Organization Also Elected Officers and Extended the Appointment of Existing Board Members
Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT) – the region’s transit advocacy organization – has named Tim O’Connell of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP), Michael Richards of SSM Health, and Jon Schaller of Gonzalez Companies, as the newest members of its Board of Directors. All three were elected for a three-year term during CMT’s 42nd Annual Meeting, held Sept. 11 at the Marriott Grand Hotel in downtown St. Louis.
O’Connell is a partner at BCLP and a member of the firm’s Financial Services and Real Estate practice groups. His practice focuses on the intersection of law, government and civic engagement. Prior to rejoining the firm, he served as chief of staff to St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson and as clerk and legal counsel to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen. His public- and private-sector legal experience, combined with a decade in journalism, gives him a distinctive perspective on civic affairs, public policy and public-private partnerships.
Richards serves as system vice president of government affairs and public policy for St. Louis-based SSM Health. He leads advocacy initiatives across the four-state system and directs development of a comprehensive advocacy network addressing public policy priorities. Richards has more than 25 years of experience in government relations, community involvement, corporate communications, supply chain and purchasing, and project management.
Schaller is involved in project management for Gonzalez Companies and currently serves as Deputy Construction Manager for the MetroLink Extension project to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in St. Clair County. Prior to joining Gonzalez, Schaller served as the District Engineer of Local Roads and Streets at the Illinois Department of Transportation District 8 office in Collinsville. In this position, he worked closely with metro-east local agencies in the planning, design, and construction of roadway, bridge and alternative transportation projects.
CMT also re-elected Tim Brinker of Greater St. Louis, Inc., Cynthia Crim of Commerce Bank, Travis Pfeiffer of HNTB, and Sal Martinez of Employment Connections to three-year terms.
The following officers were also appointed for a one-year term: Chair – Ellie Glenn Harmon of St. Louis Children’s Hospital; Vice Chairs – Robert Blaine of Washington University in St. Louis, Nancy E. Cross and Brandon Flinn of Missouri and Kansas Laborers District Council; Secretary – Charlie Hinderliter of the St. Louis REALTORS; Treasurer – Adella D. Jones of the University of Missouri–St. Louis; Past Chair – D’Andre Braddix of St. Louis Community College, and At-Large – Ryan Arnold of Ameren Missouri and Rose Windmiller of Stellar Strategists.
“The success of CMT is driven by the expertise and engagement of our board leaders,” said Kim Cella, CEO of Citizens for Modern Transit. “We are pleased to welcome these new members and look forward to the ideas, perspectives and experience they will bring to our efforts to advance public transit throughout the region.”
For more information about Citizens for Modern Transit, visit www.cmt-stl.org.
Citizens for Modern Transit
Citizens for Modern Transit is the St. Louis region’s transit advocacy organization. Established in 1985 to help bring light rail to St. Louis, CMT’s mission is focused on championing, challenging, encouraging and advocating for public transit in an effort to drive economic growth and improve quality of life. To help support this mission, the organization works to develop ridership programming, transform spaces around transit stops, help secure local and federal transit funding, serve as a strong and effective voice on transit-related issues and opportunities, and ensure safe, convenient, user-friendly and affordable access to the area’s integrated public transportation system. To learn more, visit www.CMT-STL.org or follow the organization on Facebook, X, Instagram or LinkedIn.
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For more information, contact:
Kelly Harris
(314) 436-9090
kelly@hausergrouppr.com