The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority’s (TARTA) board announced the appointment of Laura Koprowski as CEO, effective Nov. 4. The announcement comes after the news that current CEO Kimberly Dunham will transition to a new transportation leadership role in another city.

Dunham and Koprowski worked collaboratively for the past 18 months to rebuild TARTA into an effective and financially stable transit system that can provide better connectivity to jobs, education, health care, and other destinations for all residents.

A nationally recognized transit professional, Dunham arrived at TARTA in December 2019. During Dunham’s tenure at TARTA, she spearheaded several initiatives to stabilize and rebuild the agency, developed Transforming TARTA  — the five-year strategic plan —  and overhauled operations to safely provide TARTA service during the historic COVID pandemic. Under her leadership, the sales tax levy, Issue 12, has been placed on the November ballot after 11 years and four prior attempts.

Dunham also recruited an executive team of transit professionals from across the country that together have assembled numerous foundational plans and organizational efficiencies that serve as the roadmap for TARTA’s future success.

Koprowski joined TARTA and returned to her hometown of Toledo in April 2020. She brings more than 25 years of transportation and public transit experience. She previously served as the executive director of the Ohio Public Transit Association. During Koprowski’s tenure as VP, government affairs and communications, at the Central Ohio Regional Transit Authority, the organization was nationally recognized in 2018 as the outstanding mid-size public transit system by the American Public Transportation Association.

As Deputy CEO, Koprowski oversees TARTA’s seven divisions and is responsible for new business development and partnerships, including new service to Amazon’s fulfillment center in Rossford, the Vaccine Mobile in partnership with the V Project and the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, and the Jeep Fest Express.