The UTA Board of Trustees voted unanimously today to appoint Jerry Benson as UTA President & CEO. After his appointment, Benson said he was honored and humbled to accept the position.
“I care deeply about our customers who rely on our services to get to work, school and about their daily lives, and I care about the 2,400 incredible UTA employees who work hard every day to provide great service to our riders and the community,” said Benson. “Over the next weeks and months, I will be specifically reaching out to our riders, employees and community stakeholders, listening to their issues and ideas about how UTA can better meet their needs. While I ride the system and meet with elected officials and other stakeholders every week, there are many voices I have not heard from recently, and I want to get a fresh perspective.”
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Benson has more than three decades of experience in public transportation. His career at UTA has been focused on operations and service, as he has previously served as UTA’s vice president of operations, chief operating officer, chief performance officer, director of communications and director of human resources.
“He’s a straight shooter. You can talk to him. He’s responsive. If I have a question he calls me back immediately,” said Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan. “I can’t think of a better person to be the new CEO of this system.”
Benson has a Ph.D. in organizational communication, a master’s in human resource management and a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication from the University of Utah, where he also serves as an adjunct professor.
“Mr. Benson is a highly qualified and trusted leader, well regarded by employees, local officials and stakeholders, and he is respected throughout the national transit industry,” said UTA Board Chair H. David Burton. “Beyond his experience, he is passionate about the work UTA does and understands how our services affect the daily lives of riders. He wants UTA to be successful and earn the confidence of the people we serve.”
Benson will receive an annual base compensation of $274,000. Like other administrative employees, he will also be eligible to participate in a single tax-deferred retirement plan and receive health and medical benefits. He will not receive an annual performance bonus or transportation allowance. In accordance with UTA’s compensation policy, Benson’s salary was determined after a market comparison analysis to non-profit and government organizations and transit agencies of similar size and services.
Provo Mayor John Curtis said Benson’s three decades of operational experience and willingness to work closely with shareholders make him the best person to lead the agency.
“Jerry has shown he’s an engaged and experienced leader, willing to listen to local elected officials and community partners to find solutions that work for everyone,” said Provo Mayor John Curtis. “I’m confident he’s the right person to lead UTA to future success.”
Andrew Gruber, executive director of the Wasatch Front Regional Council called Benson a “dedicated and highly competent public servant and public transit professional.”
“At its core, UTA’s role is to provide mobility and access to tens of thousands of workers and students every day. It’s a role that UTA serves quietly and effectively and efficiently. There’s nobody at UTA who has had more responsibility for that than Jerry Benson,” Gruber said.