Karl Gnadt - Managing Director, Champaign Urbana Mass Transit District

For the last decade, Karl Gnadt has served as Managing Director for the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD), overseeing a $61.7 million operating and capital budget, 400 employees, and all aspects of MTD's services, development projects, and community partnerships. During Karl’s tenure, MTD has received a $15.7 million federal TIGER Grant to rebuild roads around the University of Illinois campus; has grown the hybrid buses in its fleet to 98%; and received a $17.3 million federal grant to support an over $275 million public-private expansion to MTD’s Illinois Terminal in downtown Champaign. He introduced hydrogen fuel cell buses into the MTD fleet, making up the remaining 2%. Prior to this role, Karl served for 19 years as the organization's Director of Market Development, infusing technology as a core principle in operations and marketing. Karl also previously served as the Mass Transit Director for Danville Mass Transit. MTD's bus fleet includes two hydrogen fuel cell buses, hopes to add ten more, and produces hydrogen onsite in their maintenance department.