Regional transportation director to retire

The southwest regional director for Oats Inc. is set to retire at the end of June.

Scott Kosky is slated to retire June 30 after 27 years with the nonprofit transportation organization that provides transportation services for senior citizens, people with disabilities and rural residents in 87 Missouri counties, according to a news release.

As southwest regional director in Springfield, Kosky manages 17 counties with more than $3 million in contracts. Kosky was hired for the job in 1986 when the region had $664,170 in service contracts. Today, the southwest region serves roughly 5,400 people - last year providing 278,734 one-way trips - and operates a fleet of 119 vehicles with 150 volunteers, 75 drivers and eight office staff.

Kosky also has helped to orchestrate the construction of a new regional facility for Oats just outside Partnership Industrial Center at 2909 N. Martin Ave. The $3.3 million facility - funded by the Federal Transit Administration's State of Good Repair Program - is scheduled for completion in late summer 2014 by general contractor Larry Snyder & Co., according to Jill Stedem, Oats administrative services director.

Jeff Robinson, current southwest area manager for Oats, has been selected to fill the role vacated by Kosky.

Columbia-based Oats - which formerly stood for Older Adults Transportation Service - has a staff of more than 750 employees and a fleet of 800 vehicles statewide, according to the release.[[In-content Ad]]