In addition to the RTA chair succession roles (chair, chair-elect, past chair), the organization has up to 12 focus area chairs that provide perspective on various organizational priorities. These leaders typically serve from one to three years.
RTA 2024 chair
Jay Irby
First Citizens Bank
Immediate past chair
Harold Hicks
RTI International
RTA 2024 Chair-Elect
Sarah Gaskill
FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies
Focus area chairs
Air Service and Infrastructure
Shaylah Nunn Jones
Novo Nordisk
Emerging Technology
Frederico Egli
IBM
Sustainability/Environment
Dana Martinez
Amgen
Legislative and Policy
Scott Levitan
Research Triangle Foundation of NC
Innovation
Lilyn Hester
Google
Real Estate and Mobility
John Kane
Kane Realty
Regional Transit
Stelfanie Williams
Duke University
Commerce and Logistics
Alex Culpepper
The Sunrock Group
Partnerships and Outreach
Avi Halpert
United Therapeutics
History of RTA Chairs
Current chair: Jay Irby First Citizens Bank
2022–23: Harold Hicks, RTI International
2021–22: Michael Schoenfeld, Duke University
2020–21: Maeve Gardner, GlaxoSmithKline
2019–20: Geoff Lang, MetLife
2017–19: Bruce Sargent, IBM
2015–17: Steve Brechbiel, QuintilesIMS
2013–15: Ed Paradise, Cisco Systems
2011–13: Clymer Cease, Clark Nexsen
2009–11: Rick Weddle, Research Triangle Park
2008-09, 2011: Jim Captain, Credit Suisse
2007–08: Rusine Mitchell-Sinclair
2006–07: Ed Willingham, First Citizens Bank
2005–06: Joe Freddoso, Cisco Systems
2004–05: Peter Anlyan, Capitol Broadcasting Co.
2003–05: Duane Long, Longistics
2003–04: Bill Shore, GlaxoSmithKline
1999–2003: Smedes York, York Properties
1999–2003: Bob Ingram, GlaxoSmithKline
