FYI from the AATA:

AATA board to negotiate CEO post with Ford

The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority Board of Directors will begin negotiations with Michael Ford on a contract to serve as AATA’s new CEO.

Following a third interview of Ford at its April 22 meeting, the board voted unanimously to offer the position to Ford, who has 25 years of experience in the transit industry.

Ford, is currently a principal with MG Ford Consulting, based in Camas, Washington which provides organizational development services to businesses. Prior to his current position, he served as chief operating officer and assistant general manager for the San Joaquin (California) Rapid Transit District.

He began his transit career as operations manager with Greyhound Lines in Spokane, Washington, where he eventually served as area general manager. He went on to TriMet in Portland, Oregon, serving as director of operations before being promoted to provide strategic counsel as executive advisor to the general manager.

Ford earned a bachelor of arts degree in sociology and philosophy at Pacific University in Oregon and a master’s degree from City University in Seattle, Washington. He has also served in leadership roles on the boards of various organizations.

Nacht said that the Board of Directors has approached the search through a very careful and deliberate process because it recognizes this task as the most important work that it will do for the organization.

The process began with the hiring of an executive search firm, CPS Human Resource Services, which screened more than 60 applicants and recommended 10 candidates for consideration by the AATA Board’s Executive Search Committee, headed by Paul Ajegba.

The search committee then decided to interview five of the screened applicants. The interview process began with Invitations to 15 stakeholders, most of whom participated in the confidential interview process, along with members of the AATA Board, staff and union.

The stakeholders included representatives of Washtenaw County government; the City of Ann Arbor, the City of Ypsilanti; Ypsilanti, Pittsfield and Superior townships; the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority; the University of Michigan; Washtenaw Community College; Ann Arbor Public Schools; and the AATA Local Advisory Council.

The search committee narrowed the field to two finalist candidates, who participated in a second round of interviews conducted by the Board of Directors in public session. The board chose to conduct a third interview with Ford before making its final decision.