The Mecosta-Osceola Transit Authority is looking to the future with new services and personnel leading the way.

MOTA recently announced Christopher Richmond as its new executive director. Richmond has been with the organization for more than eight years and began his career there driving buses. Prior to joining MOTA, he drove for Compass Coach and Ferris State University.

“I’m excited to see the growth and vision for the future,” Richmond said. “I’ve seen firsthand that we have an opportunity as an intermediary to help people.”

Danielle Barone was also announced as the new operations supervisor. She most recently served as a dispatcher and has been with MOTA for three years.

“I want to see the organization move with growth,” Barone said.

Along with these personnel changes, MOTA is securing a partnership with Dynamic Bus Ads of Gaylord. The agreement will allow local businesses to advertise on the authority’s bus fleet.

“Since 1979, MOTA has never jumped into the advertising space,” Jake Jackson, MOTA’s public relations and marketing coordinator, said. “We want to help local businesses and provide a service to connect to the community.”

MOTA is also planning multiple coat and toy drives later this year in partnership with Gifts for Kids and Angels of Action. The efforts include the 'Fill-A-Bus' initiative, in which riders can donate items on any bus throughout the drive.

“We can evolve and adapt to the community’s needs,” Jackson said. “We want to do whatever we can to give donors more time to think about what to donate than the hassle of where and when to take it.”

For more information on MOTA’s services, visit motaonline.net.

_{Photo courtesy of the Mecosta Osceola Transit Authority.}