Board of Directors

The Interurban Transit Partnership is the organization that is responsible for The Rapid and all of its transportation services in the Grand Rapids area. Its board of directors comprises representatives of all six municipalities in The Rapid service area. The board meets monthly, and meetings are open to the public.

2024 Meeting Dates

January 24
February 21 (Board Meeting/Retreat)
March 27
April 24
May 22
July 24 (Board Budget Workshop)
August 28
September 25
October 23
December 4 (Election of Officers)

Full Board Meeting Schedule 2024 (112 KB, PDF)

Rules for Public Comment (103 KB, PDF)

Board of Directors Meeting

April 24, 2024 - 4:00 p.m.
In person: Conference Room at Rapid Central Station | 250 Cesar E Chavez, SW
Meeting Packet (3 MB, PDF)

Planning & Technology Committee Meeting

May 13, 2024 - 8:30 a.m.
In person: Conference Room at Rapid Central Station | 250 Cesar E Chavez, SW
Meeting Packet coming soon

Present Performance & Service Committee Meeting

May 21, 2024 - 4:00 p.m.
In person: Conference Room at Rapid Central Station | 250 Cesar E Chavez, SW
Meeting Packet coming soon

Meet the Board of Directors

Mayor Gary Carey (Walker) - Chairman of the Board

Welcome to my profile page. It has been a privilege to serve the West Michigan community by addressing public transit needs and I proudly serve as a board member and current chairperson of the Rapid. I’ve also been serving the City of Walker as Mayor since January of 2019. Prior to this, I represented the 2nd Ward as a City Commissioner and was also Mayor Pro-Tem.

I have been serving the City of Walker as Mayor since January 2019. Prior to this, I represented the 2nd Ward as a City Commissioner for 6 years and served as Mayor Pro-Tem. I also serve on the Grand Valley Metro Council, Standale Downtown Development Authority, and St Anthony’s School Board.

In my 30+ year business career, I have held sales leadership roles for large, privately held, and Fortune 500 companies, and am currently a national sales director with a software company. In addition to the mayor’s role and business career, I have also served as a long-time high school football coach for both Kenowa Hills and West Catholic.

I have an associate degree from Grand Rapids Community College and a Bachelor of Science with an emphasis in Leadership from Grand Valley State University. I have been married to my wife Cori for 32 years, and we have three adult children, two of whom are in law enforcement in the area, and one is a dentist practicing in Walker.

I can be reached on my cell phone at (616) 292-1715, or by email at tic.reklaw@yeracgy. You can also connect with me via Social Media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

David Bilardello (East Grand Rapids) - Vice Chairman of the Board

Dave Bilardello is the Vice President, Government Relations & Public Policy at Spectrum Health. In this role, Dave oversees Spectrum Health’s federal, state, and local public policy relationships and advocacy.

Prior to his current position, Dave held a variety of leadership positions at Priority Health during his 20 years of service, including Principal, Public Policy; Executive Director, Commercial Products; and Director of Underwriting and Pricing.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and Master of Business Administration in Finance from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. He completed additional coursework at the National University of Singapore.

Dave is actively involved with the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, and the Michigan Association of Health Plans where he serves on various committees.

He and his wife Michelle have been married 24 years and have two daughters.

Charis Austin (Wyoming)

Charis Austin serves as a Client Advocate at the Michigan Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired.

Rick Baker (Grand Rapids)

Rick is President/CEO of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, a 2,600-member business organization that is actively engaged in developing strong diverse leaders, supporting business growth, and advocating for a business environment that fosters economic prosperity for all.

The Grand Rapids Chamber’s vision is for the Grand Rapids region to be a dynamic, nationally recognized, top-of-mind community. Under Rick’s leadership, the Chamber has developed a strategic focus on three key areas: being a champion for an inclusive and magnetic community, accelerating business growth through cutting-edge programming, and providing a positive business climate by aggressively advocating for business.

Rick began his career in chamber of commerce management in May of 1988. He has held executive positions with chambers in Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota, prior to assuming his current position in April 2011. Rick’s career has allowed him to fulfill his passion as a fierce advocate for business.

Rick has an education in accounting and holds a bachelor's degree from Upper Iowa University. He is a 1995 graduate of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Organization Management at the University of Colorado. He’s a past Board Member of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), a member of the ACCE Metro Chambers Coalition, United States Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100, and was recently elected to the Board of Benefits Trust.

Locally, he serves on the Boards of Directors of The Economic Club, The Right Place, Inc., Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., Grand Valley Metro Council, Experience Grand Rapids where he serves as Chair of the Finance Committee, The Rapid, and the West Michigan Policy Forum.

Mayor Rosalynn Bliss (Grand Rapids)

Mayor Rosalynn Bliss became the City of Grand Rapids’ first female Mayor when she took office on January 1, 2016. She was re-elected for a second term in November 2019. She previously served as a Second Ward City Commissioner for 10 years.

She earned bachelor’s degrees in psychology and criminal justice from the University of South Alabama and a master’s in social work from Michigan State University. Her professional career includes teaching at Grand Valley State University in the Honors College and School of Social Work as well as work in the field of child welfare and domestic violence.

Mayor Bliss is an active member of the community. She is Past President of the Michigan Municipal League and currently serves on the boards of the Downtown Development Authority, Experience Grand Rapids, Convention Arena Authority, Grand Rapids Promise Zone Authority, Housing Kent, ArtPrize 2.0, Urban Core Mayors, The Economic Club of Grand Rapids and the Interurban Transit Partnership.

Mayor Bliss has been recognized and honored locally as well as statewide for her commitment, dedication, and work in the field of child abuse and neglect and for her leadership in the community. As Mayor, she is committed to supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs, working to create a cleaner, healthier, and safer community, and has a commitment to addressing disparities in our community to make sure that Grand Rapids is a great place for everyone.

Tracie Coffman (Grand Rapids)

Tracie Coffman is a program officer for Michigan, focused on Grand Rapids programs, at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Michigan.

In this role, Coffman is responsible for identifying and nurturing opportunities for affecting positive systemic change within communities and executing programming efforts that are aligned with overall organizational direction. She provides expertise in all aspects of the grantmaking process including evaluating grant proposals, conducting background research, preparation of funding documents, grant monitoring, driving community connections, and providing grantee customer service.

Prior to joining the Kellogg Foundation, Coffman served as the director for Kent County’s Essential Needs Task Force (ENTF). In this position, she reported directly to the governance board and provided the overall administration and strategic direction for the ENTF. She also represented ENTF on the Kent County Board of Commissioners – Human Services Committee, Community Action Agency Advisory Board, and FEMA Emergency Food and Shelter Program Board. Prior to this, she was the coordinator for the Michigan Foreclosure Task Force through CEDAM; she served as an adjunct professor at Grand Valley State University and was also a financial counseling program manager with Home Repair Services in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Coffman received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan.

Mayor Katie Favale (East Grand Rapids)

Katie Favale became Mayor in December 2019 after serving two years on the EGR City Commission. Prior to her election, she served as a Parks and Recreation Commissioner, Infrastructure Committee member and Board of Review Board member. Active in the community, Mayor Favale is a current EGR Community Foundation board member and The Rapid board member. Additionally, she has held several positions on the East Grand Rapids Public Schools PTO Council, including president.

Mayor Favale currently works for the Michigan State Police as a Forensic Scientist in the Trace Evidence Unit and serves on the MSP Crime Scene Response Team. Mayor Favale is also working towards receiving her Master of Science degree in Forensic Science. She previously worked as a laboratory manager at Northwestern University and a research associate at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory.

Mayor Favale moved to EGR from Chicago in 2010, although originally raised in Frankenmuth. She lives in Ward One with her husband Dino, three sons Aedan, Sean, and Cian, and English Labrador Sapphire.

Steven Gilbert (Walker)

Steven Gilbert was elected to the Walker City Commission in 2017 and currently serves as Mayor Pro Tem for the city. Steven is a Grand Valley State University graduate and holds a certification in Sustainable City and Regional Planning.

As a City Commissioner, Steven serves as chairman of the Walker Ordinance and Mobility & Infrastructure committees, in addition to various other roles. Steven currently works for Corewell Health on their Government Relations and Public Policy team and is proud to represent the City of Walker on The Rapid's Board of Directors.

Steven is a lifelong Walker resident, where he lives with his wife, Raelynn, and their daughter.

Andy Guy (Grand Rapids)

Andy Guy serves as Chief Outcomes Officer at Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., the organization responsible for place management and city building in Downtown Grand Rapids. In this role, Guy directs DGRI’s policy, strategy and communication initiatives.

Guy brings 15 years of broad experience in Michigan’s mobility and urban revitalization movement. Prior to joining DGRI, Guy served as Associate Director of Governor Rick Snyder’s Office of Urban Initiatives. He also served as Director of Metropolitan and Environmental Initiatives at Grand Rapids-based Wondergem PR.

A graduate of Michigan State University, Guy lives in Downtown Grand Rapids with his wife and two daughters, who attend Grand Rapids Public Schools.

Jack Hoffman (Grand Rapids)

Jack Hoffman was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and attended Creston High School, the University of Michigan, and the University of Michigan School of Law, receiving his J.D. in 1976. His major areas of practice are insurance and real estate, including tax credit financing and historic preservation and planning issues. He served six years on the Grand Rapids Historic Preservation Commission. He has been chairperson of the Grand Rapids Master Plan Zoning Committee and the Grand Rapids Parking Commission. He is currently chair of the Green Grand Rapids Committee and a board member of the Interurban Transit Partnership, Michigan's most successful public transportation provider. He resides in Heritage Hill with his wife, Rebecca Smith-Hoffman, who is a principal at Past Perfect, Inc., a historic preservation consulting firm.

Mayor Stephen Kepley (Kentwood)

Stephen Kepley is Kentwood’s Mayor and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the City. Prior to his election in 2013, Mayor Kepley worked in the private sector for 15 years followed by 11 years serving the citizens of Kentwood as Director of Engineering and Inspections. Mayor Kepley is a Virginia Tech Graduate and retains many State licenses including Professional Engineer and Building Inspections.

Mayor Kepley is celebrating 28 years of marriage to his wife Susan and is the father of three daughters. Stephen and Susan mentor both young professionals and students, many of whom are members of Calvin College’s Mu Kappa, a missionary and third culture student group. They believe the best investment one can make is in people, for these rewards will endure for generations to come.

Mayor Steve Maas (Grandville)

Mayor Maas assumed his role in 2013, becoming the first new Mayor of Grandville since 1984.

Mayor Maas is chairman of a Holland meat processing company and owner of a Grandville title insurance agency. He graduated from Hope College and Thomas M. Cooley School of Law. Additionally, he earned a certificate of Fine Art Appraisal from New York University in 2010.

Mayor Maas is a member of the Michigan State Bar Association, and attends Resurrection Life Church in Wyoming. He and his wife Lisa have 7 children: Raymond, Jorie, Sally, Isaac, Simeon, Ezra and Truman.

Robert Postema (Wyoming)

Rob Postema was elected to Wyoming’s City Council in November 2016 and also serves on The Transportation Policy Committee of the Grand Valley Metro Council. Prior to his election, Rob served in Wyoming for 16 years as a Planning Commissioner and 8 years as a member of The Board of Zoning Appeals. Rob graduated from Calvin College with a Bachelor’s of Science in Engineering Degree. He is a Principal Owner at Richard Postema Associates P.C., Architects & Engineers, a family owned and operated business.

He and his wife, Shelley, have been married 25 years and have two daughters.

Terry Schweitzer (Kentwood)

Terry Schweitzer is the City of Kentwood Director of Community Development. He also serves on the Transportation Policy Committee of the Grand Valley Metro Council. Terry is a patron of Rapid routes 2, 7 and the Silver Line. With a sincere belief in safe, clean, affordable, efficient and interconnected transportation services, he is proud to serve The Rapid Board of Directors.

Paul Troost (Grandville)

Paul Troost started serving as a member of the Grandville City Council in 2017. He has lived in Grandville for over 30 years and served as Secretary of the Grandville Park and Recreation Board from 2000-2016. He was Chair of Grandville’s 4th of July Celebration from 2006-2016. He worked for U.S. Senator Carl Levin in his Grand Rapids office for 27 years, until 2015. As Senator Levin’s Regional Representative for West Michigan, Paul assisted constituents and communities with federal concerns and problems with federal programs, including transportation and transit issues. Paul was born in Zeeland, grew up in Byron Center, and graduated from Kalamazoo College with a BA in Political Science. He and his wife Patsy have been married 32 years and have two children. Their daughter Sydney is a lead energy analyst in Grand Rapids and their son Paul Collin works as a software developer in Grand Rapids. They are all members of Central Reformed Church in downtown Grand Rapids. Paul also plays trombone as a member of the Grand Rapids Symphonic Band and the Ransom Street Big Band.