The Memphis Area Transit Authority board is asking for the public’s help as they search for a new CEO.
MATA has asked community members to submit questions for the top two finalists of its CEO search. The agency is currently under the direction of interim CEO, John Lewis of TransPro Consulting.
Questions can be submitted by emailing publiccomments@matatransit.com. The public question period is open now through Wednesday, August 27 at 8:00 a.m.
“MATA is committed to ensuring our next CEO is aligned with the needs and values of the Memphis community,” said Emily Greer, MATA board chair. “We encourage riders, employees, and stakeholders to share their questions as we move forward in this critical decision.”
Agency officials said the most frequently asked questions will be asked during the final round of candidate interviews — which will be conducted during a special called meeting.
This announcement comes after transit advocates and riders have asked for the public to be more involved in the selection process. The requests were further amplified when questions about the oversight of the agency’s finances by former leadership came to light after a series of audits.
Citizens and city officials alike have asked the agency to consider candidates that seek to have a relationship with riders and the community.
The transit agency has posted both remaining candidates’ qualifications to their social media pages. They are listed as Candidates “A and B.” Mata said both finalists have more than 20 years experience working in transit.
Social media users have started to chime in on the finalists’ qualifications and how they fit into their hopes for a transformed MATA.
“I want to see someone who cares about operators’ safety and well-being [and] cares deeply about the passengers’ commuting process,” a user named Harry Walker said on Facebook. “Someone who actually knows Memphis areas (not by Google Maps) [and] knows how these buses should be improved.”
