By Ann McCreary
Okanogan County Transit Authority (OCTA), the fledgling public transportation system approved by voters last year, has hired a general manager.
Kelly Scalf of Deer Park, Washington, was approved by the OCTA board of directors on Monday (Sept. 15). She will begin work for OCTA on Oct. 1.
Scalf worked from 1995-2012 as planning and transportation division director for Rural Resources Community Action in Colville. In that position she was responsible for directing a public transportation program for seniors, children, people with disabilities and the general public.
She also supervised a large staff and volunteers, and managed a budget of several million dollars, said Scott DeTro, attorney for OCTA.
Most recently, Scalf has worked as executive director of Campfire Inland Norwest Council. She is also an adjunct professor at Eastern Washington University, where she teaches a class in grant writing.
OCTA received 29 applications for the general manager position, DeTro said.
Voters in last November’s general election approved a new sales tax to fund a countywide public transit system. Under the interim direction of Michael Blake, the organization has been laying the groundwork to begin operations.
Plans call for bus services to be phased in as OCTA establishes routes and builds its fleet of buses.
