Tiffany J. Gunter didn’t wait for opportunity. She prepared, served, and rose—quietly, powerfully, and purposefully. Now, she’s leading the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) into its next chapter.
During a board meeting on July 24, SMART formally announced that General Manager Dwight A. Ferrell would step down, effective August 1. After four years of service, Ferrell is stepping away to pursue new opportunities and prioritize family life. His departure marks a pivotal leadership shift for the region’s public transportation system.
Ferrell’s tenure brought notable progress. SMART expanded its service routes, modernized infrastructure, and improved overall rider satisfaction. That progress was not accidental—it was the result of coordination, clarity, and a commitment to connecting communities.
“We thank Dwight Ferrell for his leadership and unwavering commitment to public transit,” said John Paul Rea, Chair of the Board of Directors. “The organization has a new set of goals and priorities that will further improve transit in Southeast Michigan because of Mr. Ferrell.”
In appointing Tiffany J. Gunter as the new General Manager, the board made a historic and community-anchored decision. Gunter, who served most recently as SMART’s Deputy General Manager and Chief Operating Officer, brings over two decades of expertise in transportation, urban planning, and public policy.
She also brings something rarely quantified but deeply felt—regional credibility and lived experience.
“We are thrilled to elevate Tiffany J. Gunter to her new executive leadership role at SMART,” Rea said. “Her strong ties to the communities we serve and extensive knowledge of the mobility landscape in Southeast Michigan provides her with an exceptional foundation to lead SMART. The entire board looks forward to supporting Tiffany during this leadership transition and ensures that she and the SMART Team remain focused on building dynamic partnerships across our region.”
Gunter is stepping into this role at a moment when public transit sits at the heart of broader conversations about racial equity, climate resilience, and economic access. Her leadership style reflects a sensitivity to that reality, while remaining grounded in operations and outcomes.
Since joining SMART in 2022, Gunter has not only managed internal operations but positioned the agency to respond to the real needs of riders. Her vision reflects both technical precision and people-first priorities.
“I’m honored to continue serving in a new administrative leadership function with SMART and look forward to working with the talented team to continue enhancing mobility, quality service, efficiency, and user experiences for the Tri-County area,” Gunter said.
SMART, which serves Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties, provides more than bus service. It offers access—access to jobs, education, groceries, medical care, and family connection. As the region faces increasing housing insecurity, aging infrastructure, and unequal access to resources, transit systems like SMART carry the burden of ensuring nobody is left behind.
Gunter’s understanding of that role runs deep. Her career includes not only direct transit leadership, but broader planning and policy work that informs how systems are designed to work for everyone—especially those historically underserved.
“SMART’s bus drivers, mechanics, and frontline staff are the heart of our organization, and we deeply value the work they do to connect residents to jobs, healthcare, and community resources,” Gunter said. “Their work not only supports working families but also ensures that seniors and other vulnerable riders can stay mobile, independent, and engaged.”
Her words reflect more than appreciation. They speak to the role of transit workers as essential community lifelines—a truth that became clearer during the pandemic and remains pressing as Michigan builds toward a more equitable post-COVID economy.
Gunter’s appointment also signals continuity. She is not arriving as an outsider or figurehead. She’s been in the trenches—ensuring operational excellence, managing day-to-day logistics, and keeping buses on the road during both progress and challenge.
The SMART board emphasized her collaborative leadership and strategic insight as key factors in their unanimous decision.
“Tiffany brings a wealth of experience, deep commitment, and a forward-thinking approach that will be instrumental in guiding our transit system into the future,” said Rea.
As many regional authorities struggle to fill leadership pipelines with talent who reflect both technical skill and community-rooted sensibility, Gunter’s transition stands as an example of what succession planning done right can look like. It also underscores the value of investing in internal leadership rather than relying solely on external searches.
Under Gunter’s guidance, SMART has an opportunity to deepen its role as a partner in regional growth. That means investing in reliable service that helps workers get to job sites on time. It means prioritizing route equity so that every neighborhood has a path to opportunity. It also means valuing environmental sustainability, fare affordability, and access for Detroiters who depend on public transit to navigate daily life.
The work ahead is complex, but Gunter’s experience equips her to lead with both clarity and community orientation. This transition is about more than operational leadership—it’s about shaping the future of how Southeast Michigan moves, connects, and thrives.
The region has long needed leaders who understand that public transportation is a civil rights issue, an economic issue, and a generational opportunity. Tiffany J. Gunter steps into that space not as a figurehead, but as a builder—of systems, of trust, and of possibility.
Her leadership marks a powerful moment for SMART and for every rider watching for the next bus with hope that it will not only arrive on time, but carry them toward a future worth moving toward.
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