On Tuesday, February 21, 2017, the Chatham Area Transit Board of Directors unanimously elected Howard French as Chairman in light of the existing Chairman’s currently expired term. Nominated by long-time Board Member James Holmes, French assumes the responsibilities held most recently by Pete Liakakis and will begin performing the chair duties immediately. Appointed to the CAT Board in 2013 as unincorporated area resident, French is currently in his second term on the CAT Board and serves on the Finance committee. 

Originally from Bay Village, Ohio, French grew up in Maryland just outside of Washington, DC and graduated from the University of Maryland.  He was employed with Zodiac of North America, serving in various capacities including CFO and President and first experiencing Savannah when transferred here in 1999. Following retirement in 2008, he returned to Savannah where he presently resides.

“It’s very much an honor to have the board elect me Chairman and to follow Pete Liakakis who has done so much for Chatham Area Transit as well as the County and the City over a very long career. I feel that CAT is headed in the right direction, and with new buses already on order and a purchase of electric buses on the horizon, we will continue improving the system for our passengers. We have a dedicated and focused staff who can think out of the box and are going to make CAT one of the premier mobility providers in the country.“ CAT would like to extend our most heartfelt appreciation to past Chairman Liakakis for his many years of dedicated service to our community, along with our congratulations to new Chairman French.