Steve Schoeffel, the deputy managing director for the Sangamon Mass Transit District (SMTD) is being promoted to managing director as of Jan. 1. Frank Squires, who has managed the district since 2012 after serving on the board of trustees for 14 years, is retiring.

Brian Brewer, chair of the board of trustees, said the board chose Schoeffel on the basis of his specific knowledge of SMTD, his wide range of prior experience, and the desire to hire internally.

“I am truly honored to be chosen to lead SMTD into 2021 and beyond,” Schoeffel said. “We are blessed with a very thoughtful board, a fantastic management team of forward-thinking individuals who are extremely gifted in their specialties, and a dedicated workforce that takes our responsibility to the community seriously. It is a privilege to be entrusted by the board with leadership of such a tremendous organization, and I am excited to be a part of what we will accomplish together moving forward.”

Schoeffel was hired as the district’s first planner in 2015. In February of 2019, Schoeffel was named SMTD’s deputy managing director.

Prior to his time at SMTD, Schoeffel worked on staff at the Illinois House of Representatives, at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs and was the director of legislative affairs at the Illinois Capital Development Board. He also spent more than 10 years in the private sector, specializing in communications, public relations and grassroots organizing. A graduate of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Schoeffel has lived in Springfield since 1995.

He and his wife, Lee Ann, have one high school-age son. He is also a founding member of the board of directors of the Heart of Wes Barr Foundation.