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| Volume 17, Issue 1 | Spring 2005 |
Meet the DTA Board... Ron BaumgartExecutive Director, River Cities Transit Pierre, SD DTA President Ron Baumgart was born and raised in Hughes County, South Dakota, where he grew up on the family farm 15 miles from Pierre, SD. He graduated from Riggs High School in Pierre, attended South Dakota School of Mines for one year and then transferred to South Dakota State University where he achieved a degree in crop science. He started farming and ranching in 1972, joining his parents in the family farm operation. Later he expanded the farm to include a confinement hog operation, large cow calf operation, custom harvesting business and crop production in three counties. In 1989, Baumgart was elected to the Hughes County Commission. He served as a commissioner for 12 years and on the board of directors for South Dakota County Commissioners Association for nine years and as president for one year. Baumgart took a leadership role in creating the Expo building, including hockey facilities and the public safety center. Ron, his wife Shellie and son Ryan still live on the farm, but they have retired from farming and now the land is rented to a neighbor. Baumgart missed the involvement in his community so in 2002 he applied and was hired for his current position as executive director of River Cities Transit. Baumgart is very proud of the growth and attributes it and the support of the transit agency to his ability to work with governmental entities and knowing the value of great employees. Baumgart's hobbies include his family, camping, snowmobiling and watching Ryan race his stock car in the summer. Baumgart's annual Fourth of July celebration is probably one of his favorite events, attracting over 200 family and friends each year for fun, food, music and a large fireworks display. Ron hopes to see some of you there this year.  Carol WrightDirector, James River Transit Jamestown, ND DTA Vice President Carol is the executive director of public transportation for Stutsman, Wells and Sheridan Counties which cover 6,800 square miles in central North Dakota. She is responsible for all aspects of public transportation including small urban and rural, community-to-community, paratransit, dial-a-ride and contracted services in the three counties. In addition, Wright is director for all Title III Older American Act programs including congregate meals, home delivery to urban and rural as well as outreach services for these counties. Wright has a master's degree in human development/education/gerontology. She is a member of the Small Urban & Rural Transit Center's steering committee which helps guide the Center's research projects. She is a past president of the North Dakota Service Providers Association and recently participated in a South America study trip on innovations in bus, rail and special transit sponsored by ENO Transportation Foundation. Wright serves on a number of other boards in her home community and state. In 2001 she was named Administrator of the Year by the North Dakota Dietary Manager's Association.  Barb BallenskyDirector, Vermillion Public Transit Vermillion, SD Barb has been director of Vermillion Public Transit (VPT) for seven years. She has worked for South East South Dakota Activity Center, (SESDAC), Inc., the parent agency of VPT for 18 years in various positions, mainly working with people with developmental disabilities. Barb initiated the coordination of transportation in Vermillion. She developed and organized the program as it operates today. She is looking forward to helping the board expand the services for the members. She notes, "There are some great things happening!" Four years ago, Barb went back to school for massage therapy and also has been operating her own part-time business for the past three years.  Peggy MorrisSpink County Public Transit & Senior Center Redfield, SD Peggy has been married for 35 years, has one daughter, 2 beautiful grandchildren and a golden lab. It's a small family that keeps her busy. Peggy started working for the Senior Center & Public Transit in 1988, shortly after the old senior center had burned down. The agencies were housed in a temporary building. "The previous director and secretary quit and left the mess for me," Peggy recalls. "I came into a job I knew nothing about." An old grocery store was renovated to become a senior center and Peggy learned the ropes to the transit world and began pushing public transit. The first transit system in the community was the senior citizen's bus. "Would you believe today some still call it the Senior Citizen's Bus?" she asks. "Some just don't like change." The Spink County Public Transit program has grown and so has Peggy's job. Ridership increased from 2,000 rides in 1988 to 24,000 in 2003. "I love my job and hope when I retire (in maybe 5 years) the program continues to grow and progress," she says. "This is my second opportunity to serve on the DTA board and I have seen many changes. I feel we need to keep this important association growing by always involving new members and staying focused on transit issues," Peggy says. "I am very proud to have served as the Association's past president and feel so honored to serve with such a wonderful hard working board now. I look for very good things in our future."  Jacque SengerTransportation Coordinator, North Central Planning Council Devils Lake, ND Jacque has been transportation coordinator for 18 of her 22 years with North Central Planning Council (NCPC). Prior to NCPC, she worked with Vocational Rehabilitation for 17 years. Her background is in working with handicapped individuals. "I am pleased to join the DTA board," she says. "I believe everyone should have the right to independent living and I look forward to many new ideas and concepts to enhance the transportation projects in Region III and the State of North Dakota."  Brenda SchweitzerDirector of Transportation, Arrow Public Transit Lemmon, SD DTA Secretary Brenda's start with transit began in April of 2000. Previously, she worked with Dacotah Bank for 19 years as an independent insurance agent and customer service representative. Arrow Transit's sponsoring agency is Live, Inc., an adjustment training center facility that has a training center as well as group homes and independent residents. The need for transportation for these individuals was met through grant-funded vehicles with full-time public transportation following as the need became apparent. This full-time service became known as Arrow Public Transit. Arrow Public Transit has six buses and three vans serving people in Lemmon, Bison and Faith, SD. The transit director position also manages the fleet of vehicles used by Live, Inc., which include another nine vehicles. The door-to-door service has a current annual trip count of a little less than 60,000 traveling about 140,000 miles per year. Schweitzer has three sons, Garrett 21, Grant 17 and Gaven 12. She has learned the game of football and even come to enjoy it! Additionally, she has acquired an interest in baseball, basketball, fishing, hunting, cars, etc. She has been involved in the community of Lemmon as past Chamber Board member, Emergency Vehicle Operation Course (EVOC) driver for the Ambulance Association, ACS, St. Mary's Church and has just resigned as president of the city council. Brenda is in the process of moving to Brookings, SD. Recently, she was hired for the position of director of transportation, Brookings Area Transit Authority (BATA). Work at her new position began February 14, 2005.  Linda FreemanDirecotr, Kenmare Wheels & Meals, Inc. Kenmare, ND DTA Accountant Linda graduated from Norwich grade school, Granville high school and earned a two-year business degree at UND. "I'm still working on graduating from the school of life!" she says. She has been married to "Stan the Man" for 38 years. They are parents to four children: three girls (all have "grown up" with the youngest turning 30 this year) and one boy who is in his second year of college. They are also grandparents to two boys (ages 12 and 10) and one girl (age 2). Freeman has worked at Wheels & Meals for 23 years, first as a part-time bookkeeper, then as bookkeeper and co-director and finally as director and bookkeeper. She still works on a part-time basis only because that's all Wheels & Meals can afford. She has worked for the U.S. Soil Conservation Service as secretary and tree planter, and was secretary to a doctor, an optometrist and a pastor before her responsibilities expanded with Kenmare Wheels and Meals. Her hobbies are music, flying, traveling and pit woman for her favorite auto racing star and she loves meeting people through her work. Freeman says she'll have to live another 150 years to accomplish all the things she dreams of doing.  Joan CampbellDirector, South Central Adult Servies Council Valley City, ND Joan was born in Frederic, Wis., and grew up in Minneapolis. She graduated from Mounds View High School in New Brighton, a Minneapolis suburb, and attended Minnesota School of Business. She worked for the Munsingwear Corporation for several years before moving to Fargo in 1965. In 1969, Joan began working for the City of Fargo as the Social Services Coordinator for the Model Cities Program. She was responsible for the planning and implementation of a Title III - Older Americans Act, Senior Citizens program for the city. Part of her responsibility was to work with the Fargo Park Board for the purpose of developing park and recreational opportunities in the designated Model Cities area of Fargo. In 1976, Joan moved to Valley City, ND, where she became the director for Barnes County Senior Citizens Council. In 1983, she became the director of a newly formed agency that provided services to the elderly in three counties. Between the years of 1985 and 1987 three additional counties were added to South Central Adult Services Council organization, for a total of six counties, located in south central North Dakota. Next year she will have served as director for Barnes County for 30 years. In 1991, Joan was given the Civil Service Award by the Fraternal Order of Eagles-Valley City Aerie 2192. Joan was blessed with two wonderful children, Tim and Renee. In 1979, Joan married Jim, a widower and became the stepmother to five additional children. As a result of this union there are now 14 grandchildren. The first is a boy, then came 12 girls and the tailgater is also a boy. From the end of March until the end of October Joan is at the lake, on "her" pontoon enjoying the wonders of nature and grandchildren. People ask when she is going to retire and her standard answer is, "When it isn't fun anymore."
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