The Spokane Transit Authority board of directors voted on June 26 to advance Karl Otterstrom, interim co-CEO and chief planning and development officer, in the agency’s search process for its next CEO.

STA is looking to fill the position previously held by E. Susan Meyer, who retired in December.

The decision to advance Otterstrom follows the recommendation of the STA CEO search task force to advance one person following candidate interviews on May 30.

Next month, STA will host a forum for community stakeholders to meet Otterstrom. Stakeholders will have an opportunity to provide feedback to executive recruiting firm KL2 Connects, which STA engaged to assist in the hiring process.

Employee forums with Otterstrom will also occur before a formal board interview and before final action is taken.

STA provides public transportation services to the cities of Airway Heights, Cheney, Liberty Lake, Medical Lake, Millwood, Spokane, and Spokane Valley, and parts of the unincorporated County.

The organization employs nearly 775 people.

STA's bus ridership was nearly 10.2 million in 2024, up from about 8.9 million in 2023.