News

Contact: Laurie Robison, Director of Marketing
Email: lrobison@cata.org
Direct: (517) 367-7252
Mobile: (517) 896-1873 (for media inquiries only)

Lansing, Mich. — The Capital Area Transportation Authority elected a new slate of officers to serve on its board of directors, effective June 18, 2014.

Patrick Cannon, Chair
Cannon is a long-standing member of CATA's board. He has represented Meridian Township since 1991. He was elected vice-chair in October 2013. Prior to that, he had served as the board's secretary-treasurer since 2009. Cannon's leadership experience includes two presidential appointments, one by President Barack Obama in March 2014 to the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Access Board; the other by President Bill Clinton to the U.S. Access Board in 1995. Cannon also served as Governor Jennifer Granholm's Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator in 2004 and as her disability policy adviser in 2003. Cannon recently retired from the state of Michigan as director of the Commission for the Blind.

Robert Swanson, Vice-Chair
Swanson has been a member of CATA's board since 2008, representing the city of Lansing. Following more than 34 years in state and government service, Swanson retired in 2007 as director of the Department of Labor and Economic Growth and a member of Governor Jennifer Granholm's cabinet. In 2010, Granholm appointed Swanson to the Michigan Civil Service Commission; his term expires Dec. 31, 2018. Swanson graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science in political science and a master's in history.


Douglas Lecato, Secretary-Treasurer
Lecato has represented Delhi Township on the CATA board since 2009. He is also the board liaison for the Local Advisory Committee. He graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in business administration/pre-law and a minor in marketing. He has worked for the American Cancer Society's information technology department for more than 15 years. Lecato utilizes CATA's services on a daily basis.

CATA's board consists of 12 members, representing the cities of Lansing and East Lansing; Meridian, Delhi and Lansing townships; Ingham County; and Michigan State University, as follows:

Peter Kuhnmuench, City of Lansing
Robin Lewis, City of Lansing
Anne Wilson, City of Lansing
Robert Swanson, City of Lansing
Ralph Monsma, City of East Lansing
Nathan Triplett, City of East Lansing
Julie Brixie, Meridian Township
Patrick Cannon, Meridian Township
Douglas Lecato, Delhi Township
Joseph Sambaer, Lansing Township
Mark Grebner, Ingham County
John Prush, Michigan State University

About CATA:
Formed in 1972, the Capital Area Transportation Authority was twice voted the No. 1 transit system in America. CATA strives to provide a variety of quality transportation services that are safe, timely and cost efficient, responding creatively to the diverse mobility needs of the region and delivered by dedicated employees in a professional manner. CATA services are provided in accordance with Title VI, without discrimination based on race, color, national origin, or other prohibited basis. For all media inquiries, please contact above-named PIO.