Staff & Board
Our Staff
Faith Walker
Executive Director
faith@rvarapidtransit.org
Stephanie Power
Community Engagement & Programs Manager
stephanie@rvarapidtransit.org
Courtney Farrar - Transit Ambassador
Courtney has been a resident in the Metro Richmond area since 2016, where she has been completely public transit-dependent for three years. Courtney is a graduate of our September 2023 Mobility University cohort, in which she was chosen as the honorary valedictorian. Well equipped to advocate for her community, Courtney has spoken in support of transit related legislation on the local and state levels. In her free time, Courtney enjoys researching local and family history in hopes of one day distributing this information in an innovative manner.
Brittany Thomas King - Research Fellow
brittany@rvarapidtransit.org
Over ten years ago, Brittany decided to make Richmond her permanent home, drawn to the area by her pursuit of a degree in urban planning from Virginia Commonwealth University. With a background in real estate and property management, she has always been driven by a desire to contribute to her community, eager to apply her knowledge for the benefit of those most in need. Recognizing the transformative power of public transit in her own life, Brittany is deeply committed to serving and advancing RVART's mission to create a more equitable, regional, and efficient transit system.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Brittany cherishes moments with her family and her beloved dog Zoe. She finds joy in tackling DIY home projects and strolling through local neighborhoods, appreciating the diversity of architectural styles.
Faith joined RVA Rapid Transit as Director of Community Engagement before rising to the head of the organization. Before RVART, she managed the Front Porch Cafe in Richmond's East End. Faith has a long track record partnering with grassroots community leaders, business professionals, and neighborhood residents to advance healthy community outcomes.
Faith also has a generative background in artistic marketing, creative advertisement, and social media outreach.
Stephanie (she/they) has been a Southsider for nearly 14 years, and moved to Eastern Henrico in 2022, where the nearest bus stop is a 45 minute walk. They have a background in journalism & trauma-informed care work. As a longtime bus rider, biker and activist, she approaches her transit advocacy as a form of mutual aid. Steph has served on the board of a local Buddhist group, Palpung Shenpen Tharchin, for four years. A guiding quote for Steph is “Justice is what love looks like in public.” - Dr. Cornel West
Mae Oetjens - Digital Advocacy Coordinator
Mae Oetjens graduated from VCU in May 2023 with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science. She was born and raised in Riner, Virginia and moved to Richmond in 2019. In her free time, she loves creative writing, watching movies at the Byrd Theater, and exploring the city.
Our Board
Chaya Braxton, Vice President - Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building
Linda Brown - Bus Rider, Mobility University Graduate
Benjamin Campbell – Pastoral Associate, St Paul’s Episcopal Church
Unwanna Dabney, Ph.D. - Transportation Planner, RMTA Board Member
Joh Gehlbach - Vice President of Government Affairs, Richmond Association of REALTORS®
Wyatt Gordon - Policy & Campaigns Manager for Land Use & Transportation, Virginia Conservation Network
Barry Greene, Secretary - Fundraising & Grants Manager - Virginia Conservation Network
Suzanne Hall – Retired Director of Stewardship and Development, St. James’s Episcopal Church
Amelia Lightner – Real Community Activist
Dan Motta - Sustainable Transportation Planner, PlanRVA
Nelson Reveley – Impact Analyst and Advisor, Alpha Omega Wealth Management
Thomas Ruff – Senior Transportation Project Manager, Timmons Group
Laura Schewel, President – Founder & CEO, StreetLight Data
Sandra V. Serna - Director, Office of Health Equity, Va. Dept. of Health
Nicolai Shuman, Treasurer - Consultant, UZURV
Frank J. Thornton, M.Ed. — Founder and Chief Advocate of the Virginia Consortium for Educational Improvement, Inc.
Brantley Tyndall — Director of Bike Walk RVA, Sports Backers