ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:
Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), Cleveland, Ohio
Chairman Kirk Dillard will lead the board of directors for a second 5-year term. He has served as the chairman since June 2014. Dillard has been a rider of public transportation for more than 50 years, riding CTA buses and trains since early childhood, and now is a regular rider of Metra. He is a staunch advocate for transit funding throughout the region, appearing on countless media outlets and speaking at many regional events. Previously, Dillard served as a Republican senator from Chicago’s western suburbs in the Illinois State Senate for nearly 20 years. Prior to that, he served as chief of staff to former Governor Jim Edgar and as legislative director to former Governor James Thompson. He is currently a partner at Locke Lord LLP.

Georgia Ports Authority, Savannah, Ga.
William McKnight was elected chairman, effective July 1, succeeding outgoing chairman Jimmy Allgood. Under Allgood's leadership, annual container volumes grew from 3.6 million 20-foot equivalent container units to an estimated 4.5 million TEUs, a 25% increase. McKnight has served as vice chairman since 2018. After college, McKnight worked for his family-owned construction company, where he served as president since 1996. There, he oversaw the completion of over $1 billion in construction projects. He was named chairman of the board of directors of the First Bank of Georgia in May 2010, and then served on the board of State Bank, which sold to Cadence Bank, in 2018. He is the past president and continued member of both the Augusta Country Club and Augusta Golf Association, and served on the boards of Associated General Contractors of America, Augusta Ballet, Richmond Academy Booster Club, Tuttle-Newton Home, Episcopal Day School and First Tee. Meanwhile, Patrick "Kelly" Farr Jr. was elected vice chairman. Farr Jr. currently serves as director of the Governor's Office of Planning & Budget, and maintains expertise in business development from his work at Lucent Technologies, Capgemini, and most recently, SAS Institute. In these capacities, Farr worked extensively with various state agencies to implement technological advances and improve constituent service. Farr also previously served as deputy secretary of state for the Georgia Secretary of State's Office, responsible for budget management and oversight of daily operations. And, Joel Wooten will remain in his role as secretary-treasurer. Wooten is an attorney with Butler Wooten & Peak, LLP. He served as chair of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents from 2004-2005, and was a board member from 1999-2006.