MetroPlan Orlando Board Names Next Executive Director
Posted on: July 11, 2018 in MetroPlan Orlando Board, Transportation News
From left: Harry Barley, Gary Huttmann, Cheryl Grieb
MetroPlan Orlando’s Deputy Executive Director Gary Huttmann will become executive director, beginning Sept. 1. The agency’s board approved the leadership change at its July 11 meeting. Mr. Huttmann, who has been with the organization for seven years, will replace Harold W. Barley, who is retiring after 22 years in the top post.
“This is an important moment for MetroPlan Orlando, as we transition leadership after more than two decades,” said Osceola County Commissioner Cheryl Grieb, who serves as MetroPlan Orlando Board Chairwoman. “The board has seen what Gary can do in a variety of settings. We have grown to admire his expertise on transportation issues and his ability to work effectively with all our partners. We’re on the right track, as we move forward with him in the executive director’s position.”
Mr. Huttmann was selected to lead the agency after a nationwide search. The MetroPlan Orlando Board’s Personnel Committee interviewed a number of qualified candidates and ultimately recommended that the board name Mr. Huttmann to the position.
In his role as Deputy Executive Director at MetroPlan Orlando, Mr. Huttmann has managed core functions of the agency, ensuring that it remains in good standing with the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration and the Florida Department of Transportation. He has built a capable professional staff that manages day-to-day operations.
“MetroPlan Orlando is a great organization,” Mr. Huttmann said. “We have had outstanding leadership from Harry and from a very active board of directors. I hope to carry on the good work and to continue building relationships with non-traditional sectors of the community – such as public health and housing concerns – where transportation is critical. The work we do and how we do it is changing quickly. It is an exciting time to keep up with technology and the impact that is having on our work.”
Mr. Huttmann has worked for public and private organizations in the region. He started his career in the public sector, which included some time as the Chief Transportation Planner for the City of Orlando. Prior to joining MetroPlan Orlando, he worked in the private sector for two local consulting firms. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, the American Planning Association, and the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association.
Mr. Barley came to Central Florida in 1996 to help the organization – then known as the Orlando Urbanized Area Metropolitan Planning Organization – transition to an independent agency, which was renamed MetroPlan Orlando in 1997. He will retire at the end of August.
“Gary’s background and experience make him an ideal fit for this position,” Mr. Barley said. “He’s fortunate to have a committed board, a very talented staff, and strong ties with our federal, state and regional partners. These factors and Gary’s leadership skills will take the organization to the next level of success.”
MetroPlan Orlando is the metropolitan planning organization for Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties, setting priorities and determining how federal and state transportation dollars are spent in the region. The agency is a regional transportation partnership and leads long range transportation planning in Central Florida, coordinating with elected officials, industry experts, and the community to shape a system that offers diverse travel options. Its roots go back to the 1970s when the federal government created metropolitan planning organizations to help ensure comprehensive and coordinated transportation planning programs in urban areas across the country.
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For more information, please contact Mary Ann Horne, Community Outreach Specialist: MaryAnn.Horne@MetroPlanOrlando.gov or 407-481-5672, x305