The Missouri Public Transit Association (MPTA) welcomed one new board member, re-elected nine members of its Board of Directors and elected officers during its 2026 Annual Meeting, held in conjunction with the Missouri Public Transit Conference. The board and its officers will help guide the organization’s efforts to advocate for public transportation accessibility, funding, policies and initiatives that improve mobility for those in both urban and rural communities.
Joining the board for the first time is Bryce Shields, innovations and performance lead at the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA). With seven years of transit industry experience, Shields works closely with communities and stakeholders across the Kansas City region, managing partnerships, fare initiatives and outreach efforts designed to expand access to public transportation.
Shields, along with the nine re-elected board members, will each service a two-year term. The re-elected members include:
- David Johnson, Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance
- Taulby Roach, Bi-State Development
- Chuck Ferguson, KCATA
- Gina Thompson, City of Joplin
- Matt Crawford, City Utilities of Springfield
- Dorothy Yeager, OATS Transit
- Gerry Stegemann, City of Jefferson City
- Terri Barr-Moore, KCATA
- Lukas Yanni, Mid-America Regional Council
Members also elected the following officers to serve one-year terms:
- President: Matt Crawford, City Utilities of Springfield
- Vice President: Chuck Ferguson, KCATA
- Secretary: Chance Gallagher, City of St. Joseph
- Treasurer: Tracy Jones, Southeast Missouri Transportation Service
- Past President: Taulby Roach, Bi-State Development
- At-Large: Dorothy Yeager, OATS Transit
“The strength of MPTA is built on the leadership, expertise and dedication of our board members,” said Kim Cella, executive director of MPTA. “We are excited to welcome Bryce to the board while continuing to benefit from the experience and commitment of our returning members. Together, our board and officers are well-positioned to help advance public transportation and mobility solutions that connect Missourians to opportunity.”
The MPTA looks forward to the leadership and collaboration of its board in the year ahead.