Krauthamer & Associates Selected by Regional Transportation District for CEO Search

October 26, 2026 – Krauthamer & Associates (K&A) has been retained by the Regional Transportation District (RTD) in Denver, CO, to lead in its search for a new CEO. “RTD seeks a CEO who can continue strengthening the agency’s fiscal foundation, drive long‑range funding solutions, and guide RTD through budget challenges while advancing innovation, equity, transit service delivery and the customer experience,” said RTD board chair Patrick O’Keefe.

“RTD is entering an important new chapter, and this CEO search is an opportunity to bring in a leader who will help shape the future of transit and mobility for our entire region,” said performance committee chair and board second vice chair Chris Gutschenritter. “We are committed to a transparent and inclusive process that welcomes public and stakeholder input and reflects the diverse communities we serve. Our next CEO must be someone who can build on RTD’s momentum, strengthen partnerships and drive innovative solutions that make transit more reliable, sustainable and connected for everyone.”

The next CEO will lead RTD’s complex, multimodal transit organization with a focus on increasing ridership through safe, reliable, and high-quality service. The executive will work closely with the board to establish a unified vision for the agency while building relationships with local, regional, and state officials, community leaders, customers, advocacy groups, and the business community. The CEO will also serve as the public face of RTD, overseeing marketing and public outreach efforts and communicating the agency’s priorities to elected officials, stakeholders, the media, and the broader community.

Candidates for the CEO position must demonstrate a minimum of 10 years of management experience with at least five years of executive leadership experience working at a comparable public or private organization of significant complexity and size, along with strong financial acumen. The desired candidate also would have proven success in leading an organization with union and non-represented employees and a track record of developing and maintaining strong relationships with customers, elected officials, and stakeholders.

The board has requested the search committee identify at least three candidate finalists for the board’s consideration. The finalist candidates for CEO are expected to be determined by a board vote in early December, which will commence a 14-day public feedback window.

The Regional Transportation District is the region’s public transit agency created in 1969 by the Colorado General Assembly, connecting Denver residents through an affordable, safe, clean, reliable, accessible, and customer friendly community-oriented transportation network.

Krauthamer & Associates specializes in identifying, attracting, and recruiting talent for C-suite, board, and senior roles across industries, such as real estate, transportation, aerospace, healthcare, private equity, the public sector, technology, and more.

Gary Krauthamer, who founded the firm in 1971, has completed more than 1,000 search assignments throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Over the last 30 years, Mr. Krauthamer has worked extensively within and across the public and private sectors. His clients can be found in the aerospace industry, federal government, entrepreneurial organizations, middle-market entities, and large multinational Fortune 100 corporations.

Metropolitan Public Transportation Search

K&A was recently retained by the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority to lead in its search for a CEO. The search is expected to take several months. Interim CEO Brent Cagle will continue leading day-to-day operations in the meantime and has been encouraged to apply for the permanent role, according to the board. MPTA board chair David Howard said the search reflects the organization’s commitment to sound governance during a pivotal moment for the agency.

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“As Charlotte Area Transit System transitions to an independent organization, it is the board’s responsibility to ensure we have the right CEO in place,” said Mr. Howard. “Conducting a national search allows us to consider a wide range of qualified candidates while adhering to best governance practices during this transition.”

Officials said no service changes are expected during the search process. The board said it will maintain coordination with Charlotte and other stakeholders as the transition continues.

The Charlotte Area Transit System is the public transportation agency serving Charlotte, NC, and surrounding communities within Mecklenburg County. The system operates local and express bus routes, the LYNX Blue Line light rail service, the CityLYNX Gold Line streetcar, and paratransit transportation for eligible riders.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media

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