RTA Welcomes Chris Cole as Chief Deputy Maintenance Officer and Promotes Bob Stevens to Manager, Labor Relations

The Greater Dayton RTA is pleased to announce the promotion of Bob Stevens to manager of labor relations and the addition of Chris Cole as the new deputy chief maintenance officer. 

As the new deputy chief maintenance officer, Cole brings more than 16 years of experience in the transportation industry.  Most recently he was director of transportation for the Central Ohio Transportation Authority (COTA) in Columbus.    

As part of his duties as deputy chief maintenance officer, Cole will research and evaluate new opportunities, technology, and customer needs where it relates to the overhead direct-current electrical equipment for trolley coach operations.  He is also charged with the maintenance of power substations and the Infrastructure Capital Plan.  In addition, Cole will be responsible for the strategy and execution of plans, training, development and analysis of the effectiveness of all maintenance efforts. 

Cole reports directly to Chief Maintenance Officer Bill Ingram.  He can be reached at (937) 425-8632 or by email at [email protected].

Through this promotion, Stevens moves from the Performance Management department to the Human Resources, where he will draw on his wealth of knowledge of labor contracts and extensive interaction with employees to address labor issues.

In his new role, Stevens is responsible for the management of all labor-related activities within the various bargaining units.  He plans, directs, coordinates, and implements labor relations investigations and settlements.  He will also serve as the liaison with any external agencies concerned with labor relations, including the State Employee Relations Board (SERB), the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Stevens reports to Allison Ledford, director of Human Resources.