The Missouri Public Transit Association (MPTA) today appointed Taulby Roach, president and CEO of Bi-State Development, as vice-president; and Cynthia Baker, vice president of
marketing, communications and customer service for the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA), as treasurer of the organization’s Board of Directors. In these capacities, Roach and Baker will help guide the MPTA’s work to elevate the status of public transit accessibility in Missouri through the ongoing support of the state’s 34 transit providers. The changes to MPTA’s Board of Directors are in response to the resignation of Robbie Makinen, who served as the CEO of KCATA and vice-president of MPTA.
Roach has more than three decades of experience in transportation, real estate, infrastructure and economic development. As president and CEO of Bi-State Development, he oversees an organization serving as a catalyst for economic growth and development in the St. Louis metropolitan region through diverse business enterprises that include Metro Transit, Gateway Arch Riverfront, St. Louis Downtown Airport and St. Louis Regional Freightway. Prior to serving in this role, Roach spent more than 15 years with the St. Clair County Transit District where he was credited with the establishment and implementation of the River Bridge District transportation infrastructure development, the reorganization of the St. Clair County MetroLink Extension project refunding revenue and the development of the MetroBikeLink. Roach is a frequent public transit rider, an avid cyclist and a longtime member of Citizens for Modern Transit’s Board of Directors. He has served the MPTA for the past three years, most recently in the capacity of treasurer.
Baker is a marketing and communications professional and leader with 30-plus years’ experience in all areas of communications and marketing, primarily in the public transportation and publishing sectors. Her expertise includes branding, public relations, social media, media relations, advertising, market research, sales and promotion, website management, event planning and crisis communications. She is also is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association’s Marketing Steering Committee and is a 2008 graduate of the Leadership APTA program. She is a frequent guest speaker at transit conferences across the country on such topics as branding, social media, Bus Rapid Transit, passing tax initiatives, media relations and public engagement. Under her leadership, KCATA has garnered dozens of awards in advertising and marketing.