Veolia Transportation has named Lance Atencio, GM of Veolia’s Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG) transportation contract based in Chico, Calif.

He replaces former GM Ibrahima Toure, who was promoted to director, business development, for Veolia’s western region. As GM of the BCAG contract, Atencio will oversee fixed-route and paratransit service with 110 employees and 70 vehicles.

Prior to joining Veolia, Atencio spent 15 years working in transportation with another company. His most recent assignment at the company was as GM in Salinas, Calif. managing paratransit and fixed-route service with an annual ridership in excess of 500,000. Prior to that he worked as GM in Fairfield, Calif.

Among his credits was recognition by the Transportation Agency for Monterey County for improvements made to the paratransit system, which resulted in increased business by over 100% while maintaining a consistently excellent safety record. He was also nominated for Solano County Employee of the Year, while working as GM in Fairfield, for his effective implementation of policies and procedures resulting in improved overall transit service.