On June 24, 2024, Laketran swore in three board members during the agency’s monthly meeting after being appointed by the Lake County Commissioners.

Chuck Zibbel of Concord, the Laketran board vice president, has been reappointed for another three-year term. Since joining the board in 2016, Zibbel has been instrumental in leveraging his expertise as a retired senior engineer to contribute to the construction of two indoor transit centers and the renovation of Laketran’s Headquarters.

“I truly enjoy serving on this board to make sure that residents of our community are best served by Laketran and that we’re operating as efficiently as possible. We are always looking to grow and innovate and we are doing just that with our transition to propane and electric buses, through our mobile fare collection, and service expansions,” stated Zibbel. “It’s an honor to continue to serve the people of Lake County through this board.”

Renee Ochaya, Director of the Mentor Senior Center, and Dr. Joe Glavan, a local workforce development expert affiliated with Mentor Public Schools, Lakeland Community College, and the Lake County Board of Commissioners, were both sworn-in to their first term on the Laketran board. 

Ochaya, a resident of Mentor, has managed the 5,000-member Mentor Senior Center for over a decade, overseeing diverse programs tailored to seniors of various ages, interests, and abilities. The center’s “Special Elders” program, designed for seniors needing extra assistance, has given Ochaya a deep understanding of Laketran’s services and its significance to the growing senior population.

“I’m excited to join the Laketran board,” shared Ochaya. “There is so much discussion about maintaining independence while aging and I have seen firsthand the importance of public transportation access for seniors. We are very fortunate to have these services in Lake County, and I’m happy to join the board to work to continue to meet the needs of our seniors.”

Dr. Glavan, who has worked cooperatively with Laketran to reduce barriers for students accessing career development programs and internships, understands the impact transportation barriers can have on the workforce.

“I am thrilled to join Laketran’s Board of Trustees and am eager to support its mission in serving the residents of Lake County,” shared Dr. Glavan. “Having worked cooperatively with Laketran to reduce barriers for students accessing career development programs and internships, I understand the significant impact transportation barriers can have on the workforce. Our strategic investments in transit have empowered Laketran to expand services, increase ridership, and leverage innovative technology to enhance the experience for our community members.”

“I’d like to express my gratitude to Chuck for his 10 years of service to the Laketran board, which he’ll accomplish in this upcoming term, and for his leadership as vice president,” shared board president Brian Falkowski.”

“We are also very excited to have both Renee and Joe join our team here at Laketran. They have both been supporters of Laketran for many years and bring very unique backgrounds and extensive experience working in government to our board.”

Laketran is governed by a volunteer, nine-member board of trustees appointed by Lake County Board of Commissioners. The board of trustees provide the agency’s fiduciary oversight and establishes policies to ensure services that best fit the needs of community. 

Laketran board meetings are open to the public and meet the fourth Monday of each month.