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SARTA board decides to make Ralph Lee permanent CEO

June 4, 2026

Robert Wang

Canton Repository

June 4, 2026, 5:59 a.m. ET

CANTON − The Stark Area Regional Transit Authority board June 3 unanimously approved a three-year contract to appoint Ralph Lee, who’s served as SARTA’s interim CEO since August, its permanent CEO.

The contract gives Lee, the former chief human resources officer for Kenan Advantage Group, a salary of $198,000 a year, an increase from his prior salary of $180,000 a year.

“Great to be on board,” said Lee. “I’m very happy with the agreement. I’m looking forward to getting things done.”

After the vote, Lee left to lead a town hall meeting with SARTA employees.

He said contract discussions with the board began after voters on May 5 rejected a request for an increase in SARTA’s sales tax rate from 0.25% to 0.35%. The agency is expected to place the same issue before voters in November.Related: SARTA board approves $100K severance deal with former CEO, new union contract for workers

Ralph Lee

Lee succeeded Kirt Conrad, who had been SARTA’s CEO since 2009. Conrad’s final salary was about $204,000 a year. Conrad, for reasons he never disclosed, issued a notice of resignation more than a year before his contract was to expire. That led to his departure in August 2025.

SARTA’s attorney, Andrew Burton, said the salary is commensurate with what the CEOs of transit systems of similar size in the region are paid. He said the contract does not come with automatic salary increases or bonuses. Each December, the board will review Lee’s performance to determine whether he should get a bonus and an annual raise, which the contract said can’t exceed 4%.

SARTA board President Greg Blasiman said that Lee had improved the rapport between management and rank-and-file SARTA employees. Lee, when meeting officials around Stark County, was often having rank-and-file employees accompany him in his conversations.

“We know he’ll do well going forward,” said Blasiman. “He’s done a great job improving the tone in SARTA.”

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The board approved the contract after an executive session that lasted more than 90 minutes. This was after former SARTA board President Ron Macala, whose term ended in January, called on the board to wrap up an agreement with Lee and not worry about how Lee’s compensation might affect the prospects for a SARTA sales tax hike in November.Related: SARTA’s top executive replaced after unexpected resignation email. New CEO named

“There seems to be a belief that whatever Ralph is making under his contract is going to affect the outcome of the levy,” said Macala, who recruited Lee to become the interim CEO. “I personally think that’s wrong headed. … Voters don’t give a damn how much he makes.

“I think your focus should be how do we keep Ralph and keep him engaged. Ralph is a CEO who’s demonstrated his abilities and capabilities. … Ralph is not here to create a resume item for himself. Ralph is here because he wants to be here. I really believe Ralph is committed not only to SARTA. But I think he’s committed to the mission of SARTA.”Related: SARTA to go back to voters for sales tax increase

Macala said the campaign for the higher sales tax lacked a solid campaign strategy.

He said voters want to know what a tax issue would cost them, and SARTA supporters need to start campaigning for the sale tax increase now and telling voters how SARTA is a vital part of the community.

“We lost the levy because we lost the townships,” Macala said. “We have to do what we can to get the townships back.”

Lee presented Macala with a plaque that said SARTA’s board room would be known as “The Ronald Macala Boardroom.”

Reach Robert at [email protected].

Article: HERE