During its annual election board meeting on Monday, January 25, the Long Beach Transit (LBT) Board of Directors elected Maricela Renteria de Rivera as the transportation service’s new board chair, Sumire Grant as vice-chair and Mary Zendejas as secretary-treasurer, according to an announcement released Tuesday.

De Rivera has served on the LBT Board of Directors for four years, according to the release, while prior to this new position served on the board as vice-chair and secretary-treasurer. Board Chair de Rivera most recently served on the executive committee of the Leadership Long Beach Board of Directors, is newly appointed to the breastfeedLA Board of Directors and is also the director and co-founder of Long Beach Breastfeeds.

Before she became a full-time mother, de Rivera had a career in public service, holding positions in public affairs with the city, as well as positions in community organizing for the Campaign of College Opportunity and recruiting minority communities for the National Marrow Donor Program at the American Red Cross. De Rivera was recognized by Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal as a Steward of the Second District.

“I take the role of public transportation in our community very seriously, as it affects the quality of living for so many people, from job access to maintaining a healthy environment,” stated Chair de Rivera. “Long Beach Transit does a great job at efficiently serving our customers, and I’m proud to have the opportunity to lead policy in which to continue to improve our products and services for the community.”

Continuing on the LBT Board of Directors are April Economides, Barbara Sullivan George and Nancy Pfeffer, while new to the board is Colleen Bentley. Amy Bodek (Development Services) and newly appointed Eric Widstrand (Public Works) fill the two positions allowed by LBT’s bylaws for two non-voting city representatives appointed by the Long Beach city manager.

Long Beach Transit serves over 28 million customers in Long Beach, Lakewood and Signal Hill, as well as portions of Artesia, Bellflower, Carson, Cerritos, Compton, Hawaiian Gardens, Los Alamitos, Norwalk, and Paramount and Seal Beach. Water taxi services via AquaBus and AquaLink are available summer through early fall. For more information, click here.