CATA Board Announces Appointment of Todd Horsley as Chief Executive Officer 

The Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) is excited to announce that Todd Horsley has been selected as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective July 15th. With over 24 years of experience in public sector transportation, Todd brings an extensive background and a wealth of knowledge to the role. 

 

Todd Horsley previously served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority, which is the second-largest transit system in Colorado and the largest rural transit system in the United States, located in Aspen, CO. Most recently, he was the Director of Northern Virginia Transit Programs for the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. In this role, he successfully managed $600+ million in annual state grant funding and provided state oversight and compliance guidance to ten transit systems in a complex, high-demand region. His experience includes managing operations that address both peak and off-peak demand, similar to the needs of CATA and the Penn State community. Furthermore, Todd has a strong background in contracts, compliance, economic development, and cross-agency collaboration. 

 

“CATA is a remarkable transit system, doing big things in a vibrant, growing region. I’m excited about the possibilities and look forward to leading us into our next decade of innovation.” Stated Todd Horsley, CATA’s incoming CEO 

 

“Beyond his credentials, the Board was especially drawn to Todd’s strategic mindset, strong communication skills, and genuine enthusiasm for life in a college town,” stated Mark Parfitt, Chair of the Board of Directors. “He’ll officially join us in mid-July. I hope you’ll join me in welcoming Todd to CATA and the Centre Region.” 

 

Beginning in July, Todd will take on the role of Incoming CEO, while David Rishel will continue to serve as the authority’s Outgoing CEO. This planned transitional approach allows Todd to familiarize himself with the system and the dedicated team members who keep it operating smoothly, while also preserving the stability established under David’s leadership.  

 

"It is fantastic to have a person with Todd's background as CATA's next CEO.  His strong mix of operations and regulatory experience are just what we were looking for." Says David Rishel, CATA’s outgoing CEO 

 

The CATA board has continued to commend the authority's remarkable turnaround over the past 30 months under David Rishel’s guidance. CATA is gaining both state and national recognition for its fiscal management and customer service excellence. David has signed a new 14-month contract in March, during which he will gradually transition out of the CEO role while continuing to offer strategic support to the Board.  

 

“There are a lot of bright opportunities on CATA’s horizon. On behalf of the Board, we can’t imagine a better team to take CATA into its next 50 years,” said Mark Parfitt