Finalists picked in Intercity Transit general manager search. Here’s who they are
Three finalists have been selected in the search for a new Intercity Transit general manager.
The Intercity Transit Authority board picked the finalists after receiving “almost 100 qualified applicants” from around the world, according to a Thursday news release.
The board kicked off its search for a new general manager after Ann Freeman-Manzanares retired from the role at the end of March. She left after 30 years at Intercity Transit, including 10 years as general manager.
Emily Bergkamp, a former IT Operations Director, has been serving as interim general manager since Manzanares’ departure. She has guided the agency as it’s still been rebounding from low-ridership during the first few years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The board named Bergkamp as one of the three finalists. She has served with the agency since 2004. In addition to serving as Operations Director, she has served as Vanpool Coordinator, Youth Education Specialist and Dial-A-Lift Manager, the release reads.
Bergkamp graduated from the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at University of Washington with a Master of Arts in Public Administration, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Before that, she graduated from Saint Martin’s University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Cultural Anthropology.
Jana Demas, Deputy Director of Rail at King County Metro, has been shortlisted as well. She has worked at King County Metro since 2008. Prior to her current role, she served as Transportation Planner, Supervisor/Lead of Strategic Planning, and Managing Director of Employee Services.
Demas has master’s degrees in Urban Planning and Public Administration from University of Washington, according to her LinkedIn profile. She also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and Teaching from the University of Miami.
Ryan Wheaton, Executive Director of Planning and Community Development at Pierce Transit, rounds out the top three.
He has kept his current role since 2018 and previously worked as Specialized Transportation Manager and Business Partnership Administrator at Pierce Transit from 2014 to 2016, according to his LinkedIn profile. From 2016-2018, Wheaton served as the city manager of Shelton.
Wheaton earned a Master of Business Administration degree in Technology and Innovation Management from Pacific Lutheran University School of Business.
He also has a Master of Arts degree in Education from University of Northern Colorado and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Colorado State University.
The release says all three finalists have previously graduated from a leadership and professional development program offered by American Public Transportation Association, a non-profit organization that represents members from the public transit industry.
The finalists will be in the region for a “series of events and interviews” from Oct. 25-27, according to the release. The ITA Board anticipates selecting a general manager before the end of the year.
