DALLAS, Texas — The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Board of Directors voted today on three finalists for the President & Chief Executive Officer role. The finalists come from a variety of transit backgrounds, each with extensive public service and experience.  

The finalists are:  

Nathaniel P. Ford Sr.  

Chief Executive Officer  

Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) 

Dee Leggett, AICP 

Director of Business Operations  

Herzog Transit Services, Inc. (HTSI) 

Former DART EVP & Chief Development Officer 

Monica Tellez- Fowler  

President/ CEO 

Central Ohio Transit Authority  

“We are confident these three candidates represent the best public transportation leaders from across the country,” said DART Board Chair Randall Bryant. “The Board has a monumental task ahead of us to select our next President & CEO from this finalist panel. As part of our commitment to transparency and community engagement, we’re asking the public for feedback from our meet & greet on Saturday to inform the final decision.” 

What Happens Next 

The finalists will participate in a public meet & greet on Saturday, July 11 from 12p.m.-2p.m. at DART Headquarters at 1401 Pacific Ave. Stakeholders and members of the public will be given an opportunity to provide feedback directly to the DART Board which will be used in the final decision making. 

The DART Board will meet on Tuesday, July 14 at 6:00 p.m. for a regularly scheduled board meeting, where they are expected to vote on a final candidate. 

The onboarding schedule for the new President & CEO is dynamic based on who is selected and the outcome of negotiations. Current Interim President & CEO David Leininger will continue to oversee the agency while the transition takes place.