San Bernardino County transit agencies totally led by women

San Bernardino County Transportation Authority officials are celebrating a “historic first” in the county.

With the selection of Nancie Goff as CEO of the Hesperia-based Victor Valley Transit Authority, all transit agencies in the nation’s most prominent geographic county are now led by women.

“This is an important moment for our county and the communities we serve as we celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of women in transportation,” said Vice President of the SBCTA Board and Chair of the County Board of Supervisors Dawn Rowe

Rowe added that SBC is recognized as an innovation hub for commuter and transit solutions, “and the women who run each of these agencies are providing bold leadership and visioning for the future.”  

In the SBC, Goff joins Erin Rogers of Omnitrans, which serves San Bernardino Valley, Cheryl Sallis with the City of Needles Transit Services, Cheri Holsclaw with Basin Transit, and Sandy Benson with Mountain Transit.

Never before have all five had women in the top leadership or managerial role simultaneously, SBCTA officials said. 

“It’s an honor to serve VVTA and be grouped alongside these remarkable women. I look forward to building on our momentum for delivering outstanding transit service,” Goff said.

“It sends a powerful message that women now lead all five transit agencies in one of the fastest-growing population centers in the country,” said Rogers, named CEO and general manager of Omnitrans in 2020.

Rogers was named “Woman of the Year” by the Women’s Transportation Seminar IE Chapter earlier this month.

“The doors have been opened to women in leadership positions, and we’re excited about what that means for the communities we serve,” said Sallis.

“The future of mobility is directly tied to the future of transit. The five of us love what we do and are proud to represent our communities and women in transportation,” said Holsclaw, named GM of Basin Transit in 2022.

“This is an exciting time in the world of transit, and our job is to make sure we are serving our community and to make our services available to as many riders as possible,” said Benson.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz