Kelly Dunham Resigns From BATA

BATA Executive Director Kelly Dunham is leaving the organization at the end of the year to take an executive leadership role with 4Front Credit Union. Dunham has been with the transit agency since 2009, first as human resources manager and then as director of human resources before becoming the executive director in 2016.

In a press release, BATA said Dunham will leave at the end of 2024 to become the new chief culture officer for 4Front Credit Union. "With her departure, Dunham will support the BATA board with recommendations for an interim director and an executive search firm," the release states. Dunham said she is "proud of everything we’ve accomplished during my time at BATA," noting that she had been "tasked with helping to turn the ship around" when she came on board.

"I joined BATA because it was in dire straits, nearing bankruptcy, with a poor brand externally and a terrible culture internally," she said. "Today, BATA is a thriving organization that is respected in the community as a valued partner providing critical services, has high customer satisfaction, high employee satisfaction, and is financially stable, with a new state-of-the-art facility to run operations from for decades to come. I’ve completed everything I’ve set out to achieve, and I truly feel the time is right to make this transition."

Chair Richard Cochrun said BATA's board of directors is "so thankful for Kelly’s vision and leadership that has established BATA as one of the leading public transit agencies in Michigan. Kelly truly embodies BATA’s mission of improving lives by connecting people and communities and has positioned this organization to meet our region’s growing need for expanded public transportation."