Michael Tree to Serve as Golden Empire Transit CEO

Golden Empire Transit District, Bakersfield, CA, has selected Michael Tree as its new CEO, effective Feb. 20. Tree will succeed Karen King, who will be retiring after serving the agency for more than 15 years.

Tree has long experience in leading public transit agencies in California and Montana. Most recently, he served as CEO/general manager of Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transportation District, where he focused on growing ridership and converting the bus fleet to zero-emission vehicles.

From 2018-2022 he was executive director of the Tri-Valley-San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority in Livermore, CA, while simultaneously serving as executive director of the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority.