Eric Williams has been named CEO of the San Joaquin Regional Transit District, marking the latest development in months of leadership changesat the agency.
The RTD Board of Directors met in closed session on Friday, Sept. 18, to discuss the hiring of Williams as the agency's CEO. After closed session ended, it was announced he had been selected.
The board also approved Williams' contract, effective Sept. 18. His annual base salary is $321,657, with the potential for a 7% performance-based payment. The contract includes a $500 monthly vehicle allowance and a $17,500 relocation allowance.
Williams had been serving as acting CEO since July 9.
"I accept this responsibility with humility and understand the trust that comes with it," Williams said following
Friday's appointment. "I also want to thank our employees. Whatever we accomplish in the years ahead will be because of the men and women who come to work every day and serve this community."
Williams rejoined RTD's leadership team after previously working at the agency for three years as manager of grant programs, The Record previously reported. Before returning to RTD, he served as a grant and capital compliance adviser for the American Rescue Plan Act program in Wayne County, Michigan.
Mapping RTD's future
Williams addressed the board and the public on Friday and outlined his key priorities as CEO:
- Completing all outstanding external audits.
- Achieving financial recovery.
- Resolving Federal Transit Administration triennial review findings.
- Protecting existing grant funding and maximizing reimbursements.
- Completing ongoing capital projects.
- Maintaining compliance with federal and state funding requirements.
- Filling critical vacancies within the agency.
- Preserving organizational stability and public confidence.
- Improving relationships with San Joaquin Council of Governments, the rail commission, the city of Stockton and other county and state partners.
- Continuing reliable transportation services without disruption.
"For me, becoming CEO is not about the title; it is about service, it is about what we can do for our committed employees, our riders, our cities, our regional partners and communities throughout San Joaquin County," Williams said. "My commitment to the board is that we will build an RTD that is collaborative, financially responsible, innovative, accountable and prepared for the future."
He added that he is focused not only on the next few years but on what the agency will look like in the coming decades.
"Transportation is changing. Public transportation can no longer be defined simply by fixed route buses traveling from the same routes in the same manner, year after year," according to Williams. "The communities throughout San Joaquin County are growing. Each community has different transportation needs."
Williams said it is the agency's responsibility to listen to San Joaquin County committees and develop solutions that "meet people where they are."
RTD Board Chair Derek Graves thanked Williams for his service to RTD.
"I look forward to working with you for the next few years, or year, how ever long it is," Graves said. "You're doing a great job and I appreciate everything you do."
Critics questions Williams' appointment
Not everyone in the attendance at the meeting was in support of the CEO's appointment.
Stockton resident Nate Knodt, an RTD retiree and former director of service development who frequently attends board meetings, criticized the board's decision not to conduct a national search for a new leader.
"Congratulations on the contract. That's a pretty astounding contract, especially for someone who was hired three months ago as a COO (chief operating officer) and had never been a COO, and now has been hired as a CEO and has never been a CEO," Knodt said.
The leadership turnover started in February with the firing of former CEO Alex Clifford. The board voted 4-1 to terminate Clifford "for convenience." Former RTD COO Ciro Aguirre resigned on Feb. 10, one day after Clifford was placed on paid administrative leave.
Former human resources director Noel Mink served as acting CEO from Clifford's termination until Feb. 23, when former deputy CEO Kimberly Turner was appointed interim CEO. Turner later left the post for personal reasons, and Bernard Veasley took over as acting CEO April 17, The Record previously reported.
Veasley resigned on July 6. The agency said he resigned "to attend to personal family matters."
"You fired a previous CEO and then you don't search for a new one," Knodt added. "You just bring someone in hired by the previous interim CEO, who resigned after just three months."
Tawana Milton also questioned why the board didn't conduct a broader search for the CEO position.
"As a member of the public, I am seriously concerned by RTD's decision not to conduct broader competitive recruitment for the CEO position, including a national search," Milton said. "Given the importance of this role, RTD should be seeking the most qualified, experienced and independent leadership available to stabilize the agency, to restore public confidence and to support meaning reform."
RTD is San Joaquin County's largest transit agency, employing about 342 people and serving about 2.6 million riders annually. More than 70% of its riders are from Stockton.
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This article originally appeared on The Record: Eric Williams named new CEO of San Joaquin Regional Transit District
