Meet NITA’s first Board Chair and Interim Executive Director

September 10, 2026

At its first meeting on September 10, the NITA Board of Directors selected two leaders who will help guide the new regional transit agency through its next phase.

The Board unanimously elected Tom Kotarac as Board Chair and named Jamie Rhee as Interim Executive Director of NITA. Both bring decades of experience in transportation, infrastructure, and public-sector leadership as NITA begins implementing its new responsibilities across the regional transit system. 

Tom Kotarac, Board Chair

Tom Kotarac is Senior Vice President of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, where he leads the organization's transportation and infrastructure work. 

He previously served as Deputy Executive Director of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), where he directed agency strategy and helped set its research agenda across transportation, land use, economic development, housing, tax policy, and governance.

Earlier in his career, Kotarac spent more than 12 years on Capitol Hill with the Illinois congressional delegation, serving as senior policy advisor and projects director for U.S. Senator Richard Durbin. 

Kotarac has served on the Regional Transportation Authority Board and chaired the RTA subcommittee focused on the transition to NITA. He also sits on the CTA Board of Directors. He is a daily CTA train rider.

"I'm honored to take on this role at such a pivotal moment for transit in our region,” said Kotarac. “The NITA Act gives us a dual mandate: deliver real, immediate improvements for riders right now, while building the foundation for a world-class transit system. These first months will set the tone, and we're moving with urgency on the near-term work — like expanding Access to CTA and Pace — while laying the groundwork for the bigger, structural changes that will define how this region moves for decades to come."

"There are few people I have met in my career that are more committed to improving our transportation systems than Tom Kotarac," said Sen. Durbin. "Tom is a dedicated public servant who knows how to yield results by working across the aisle and building regional partnerships that support Illinois’ transit projects — all for the benefit of the Illinois commuters that rely on our roads, rail, and airports. There is no one better to lead the new Northern Illinois Transit Authority.” 

"I have known Tom since 2002 and worked closely with him throughout his career — from Capitol Hill, to CMAP, to Chicago’s business community," said Ray LaHood, who served as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation and as a congressman in the Illinois and U.S. House of Representatives. "For more than two decades, he has helped advance major transportation priorities for northeastern Illinois, including increased investment in public transit, the modernization of O’Hare, improvements to passenger and intercity rail, and other critical regional projects. Tom understands transportation, government and, most importantly, how to bring public, private, labor and civic leaders together to get difficult things done. He is exactly the kind of consensus-builder NITA needs."

In a statement, the Civic Committee congratulated Kotarac on his election as NITA Board Chair.

"The Civic Committee congratulates our Senior Vice President of Transportation and Infrastructure Tom Kotarac on being elected as the first chair of the new NITA board. NITA’s landmark passage was a critical step forward for our region. Turning that reform into a system that works for everyone will require an even greater push and the board has identified the right leader for the job. Kotarac’s deep understanding of transportation policy, regional planning, public finance, and coalition building will help ensure that momentum continues as the act is implemented. We look forward to seeing the progress Kotarac, his fellow board members, and leaders across the region will continue to make in the years ahead, getting us closer to the kind of safe, reliable, efficient transportation network our region deserves."

Jamie Rhee, Interim Executive Director 

Jamie Rhee brings more than 30 years of progressive leadership in Chicago government to her role as NITA's Interim Executive Director, with a career spanning airport operations, procurement, real estate, and regulatory compliance under four mayoral administrations. She most recently served as Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation from 2018 to 2025, overseeing daily operations and development at O'Hare and Midway International Airports — a system serving more than 100 million passengers annually — and completing the $6.6 billion O'Hare Modernization Program while advancing the $8.5 billion O'Hare 21 terminal expansion. In 2018 she was the recipient of the Motorola Solutions Foundation Excellence in Public Service Award, presented by the Civic Federation.

Rhee previously served as the City of Chicago's Chief Procurement Officer, managing approximately $2 billion in annual purchasing, and held senior roles including Deputy Chief of Staff in the Mayor's Office and General Counsel for the O'Hare Modernization Program.

She holds a Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University. She is a regular CTA rider who frequently uses the North Avenue or Kimball buses and the Blue Line on Chicago’s West side.  

"Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of managing complex systems that move millions of people every day, and I'm excited to bring that experience to NITA at such a critical time,” said Rhee. “My focus as Interim Executive Director is to keep this agency moving by delivering as many early wins for riders as we can while building the strong operational foundation that sets our permanent Executive Director up for long-term success. Riders shouldn't have to wait to see the benefits of this new regional approach, and we're going to work hard to make sure they don't."

“Jamie Rhee's leadership at O’Hare demonstrates her ability to manage a massive, complex transportation system and capital program, and her broader transportation experience will serve NITA well," said Sec. Ray LaHood. "I strongly support Tom Kotarac as Chair of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority and Jamie Rhee as Interim Executive Director. NITA is beginning an important new chapter, and both bring the experience, credibility and judgment needed to help lead it successfully.”

Rhee said her goal is to build and grow NITA to prepare it for a permanent leader. The Board will conduct a national search for a permanent Executive Director who can take NITA into its next chapter.

More from NITA 

Register online to receive the agency newsletter, NITA News. Riders can also look for updates to On Track: A blog from NITA. 
The next meeting of the NITA Board of Directors takes place at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15. Learn more on the Meeting Materials page.