Executive Team
E. Susan Meyer
Chief Executive Officer
Contact: SMeyer@spokanetransit.com
The Board of Directors appointed Ms. Meyer Spokane Transit’s Chief Executive Officer in June 2005. Ms. Meyer brings 20 years of business leadership and management experience to the organization. She was previously Vice President of Human Resources and Corporate Relations at Telect, Inc.; Director of Community Relations at Pacific Gas Transmission (now TransCanada); and Executive Director of the non-profit economic development organization Momentum. Ms. Meyer also operated her own firm, Meyer Consulting, providing business planning, human resources and communications consulting services.
A life-long resident of the region, Ms. Meyer earned her Bachelor’s degree and MBA from Eastern Washington University. Many local civic boards have benefited from her service, including the Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce, Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, YMCA, Association of Washington Business, Physician Hospital Community Organization and Life Services of Spokane.
Ms. Meyer's top priority is to earn the community’s confidence as a responsive and accountable steward of public resources. Her specific plans focus on increasing Spokane Transit’s ridership, enhancing customers’ ease of access to services, and constraining operating costs.
Lynda Warren
Director of Finance
Contact: LWarren@spokanetransit.com
Lynda Warren came to Spokane Transit in August 2011 from Rogue Community College in southern Oregon where she was Chief Financial Officer and Vice-President of College Services for the last ten years. In addition to Finance, Ms. Warren’s responsibilities included Auxiliary Services, Contracts, Facilities, Human Resources, Information Technology, Procurement and Public Safety. Prior to that, she served as Business Services Director at Chemeketa Community College in Salem Oregon for 13 years. Ms. Warren earned Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Finance from the University of Illinois.
Ms. Warren is looking forward to making Spokane her home where she will be able to spend more time with her granddaughter, Kayla.
Steve Blaska
Director of Operations
Contact: SBlaska@spokanetransit.com
Mr. Steve Blaska became part of the Spokane Transit executive team in February 2004. He brings 24 years of experience managing transportation, maintenance, logistics, infrastructure, and strategic and budget operations in a variety of organizations within the US Army. Mr. Blaska rose to the rank of Colonel and has earned two Bachelors degrees and two Masters degrees.
Mr. Blaska and his wife, Dianna, are Pacific Northwest natives and considered Spokane to be the perfect place to make a permanent home for them and their four children.
Karl Otterstrom
Director of Planning
Contact: KOtterstrom@spokanetransit.com
Karl Otterstrom joined Spokane Transit’s executive team in January 2009. Mr. Otterstrom’s relatively brief yet intensive career in transit planning has included work for the Federal Transit Administration and King County Metro as well as an internship during his undergraduate studies with STA. He received his masters in urban planning from the University of Washington and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.
Mr. Otterstrom’s first date with his wife, Kate, was in Seattle on a mild November Saturday, where they explored downtown and the waterfront by foot, streetcar and trolleybus. They are pleased to be in Spokane as they raise their young family.
