On May 18, Stephen Wade and Mike Allemang were appointed to the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide) Board of Directors, and will serve terms through May 1, 2020. Wade and Allemang replace Roger Kerson and Anya Dale, whose five-year terms both concluded on May 1.
Wade works for the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development. He manages the HUD Sustainable Communities Planning grant and funding for federal community and affordable housing development. His work focuses on corridor transformation, equitable development, community engagement, neighborhood stabilization, and walkability. He has run affordable housing and smart growth policy campaigns in the Washington D.C. region, set up temporary housing in post-Katrina New Orleans, and lived and worked in India, South Africa, and Chile. He earned a Masters in Urban and Environmental Planning from the University Of Virginia School Of Architecture and a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from Emory University.
“I look forward to supporting TheRide as it goes through an exciting expansion phase," said Wade. "As a regular rider, I’m interested in continuing to improve the rider experience by focusing on convenience, affordability, safety and comfort. Also, the quality of the destinations that TheRide serves are key to the sustainability of the service. I hope to support high-quality bus stops and transit stations, and pursue joint development opportunities.”
Allemang has spent most of his career in corporate financial management, in positions including Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. He has worked on the East Coast, West Coast, Gulf Coast, and the Midwest. A 20-year resident of Ann Arbor, he has also been active in local non-profits, serving as a board member and treasurer of the University Musical Society, Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, and SOS Community Services. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from Stanford University.
“An area cannot be great without great public transportation,” said Allemang. “I am very excited that additional public funding is allowing TheRide to expand its services, and believe that my financial experience will be valuable at this crucial time.”
