Ric Ilgenfritz joined Community Transit as CEO in January 2021. As CEO, Ric leads a workforce of nearly 800 employees. He guides the agency's vision and mission, and provides organizational leadership to deliver safe, high-quality, innovative public transportation options to the people of Snohomish County.

Ric serves on a variety of boards representing Community Transit, including:

• Economic Alliance of Snohomish County (EASC) Board of Trustees
• Snohomish County Committee for Improved Transportation (SCCIT) Board of Directors
• Washington State Transit Association (WSTA), Treasurer of the Board (2022 – 2023)
• Washington State Transportation Demand Management (WSTDM) Executive Board

Additionally, Ric partners with Community Transit’s Board of Directors, community leaders, and elected officials to promote and improve public transportation. As a member of the Regional Mobility Partnership, he works closely with transit general managers and senior transportation leaders to ensure travel is made easy for all, within the county and across the region. 

Ric's career is committed to public service. He is a seasoned transit leader with nearly 20 years of executive experience in public transit. Before joining Community Transit, Ric served as vice president for the Puget Sound region at David Evans and Associates, where he was responsible for transportation business development, including transit, roads, highways, and structures throughout the region, including Snohomish County. Ric also spent more than 16 years as a member of the executive leadership team at Sound Transit, working to plan and implement a more robust regional transit network to strengthen communities and support our economy. He led multiple departments including Planning, Environment, Project Development, Customer Service, and Communications. 

Ric received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon. He has been active in the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the Urban Land Institute, and Railvolution. Ric grew up in the Pacific Northwest. He and his spouse raised their three grown children in Seattle.