TCAT Names Michael Smith as Operations Manager

Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit Inc. General Manager Scot Vanderpool recently announced that Michael Smith will take over as TCAT’s new operations manager.

Smith, a former transit supervisor, is filling a position vacated by Vanderpool when he became general manager in August, 2017.  Previously, the position was filled by Nancy Oltz, who retired after nearly four decade of service in public transit at TCAT and what was once Ithaca Transit, a predecessor agency to TCAT.

“Mike has shone in his many duties as transit supervisor and has a wealth of knowledge about TCAT and the community it serves,” Vanderpool said. “His experience and the many skills he brings to this critical senior management position will help TCAT meet its challenges, improve service, and thrive and grow as a well-established transit agency.”  

An Ithaca native and resident, Smith became a bus operator in 2011 and was promoted to transit supervisor in 2014.  Smith’s colleagues have lauded him for his excellent training skills in teaching new bus operators, his thoroughness in investigating service-related issues, his strong customer service skills, and for his ideas and research on how to improve service.

“In my new position, I look forward to working with the entire TCAT team to serve our passengers to the very best of our ability,” Smith said. “The transit industry is constantly changing with new and better technology and evolving best practices, all of which we will continue to embrace to better serve our riders.”

In his spare time, Smith is an avid cyclist, and he also performs bass guitar in the popular and critically acclaimed local band, “The Sutras.”