Bauer

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association will promote its longtime head of government affairs to CEO. Executive Vice President of Advocacy Dave Bauer will take on the top job at the $16.5M-revenue association Jan. 1. He succeeds Pete Ruane, who earlier announced his intention to retire Oct. 31 after 30 years with ARTBA.

Executive Vice President and COO William Toohey, who plans to retire in April 2019, will be interim CEO until Bauer takes over.

Bauer joined ARTBA in 1997 and became vice president of government relations in 2004.

"I am humbled and energized by this new opportunity," Bauer said in a news announcement. "While this is a personnel change for the association, it is not a mission change. ARTBA will continue its aggressive advocacy work to grow and protect the nation's transportation infrastructure market to meet the demand for safe and efficient mobility."

Bauer was a key lobbyist for the industry while Congress debated and passed four major highway and public transit investment laws, dating to TEA-21 in 1998.

"Dave earned this position with his enthusiasm, energy and plan for the future," said Search Committee Chair David Zachry, who lauded Bauer's "encyclopedic knowledge of transportation policy issues, his non-partisan approach, and his strong relationships with the staff, the association's membership and its industry coalition partners make him the right person to lead ARTBA."

Before joining ARTBA, Bauer worked for seven years on the personal staff of former Sen. Mark Hatfield (R-Ore.). Bauer has an MBA from The George Washington University and a bachelor's degree in economics from Willamette University in Oregon.