millbrook
    Serving since:
    2022
    Term expires:
    June 30, 2027

    Councilmember Ferreira has represented Ward 3 on the Millbrook City Council since 2019. She joined the NRTA Board in 2022 and was elected Secretary-Treasurer in 2024.

    She is a certified public accountant and previously served as finance director for a regional hospital system.

    Committee assignments

    • Executive Committee
    • Finance and Audit Committee (Chair)

  • MayorRaymond Castellano

    Member

    Representing
    Cedar Falls and Ashford County municipalities
    Appointed by:
    Cities of Ashford County
    Serving since:
    2024
    Term expires:
    June 30, 2028

    Mayor Castellano was elected Mayor of Cedar Falls in 2023 and represents the incorporated cities of Ashford County on the NRTA Board.

    He is a retired high school principal and served on the Cedar Falls Safe Routes to School advisory group.

    Committee assignments

    • Capital Programs Committee

  • CommissionerEvelyn Marsh

    Member

    Representing
    Ashford County
    Appointed by:
    Ashford County Board of Commissioners
    Serving since:
    2020
    Term expires:
    December 31, 2027

    Commissioner Marsh has served on the Ashford County Board of Commissioners since 2016 and on the NRTA Board since 2020.

    She is a past president of the Ashford County Council on Aging and has focused her board service on mobility options for older adults and people with disabilities.

    Committee assignments

    • Finance and Audit Committee

  • CouncilmemberJae-won Park

    Member

    Representing
    City of Lakemont
    Appointed by:
    City of Lakemont
    Serving since:
    2025
    Term expires:
    June 30, 2028

    Councilmember Park was elected to the Lakemont City Council in 2023 and appointed to the NRTA Board in January 2025.

    He is an urban planner by training and previously worked on transit-oriented development projects for a regional housing nonprofit.

    Committee assignments

    • Capital Programs Committee

  • CommissionerGloria Hensley

    Member

    Representing
    Pine Hollow County and Stanton County
    Appointed by:
    Pine Hollow and Stanton County Boards of Commissioners (rotating seat)
    Serving since:
    2023
    Term expires:
    December 31, 2026

    Commissioner Hensley serves on the Pine Hollow County Board of Commissioners and holds the rotating rural counties seat on the NRTA Board through December 2026.

    She owns a family trucking business and has served on the regional freight advisory group since 2018.

    Committee assignments

    • Finance and Audit Committee

  • Marcus Whitfield

    Member

    Representing
    At-Large Public Member
    Appointed by:
    Appointed by the Board from public applications
    Serving since:
    2023
    Term expires:
    June 30, 2027

    Mr. Whitfield was appointed to the at-large public seat in 2023 following an open application process.

    He is a daily transit rider, a member of the Ridgeview Disability Advisory Commission, and works as a benefits counselor for a regional independent living center.

    Committee assignments

    • Citizens Advisory Committee (Board Liaison)

  • Angela Ruiz, P.E.

    Ex Officio (Non-Voting)

    Representing
    State Department of Transportation, District 4
    Appointed by:
    State Department of Transportation
    Serving since:
    2024

    Ms. Ruiz is the District 4 Engineer for the State Department of Transportation and serves as the Department's non-voting representative on the NRTA Board.

    Committee assignments

    • Technical Advisory Committee (Liaison)

Statements of economic interests

Board members file annual statements of economic interests with the Clerk of the Board. Copies are available through a public records request.

Contact the Board

Sandra Nguyen

Clerk of the Board